Yes, but the Timelords no longer exist!

Or do they?

Well I suppose he could travel back in time to when they did exist though or having been "destroyed" does that mean that they no longer exist in the past either!!

I think I confused myself there!!!!!!

Indeed - I was pointing out how easy it was to get round the problem. There can easily be another all powerful race/freak accident/scientific reason/Paul Daniels & Debbie McGee do a special trick, or whatever they like to explain a whole new set of regenerations for the doctor.

It is fiction - not real!!! Therefore they can do anything!

Its just been on "This morning" that Keely Hawes is one of the people in the running for the role of the Doctor's Assistant.

Ooh that's interesting, I think she'd be excellent.

yeah, me too. I thought she was good in Spooks and a one off drama thing she was in years ago where she led a double life.

"In the running" = "The subject of uninformed speculation"

Maybe the producers will go PC and have a gay assistant.. howz about Brian Dowling from BB2 ??

Get those Daleks off me.. they're soooo evil !

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertain...io/4572551.stm

been confirmed that she will in "some" episodes

Keeley Hawes was supposedly one of the people on the shortlist for Rose before they opted for Billie Piper ...

Maybe Rose'll regenerate too?

Now, now... play nice with the other kids!

Although you do have a point.... there's been some really wild speculation in this and other threads, some of it's been really bad too...

Personally I'd like to see an unknown in the role of the Assistant.

Ok, ok, I've got a few for potential new assistant. How about a) Abi Titmuss b) Lisa from Hollyoaks c) Matt Lucas as Vicky Pollard (yeah, but,no,but,yeah d'ya see that Dalek givin' me evils, etc...)

lol, nice concept - don't forget that the short-list doesn't apply because that was the character of "Rose" - the new companion whoever she/he is will be a different character and therefore have a new short-list

If Billie does leave in the next series they might decide to go for a complete contrast to the character of Rose. There would be no point in getting another actor/actress in to replicate the excellent characterisation she has given us. Think they will go something brand spanking new!

Hey you made it into Media Guardian

You read my mind BG...I'm still holding out for Angela Griffin meself

Holy crap!

congrats Szlater, you have the power, use it wisely...

Good choice! I wouldn't mind if Keeley Hawes got it or someone like Hannah Waterman.

I just hope the rumour that Mickey might be the new companion might be something cooked up by the tabloid press as I find his style of acting rather wooden to say the least.

Thats impressive!

You should demand a royalty payment

I'm sad that Billy has decided to go as well, but I guess it is the whole 'quit while you are ahead' scenario.

I very much like the suggestion of Angela Griffen as a new companion. Or maybe Charlie Brooks.

This might be a bit left-field but Gaby Roslin has started acting (allbeit with mixed reviews). Somehow I could picture her being part of the Whoniverse.

I'm not sure about Captain Jack longterm...two brainboxes in the Tardis has never worked very well.

They also said on This Morning that Mickey might be a potential companion. I hope not.

I know a lot of other Whovians, (or Who'ers as I'd like to rebrand ourselves) hated the multiple companion thing - Nyssa/Tegan/sAdric etc - but I think there is room in the Tardis for more than one assistant.

Also...please bring back the 4 part eps.

Pleeze can it NOT be Angela Griffin or Charlie Brooks? Good as they are, they've had enough telly exposure to sink a ship. Billie Piper's defied all expectations and been brilliant - but she'd not actually done that much TV work (and hadn't done acres of soap), so she was a bit of an unknown quantity.

Be so much better if they got someone brand new OR someone from a lesser known show (try Robyn Page from Family Affairs for starters) ...

Agreed - the thought of Charlie Brooks as a companion would be enough to put me off the next series Angela Griffin isn't quite as bad, but I agree that the last thing we want really is any over exposed soap actress/actor.

There was talk on another forum of Adfam Rickitt - Please No !!!!!

I think it shouldnt be anyone from a soap, its hard not to see soap people as "typecast" in their soap roles, although some ex-soap stars have managed to overcome that. Like many people have been saying an unknown might be best.

Billie will definitely be a hard act to follow