New Dr Who David Tennant is facing a backlash from fans who do not want him to be the tenth Time Lord.

The Scottish actor is taking over from Christopher Eccleston in the next series of the BBC hit.

But he has discovered that some fans are up in arms about him landing the role.

Tennant tells this month's Doctor Who magazine he was shocked by comments on a website dedicated to the show.

He said: "Everyone was encouraging me to go on and see what the fans were saying about me. So I went on there and the first comment I read was very nice, and the next comment was terribly flattering, and then the next one said something like, 'I can't bear the sight of him!'

"And the one after that said, 'Who?' The one after that said, 'I'd rather have David Morrissey'. The one after that said, 'That's it! The dream is finished! Somebody who looks like a weasel could never play the Doctor! It's over!'

"And then I thought to myself that maybe it's best not to read this sort of thing too much."

The 34-year-old admitted Eccleston will be a tough act to follow.

"Chris was so good in it. So sure-footed with what he did. So it left me thinking, 'there's an awful lot to live up to here'," he said.

"I just hope people like it. I hope they stick with it and give it a chance. I know everyone loved Chris, and so did I, but hopefully I won't disappoint people."

Didnt Christopher Ecclestone get similar comments at the time?

Bah. He's obviosuly reading the wrong places. Or at least old comments, written before he was seen on the show.

Since his 5 secon part aired I've not heard any comment seriosuly against him. Some may have their reservations yes, but that is only right as wwe all ahven;t seen enough of him yet to be sure what he will be like in the role.

But personally that part we have seen impressed me no end. Though it is going to be a tough act to follow, I'm sure David Tennant will do a fine job.

Will he do better than CE? I don't know, but I do know DT will be a great Doctor.

I dare say every time the Doctor had regenerated, someone wasn't keen on the replacement.

I'm guessing that this happened even when Pertwee became Tom Baker!

It always happens when there is a new Doctor - people are always uncertain about the new model, as it were.

I'm quite sure DT will be superb as the Doctor - simply seeing him act in Casanova had me crying out for him to take over when Chris left.

He shouldn't try to play the part as Chris did, but play it his own way as all new Doctors have done.

He'll be fantastic!

I felt the same way about Colin Baker. It was only seeing the repeats in later years I began to like his interpretation.

I won't mention 6 to 7, as I don't want to upset Den!

I'm looking forward to seeing DT in the role, even though he will be the first actor to play the Doctor who is younger than me!!!

I was really dissapointed that CE was leaving but, it was a bit harsh for people to be saying he looked like a weasle!. Hopefully he can give us a good second series.

I'm reliably informed that a family friend cried when Jon Pertwee's Doctor dies and intentionally didn't watch the show for 7 years because she "couldn't stand the boggle eyed b***ard".

I think that's a little harsh, but there you go. End of the day though, if you're going to visit a a crucible of fan opinion (which often makes the usenet group radw look like a nuns seminar) to see what people are saying about you, you MUST take it with a pinch of salt. I'm sure that is what David has done, and he's got nothing to worry about.

Anyway, I can't sit around here all day, I have to protest about the size of K9's ears compared to the original.

Fans always seem to do this- particularly the real hard-core viewers- they'll seemingly complain about anything, without giving whoever is concerned the chance to prove themselves.

What was this website anyway, some sort of anti-Tenant site or something?

Possibly "outpost gallifrey"? It's full of hardcore fans, with a very wide range of views. I post on there a lot myself, that's why I don't use digitalspy much to post about Doctor Who matters, although I'm a big DW fan.

Aww - you won't upset me! I'm all for people's right to an opinion.

I do believe DT will be excellent as the Doctor though, and wish people would actually watch a couple of his episodes before criticising him. At least it will lend credibility to the criticism.

Also, looking at DT's "quotes" of what he'd seen online, and suspecting that he does, indeed, have rather a marvellous sense of humour - I'm wondering whether he actually invented or elaborated these in a charmingly self-deprecating way, particularly the "David Morrissey" and the "weasel"?

I suppose we have to give him a chance to see if he is a good doctor, but I would have preferred Alan Davies to be the new doctor.

Is that round the stomach or elsewhere?!

Seeing as Tom Baker was an unknown working on a building site when he got the part, I'd imagine there were many who felt like this.

I've seen David Tennant act several times now as totally different types of character ...

- a cop = Blackpool
- Casanova
- The Quatermass experiment (live)

I am looking forward to seeing David in the new role and am not totally fed up of the over-use of the word 'fantastic' as an option on many Dr Who polls

David will be an excellent Doctor I'm sure (probably better than Eccleston IMO) but we'll have to wait for his episodes to know for sure.

This whole story has been blown out of proportion based in a throwaway comment in an interview in DWM. I doubt that he's really all that bothered.

I agree with your second paragraph - I'm sure that all actors expect both good and bad comments and are perfectly aware that some people will love them whilst others hate them. I'm not a DT fan and am not particularly looking forward to his portrayal of The Doctor but am aware I'm in the minoroty on this view (on DS at least).

If he Alan Davies had been the doctor, I wouldnt have been able to get jonathan Creek out of my mind.

Richard E Grant would have been good, I reckon

Cj

Well it's all a bit academic, now (although I would have hated Alan Davies as the Doctor). since DT has signed up for series 2 and three.

However, the good thing about academic issues is they can still be discussed,

Cj

Indeed - and I for one, am very grateful that we're not here discussing Alan Davies's portrayal of the Doctor.

I was the same. JP was "my" doctor and I hated it when he left. I had a prejudice against TB for years after that. It was only later in my adulthood, having seen the TB episodes again, that I properly appreciated his doctor. I also felt PD's doctor was too young and I went off the series a bit after that, but again I appreciate his interpretation now.

At the end of the day, as fans of the series, we have to look beyond these things and await a new interpretation. Regeneration is part of the series and we have to accept that each interpretation will be different. I'm sure DT will be fine.