Amazed no one has started a thread on the DS article here:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds22285.html


If true (pinch of salt for The People) it's fantastic- having the opportunity to build a character over 3 series is excellent. I feel that Rose will probably have run her course as a character by Christmas 06 (or at least Billie Piper won't be able to continue resisting the big money drama/film offers deservedly coming her way).

Billie Piper was always going to have a strong hand when negotiating a second series rate- losing her character would mean losing 2 more roles (mum and boyfriend), something that would be very hard to do without advanced writing. So I wouldn't be surprised if it's true that she's on more for the next series than Tennant.

If he does manage to make a fourth series (or Season 30) then that will mean David Tennant will surpassed the last five actors to have played the role in the past.

Number of (25 Minute) episodes per Doctor:
Tom Baker: 190 (excluding Shada but including 5 Docs)
William Hartnell: 138 (including 3 Docs)
Pat Troughton: 133 (including 3,5 and 2 Docs)
Jon Pertwee: 132 (including 5 Docs)
David Tennant (after 3 series): 82?
Peter Davison: 71
Colin Baker: 44
Sylvester McCoy: 42
Christopher Eccleston: 26
Paul McGann: 4

I'm surprised he's signed up for so long. His agent has not done a very good deal for him. £166,000 per series isnt much to be permanently branded in such a way.

The BBC must have known he was very keen to get the role.

It doesn't seem like an awful lot, really, particularly considering the success of the first series. Wasn't CE supposed to have earned rather a lot more than that? Or was that just tabloid gossip? It does show a huge gulf between potential earnings on a moderately successful movie and on a very successful TV series.

With DT's fee, it doesn't actually state exactly what that covers. For example, does he get repeat fees separately, points on merchandising, including DVDs, extra fees for sales to other territories - particularly any territories that haven't so far taken the series? Are there potentials for bonuses if the series is extremely successful - any way of negotiating up for series 3 or 4, or is it a cast-in-stone flat rate?

CE is reported as having got £500K for his part in series one, so this figure seems way off.

I'm hoping that DT will get a percentage of the merchandising at least, which could be very lucrative. However, as you say, it could all be tabloid gossip with regards to the fee that DT is being paid, and to further agree with you, it doesn't really detail what other (are they called subsidiaries?) he may be in line for.

I tend NOT to believe in tabloid gossip - or any news paper, infact. They never tell any truths.

I read £500K for CE, as well - and it does seem a huge gap, if it's true, since DT's profile has risen considerably in the last year with the success of Casanova and Blackpool. I think repeat fees usually come under the heading of 'residuals'. The Stage had a story last year about a new agreement coming into force with Equity, to replace the old royalty system which had been becoming unworkable due to digital and satellite, and BBC contracts are all Equity.

As we all know I'm a big fan of DT but he isn't a household name in the way CE or even BP are. I'm sure his contract includes generous payments for residuals, otherwise he should get a new agent.
I'm really pleased BP is doing so well out of it - she did blow most people away in "Series 1" so deserves excellent money to stay.

I like how this proved to be true. Number of Tennant series' that is.

Yes, since the specials count as part of his third series, according to the 4.# production numbers.

Should also stop the postings that Tennant was overpaid etc...

[quote=La Guardianista;4676364]As we all know I'm a big fan of DT but he isn't a household name in the way CE or even BP are. QUOTE]

How things changed

It appears my Tardis has arrived too late again! 5 years too late, oh dear. lol I best get that SatNav looked at.