Eccleston leaves Who!

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:48 am

He's ditched it already! Oh well... everything else seems under control. But I really really hope theres a regeneration scene this time.

From AOL news:

Doctor Who Star Eccleston Quits

Actor Christopher Eccleston has quit as Doctor Who after just one series.

The star, who has appeared in television drama Cracker and hit film Shallow Grave, was worried about being typecast.

He is also planning new projects and found filming the series gruelling.

In a statement issued through the BBC, Eccleston said last night:

"The audience's response for the new Doctor Who has been incredible and I am really proud to be part of it and I hope viewers continue to enjoy the series.''

Former pop star Billie Piper will return in the role of the Time Lord's companion, Rose, in the next raft of shows.

Meanwhile, the BBC confirmed it was in talks with actor David Tennant, the star of the drama Casanova, which is currently showing on BBC3, as a possible replacement for Eccleston.

Earlier, the BBC announced it had commissioned the second series.

The corporation is also planning a Doctor Who Christmas special, which will feature Eccleston, following the sci-fi show's triumphant return on Saturday.

Jane Tranter, BBC head of drama commissioning, said she made the decision on Tuesday.

Doctor Who launched its new 13-part run this weekend on BBC1, following a 16-year hiatus.

With 9.9 million viewers, it successfully beat the might of Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.

Post by **Kaylee** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 9:03 am

Why won't they cast Richard O'Brian??

{sobs}

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 9:34 am

Hes stuck in the crytsal maze?

I know what you mean tho, eccentric types are always good. even the guy who replaced O'Brien on the crystal maze would be good.

Post by **Best First** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 4:59 pm

Ed Tuder Pole?

I think he would be gash!

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 6:13 pm

Gash is good tho - or dont u like muff?

Bouncelot · Post by **Bouncelot** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 6:29 pm

The chances are that there'll be a regeneration in the Christmas Special. The reason for not doing one at the start of the new series was because it would make it more difficult to introduce the series if you kill off your lead character 10 mins in. That was the biggest single problem with the 96 TV Movie. By the time Chris leaves, everyone will have got used to the show and the character, and regeneration will work in dramatic terms.

Incidentally, I don't see what he's complaining about with typecasting. Two seasons in the role is NOT going to typecast him, he originally took the role in part to escape possible previous typecasting. And it's not as if he didn't know what the schedule was going to be like before originally signing the contract.

Also, I don't think anybody's ever gone from being adored by most of Who fandom to being universally slagged off by that same fandom so quickly.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:21 pm

I think being typecast is a legitimate concern.

As far as I can see Davison has had the most successful career of the ex-Doctors, having purposely jacked it in early. He's not referred to as 'that guy that did Doctor Who' like the two Bakers and McCoy.

However, dunno why Eccleston would actively pursue the Doctor role only to jack it in after one season.

Though I too expect an xmas regeneration. Damn, they should put it in all doctor's contracts that they have to stick around for one.

Bouncelot · Post by **Bouncelot** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:38 am

spiderfrommars wrote:I think being typecast is a legitimate concern.

As far as I can see Davison has had the most successful career of the ex-Doctors, having purposely jacked it in early. He's not referred to as 'that guy that did Doctor Who' like the two Bakers and McCoy.

Well, Davison had already had a high-profile role (in All Creatures Great and Small) before doing Who. And Jon Pertwee also had a reasonably successful career after Who, notably playing Worzel Gummidge. Troughton had a half-decent career after Who as well, and Hartnell, of course, quit because he was too old and ill to continue his acting career.

Ecclesfon has already had some high-profile sucesses (he was in A League of Gentemen, and was the lead in The Second Coming). Those roles were quite different to his role in Who. Ergo, a second season of Who would be extremely unlikely to lead to typecasting, because he's already well known as an actor who can do other roles. Now if he stayed in the role for ages like Tom, or hadn't already got some other high profile roles under his belt like Colin or Sylv then he'd probably be typecast. But as it is, he's there just long enough to establish himself in the role, but not long enough to do much more than that. Therefore, giving that reason baffles me.

If his primary reason was actually the gruelling schedule or the intense media attention, then I could at least understand why he's going, but to me "fear of typecasting" sounds like a cover for some other reason.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 9:59 am

I know Troughton did well, but again, that was only 3 seasons like Pete wasn't it?

As for Pertwee, Gummidge was about it for him tho.

I think Eccleston wants Who as a diversion, nothing more. He's been very successful in other roles and wants to get straight back to that.

The answer is probably not to go for high profile actors in future.

Bouncelot · Post by **Bouncelot** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:14 pm

This situation has now led to the biggest Doctor Who forum (Outpost Gallifrey) being temporarily closed because of the kind of things people were saying. And it's usually a really pleasant place, and well-moderated.

People must've got really really mad since I last checked it.

And actually, very few actors get a chance at more than one high-profile role. Maybe that's got something to do with it. Also, thinking about it, Hartnell, Troughton, Pertwee, Davison, and McGann (if you count him) were the only ones to have quite a few notable success before Who, so maybe that's the key to success afterwards.

Post by **Denyer** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:23 pm

It seems fantastically stupid to announce the news now with only one episode of the show broadcast to terrestrial...

Had they just thrown in a regeneration scene at the end of the series, it would have been an interesting and unexpected curveball.

Jetfire · Post by **Jetfire** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 8:26 am

spiderfrommars wrote:I know Troughton did well, but again, that was only 3 seasons like Pete wasn't it?

3 is actually the norm. Bar Tom and Jon every actor was given 3 years as The Doctor. (Excluding Paul of course).

Bouncelot · Post by **Bouncelot** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 2:05 pm

Jetfire wrote:
spiderfrommars wrote:I know Troughton did well, but again, that was only 3 seasons like Pete wasn't it?

3 is actually the norm. Bar Tom and Jon every actor was given 3 years as The Doctor. (Excluding Paul of course).

Though Colin Baker had an 18 month hiatus in the middle of his run, and both he and Sylv would have stayed on longer (Colin for ages, Sylv for one more season) if they'd had the chance. But yeah, 3 years is now definitely the norm.

And if Eccleston thinks the schedule is gruelling, Hartnell and Troughton were filiming Who for 12 months of the year, not just 8.