He didn't leave by choice. Hartnell didn't get on with verity Lambert's replacement john wiles. Added to bills failing health and his irascibility the BBC wanted him out but he just didn't want to go!
William Hartnell wished he had stayed on longer
Originally Posted by Corwin:
“To be honest I think only Troughton, Pertwee and Tom Baker didn't wish they stayed longer
”
“To be honest I think only Troughton, Pertwee and Tom Baker didn't wish they stayed longer
”
Then again....I've heard it suggested over the years that if they'd reduced the number of episodes per year a bit earlier, Patrick might've stayed on; if Pertwee had gotten the pay rise he requested ditto and if JNT hadn't responded so quickly and enthusiastically to Tom's annual offer to resign...
Probably cobblers though!
Billy Hartnell probably wished he'd had more than 3 lines (with Scottish accent) in the film on BBC2 this morning ("They Flew Alone").
Always good to spot an old Doc.
Always good to spot an old Doc.
Originally Posted by bennythedip:
“He didn't leave by choice. Hartnell didn't get on with verity Lambert's replacement john wiles. Added to bills failing health and his irascibility the BBC wanted him out but he just didn't want to go!”
“He didn't leave by choice. Hartnell didn't get on with verity Lambert's replacement john wiles. Added to bills failing health and his irascibility the BBC wanted him out but he just didn't want to go!”
Of course he didnt leave by choice otherwise why write him out 8 episodes into the 4th season? If he wanted to leave he would have left at the end of the 4th season.
Originally Posted by dave_windows:
“Of course he didnt leave by choice otherwise why write him out 8 episodes into the 4th season? If he wanted to leave he would have left at the end of the 4th season.”
“Of course he didnt leave by choice otherwise why write him out 8 episodes into the 4th season? If he wanted to leave he would have left at the end of the 4th season.”
Technically 4 of those episodes were shot at the end of the previous block & held back, but see your point.
Originally Posted by Westy2:
“Technically 4 of those episodes were shot at the end of the previous block & held back, but see your point.”
“Technically 4 of those episodes were shot at the end of the previous block & held back, but see your point.”
Yeah thats something I always found odd leave 2 stories into season 4.
Originally Posted by Westy2:
“Technically 4 of those episodes were shot at the end of the previous block & held back, but see your point.”
“Technically 4 of those episodes were shot at the end of the previous block & held back, but see your point.”
It appears that the decision for him to leave was taken very late in the day, so that nothing could be done to write him out at the end of the Smugglers (the last story to be made as part of season 3). The earliest opportunity was at the end of The Tenth Planet.
So Hartnell was contracted for that story as basically a guest artiste - he was not actually a regular anymore.
If we're entirely honest with ourselves, old Billy's departure at that point was the best for the show at the time. Obviously John Wiles didn't last much longer as executive producer and perhaps a new producer wouldn't have considered the concept of regeneration, bringing the show we all know and love to an untimely end. Plus, you have to consider that Hartnell's health was prevalent over any desires to continue as the Doctor, and he wasn't a well man by any means at this stage.
Originally Posted by adammarc_98:
“If we're entirely honest with ourselves, old Billy's departure at that point was the best for the show at the time. Obviously John Wiles didn't last much longer as executive producer and perhaps a new producer wouldn't have considered the concept of regeneration, bringing the show we all know and love to an untimely end. Plus, you have to consider that Hartnell's health was prevalent over any desires to continue as the Doctor, and he wasn't a well man by any means at this stage.”
“If we're entirely honest with ourselves, old Billy's departure at that point was the best for the show at the time. Obviously John Wiles didn't last much longer as executive producer and perhaps a new producer wouldn't have considered the concept of regeneration, bringing the show we all know and love to an untimely end. Plus, you have to consider that Hartnell's health was prevalent over any desires to continue as the Doctor, and he wasn't a well man by any means at this stage.”
John Wiles had already gone. Innes Lloyd was the producer who oversaw the change to Troughton.
I always find it intriguing there's this double story about why Hartnell left.
It was either because he was ill, and that definitely was a factor, or the producers wanting to replace him because of their differing attitudes towards the show. I daresay his behaviour onset was a factor as well.
Just seems like a culmination of things which led to him possibly being replaced as far back as The Celestrial Toymaker. In hindsight, let's be grateful they stuck with the Regneration idea.
It was either because he was ill, and that definitely was a factor, or the producers wanting to replace him because of their differing attitudes towards the show. I daresay his behaviour onset was a factor as well.
Just seems like a culmination of things which led to him possibly being replaced as far back as The Celestrial Toymaker. In hindsight, let's be grateful they stuck with the Regneration idea.
I don't know how factually correct it was, but the 2013 drama "An Adventure in Space and Time" very much showed it as Hartnell being forced to leave.
There's a heartbreaking scene where he's asking the producers to reduce his hours and give him fewer lines - and they explain they've already cast Patrick Troughton to replace him.
A lot of research had gone into the drama and it did make me feel that much of it was probably accurate. He did seem to genuinely love being the Doctor.
There's a heartbreaking scene where he's asking the producers to reduce his hours and give him fewer lines - and they explain they've already cast Patrick Troughton to replace him.
A lot of research had gone into the drama and it did make me feel that much of it was probably accurate. He did seem to genuinely love being the Doctor.
