I'm really pleased to hear official news of a new series of Doctor Who.

Me and my partner have just been having a chat about possible casting for the lead role.

So far we've come up with:
Alan Davies
Paul McGann (or another McGann brother)
Anthony Stewart Head
Clive Owen
Rowan Atkinson

Joanna Lumley
Helen Mirren
Judi Dench
Nicola Walker
Keeley Hawes

There's loads more but can't be assed right now cos dinner has arrived.

Who else would be good as The Doctor? What about assistants?

Well Alan Davies is fine as jonathan Creek but I really think that's stretching his talents as far as they go. I think he would be terrible as the Doctor - he'd just be a Jonathan Creek clone.

Rowan Atkinson will always be associated with slapstick comedy - casting like this was disastrous in the 80s (Ken Dodd, Richard briers, BOnnie Langford etc) and it would be now.

Clive Owen? if it's the guy I'm thinking of, he just doesn't have any "doctorish" qualities. As for the women - it just wouldn't work. The Doctor is a man. If Gallifreyans could change sex when they regenerate, Susan Foreman's husband and Leela may be in for a bit of a shock!!

Women make the best assistants - but they could also have a female villan (somebody a bit more convincing than kate o'Mara!!)

They can have the CG effects- but shoot it on VT with NO filmic effect. Surely that has to be one of the old school things about the show that has to remain.

"but shoot it on VT with NO filmic effect."

Definately.....

...not! Filmed drama looks so much better than vt. VT is fine for news, sitcoms, game shows and soaps but serious drama is always better shot on single camera using film.

I agree but Dr Who always managed to include a lot of different elements in quite a clever way. It could be quite profound on minute and quite silly the next. There was always an element of comedy. I think that it could survive a bit of postmodern fun with the past, so long as they don't over do it.

Film is fine. Video is fine. I think the complaint was against that nasty cheap video effect that is supposed to make video look like film but just makes it look crap.

Some of the original Dr Whos were shot on a mixture of film (for outside scenes) and video (for inside scenes). This is particularly noticable in some of the early colour episodes.

Exterminate!

Seriously though, I don't think it makes sense to introduce the idea of a time lord changing gender. Dr Who has regenerated several times. As he has been male each time it seems sensible to assume that time lords retain their gender. No other time lord has changed gender on regeneration either.

There is plenty of scope to introduce female characters. They could easily bring Romana back and also use that as a way to bring back K9. If the BBC are really clever, they could even spin her off with a separate series after a while.

How about Colin Firth as a possibility? And LOL LOL LOL @ the gay Daleks thing........ it's filled my mind with dubious imagery!

Slightly O/T - has anyone got that 'Worst Case Scenario: Dalek Survival Guide' book? Excellent read...

Oh no!!!!!!!!

I'm 40...it's taken me decades to get over the trauma of expecting the daleks, yeti or cybermen to come through my door at any moment. Just when I thought I had it cracked, the Beeb threatens me with them again. Nurse...!!!!

Strongest Rumours are Alan Davies and Stephen Fry...

Soem of the really early eps were shot entirely on film (though some of those that weren't now only survive on film). The reason for them shootign film on location was becuase they had to back then, it was the case for everything. Dr Who started using location VT from 1975, and switched to it entierely from 1985. Somehow, going back to shooting it on film would be like taking a step backwards.

Doctor Who was never entirely serious though, was it?

Actually there was only one story (4 episodes) shot entirely on film. That was Jon Pertwee's debut story - Spearhead from Space and this only came about because of a strike at the BBC.

Up until then, every story was shot mainly on VT in the studio with location material on film. All of the pre-Pertwee stuff which survives exists as film recordings as this is how it was sold abroad - basically a film camera recorded the output of the transmitted version to create a "film recording". For the DVDs, a new process has been developed called VidFIRE which restores the video look to the studio material. If you compare the original VHS releases to the new DVD versions of the black and white stories, you'll be blown away!

I don't think that shooting on film is a step backwards - as I said previously, most drama (with the exception of soaps) is now shot on film so why shouldn't a new series off Doctor Who be made on film? OK it was originally made on VT but it was also made in 4:3 and mono sound (for the most part) but I'm sure nobody would suggest using any of those formats today.


You know what I mean. It's OK for the programme not to take itself too seriously but as an actual TV production it should should stick to the current level of production values (as it always did). OK, we can look back and laugh now at some of the special effects, but they were state of the art at the time.

I don't know if this is a good thing or not, but there were rumours that it was mentioned to Shane Ritchie (Eastenders' Alfie).

I think we both know - that would be a very bad thing!!

Paul McGann is quoted in Saturday's Telegraph as favouring a female Doctor - he suggests Rachel Stiring (Diana Rigg's daughter as seen in Tipping the Velvet) but the article also reveals that RTD's preference is for Bill Nighy.

Both imaginative choices. If it's not going to be McGann or Richard E Grant I think Nighy would be fine by me. Stirling would be more suited to fiesty companion or villainess.

G

Not Stephen Fry, please.

They should resurrect U.N.I.T though

I can see Bill Nighy doing a brilliant job, but thinking about how old the original Doctor seemed (Hartnell was in his fifties I think but looked ancient) maybe someone equally old and irascible is called for.

"Daleks? I don't belieeeeve it!"

I am quite serious about this.

David Calder for the Good Doctor? Alistair Campbell for The Master

Blakes 7 did that I think, and it jars horribly.

FWIW, I think Dr Who should be consigned to history. Yes a lot of peole fondly remember it, but like a lot of things from the 60's/70's/80's it's best left alone. The only way I can see it working is if it's done in an ironic comedy way, and I don't think that's what any of the fans want.

Dave

Yes a lot of peole fondly remember it, but like a lot of things from the 60's/70's/80's it's best left alone

If you look at the videos available then many episodes stick out as classics in their own right. True its a bit of a gamble with each doctor/assistant and the storyline, but in all if the BBC work with decent scripts (Russell take note) and a memorable cast, then theres no reason why it should be consigned to history.

Quality rather than quantity, maybe a new story of four episodes each quarter rather than a monthly offering, as the main reason for blandness towards the end was simply the number of decent stories packed in with terrible plots.

The doctor does need a vulnerable assistant though, able to scream well

Like Craig Hinton?

If the producers had been canvassing for opinions on the new Doctor, I could better appreciate these threads, because ultimately, whatever we say, the producers will cast who THEY WANT! But anway.....

[COLOR=green][SIZE=3]My own preference would be ED TUDOR-POLE! A ready made Dr!! Imbued with all that which make a thrilling Dr! A glorious sense of adventure, a dashing charm, natural eccentricity, a noble spirit, a recognisable face, an invigorating energy, derring do, expressive & lyrical, dazzling and dramatic!! All these things are ED TUDOR-POLE AND HE'LL NEVER BE CAST IN A MILLION YEARS!! See how unfair the world is?[/SIZE] [/COLOR]
Last edited by RANTING MANIAC : 01-10-2003 at 10:10

A bit left-field but how about Phil Jupitus. The monsters would have to involve some spiders though.

The more I think on this though I feel that a complete unknown (to TV) would be the best choice. They can then make the character their own without any additional baggage from their previous telly career.