Is knowing Everything thats going to happen in the new series! it must be the only negative if you want to call it that from getting the role i know if i was playing the Dr then thats the one thing id hate, knowing all the secrets from the new series, id somtimes want to go back to not having a clue what was going on which is the one of the most exciting bit as a whovian

It's exactly what Tennant said, basically. He was tempted to stay on for Series 5 under Moffat, but decided he wanted to 'see it rather than be in it' or something to that effect. It must be surreal for such big fans of the show to then be part and parcel of the show itself.

Pretty sure for PC Playing the doctor far outweighs him not wanting to know what happens,

Playing the Doctor or the companion must be two of the best jobs in acting if only for the shear variety of work you get in one job.

This is also why I feel they've kept Murray Gold for so long on scoring duty. He might be working for one show for ten years, but look at the range and variety on offer to him - he'll be doing a futuristic story in an alien city one week, a Western in the next, and a period drama the week after that! It must really keep things interesting.

He gets to read it script by script. He just knows a bit earlier.

I'm sure getting the script he must read through it like an excited schoolboy!

I'd love knowing it all in advance.

Its always good when actors in a major franchise are fans themselves.

Mark Hamill's child-like love for Star Wars always came off better than Ford's dismissiveness and Alec Guinness's disdain.

Similarly, Michael Gambon proudly declaring he'd "never read a Harry Potter novel" made his Dumbledore less appealing.

I predict that Peter will happily reprise his role for a future DW special. Same with Matt Smith.
Whereas Christopher Eccleston's mysterious need to disassociate himself from DW comes across as churlish.

Peter has a way to go yet

This is a problem with fandom in that they wish those at the coal face are as hardcore as them.

When matt was announced some people took against him because he confessed he'd never watched the show.
But then suddenly before series 5 aired be said he's a big fan and Troughton was his favourite and he was worshipped at the best doctor ever.
Almost as if he'd been briefed. ....

David and Peter aren't great doctors because they grew up watching The show, they're great because they're professional actors doing their job.
Same with Chris and Matt, just because they aren't fans doesn't mean their doctors are any better or worse, their performance is what matters.


Fandom sometimes

Matt Smith only watched Doctor Who when he got the role. When you start watching something sometimes you realise you've been missing it all those years. So whilst Matt was never a fan of it before, he enjoyed it when he watched it for research purposes and decided that he was more of a fan of Troughton's doctor.

Matt seems to enjoy the Whoniverse, unlike Eccleston!

I never said being fans is what made them great doctors. I said it made them more endearing to the audience.
Having said that, I do think an actor/actress being passionate about the project they're working on can effect their performance and make them more invested in the role.
Not always... but its happened.

I would agree that being passionate about the project you're working on is important - but that doesn't mean you have to be passionate about the projects your predecessors worked on, or that your successors will. It's good not to get bogged down by 'legacy'.

As Sharon87 says, Matt Smith was never a fan. And I doubt he spends his evenings watching Tom Baker boxsets. But he did his research, and found something in the Troughton incarnation that excited him and helped shape his own view of the character. What came out of it is plenty passionate.