Wed Oct 29, 2008 7:40PM7 comments ›
Wed Oct 29, 2008 — by Robert Greenberger
David Tennant Officially Announces Departure from 'Doctor Who'
Series Will Undergo Another Change in 2010
David Tennant announced his departure from Doctor Who during the National Television Awards broadcast.
The BBC’s Doctor Who website confirmed the news mintues later complete with a video from the actor.
The website went on to report:
David Tennant first appeared as The Doctor in 2005 and has gone on to star in three series and three Christmas specials as the tenth incarnation of the Time Lord. The BBC has confirmed that David will continue to play The Doctor in the four specials that will make up the 2009 series before a new Doctor takes over for Series 5. Tennant will also star in the Doctor Who Christmas Special titled The Next Doctor this year.
David Tennant comments "I've had the most brilliant, bewildering and life changing time working on Doctor Who. I have loved every day of it. It would be very easy to cling on to the TARDIS console forever and I fear that if I don't take a deep breath and make the decision to move on now, then I simply never will. You would be prising the TARDIS key out of my cold dead hand. This show has been so special to me, I don't want to outstay my welcome.
"This is all a long way off, of course. I'm not quitting, I'm back in Cardiff in January to film four special episodes which will take Doctor Who all the way through 2009. I'm still the Doctor all next year but when the time finally comes I'll be honored to hand on the best job in the world to the next lucky git - whoever that may be.
"I'd always thought the time to leave would be in conjunction with Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner who have been such a huge part of it all for me. Steven Moffat is the most brilliant and exciting writer, the only possible successor to Russell and it was sorely tempting to be part of his amazing new plans for the show. I will be there, glued to my TV when his stories begin in 2010.
"I feel very privileged to have been part of this incredible phenomenon, and whilst I'm looking forward to new challenges I know I'll always be very proud to be the Tenth Doctor."
Russell T. Davies Executive Producer of Doctor Who comments "I've been lucky and honored to work with David over the past few years - and it's not over yet, the Tenth Doctor still has five spectacular hours left! After which, I might drop an anvil on his head. Or maybe a piano. A radioactive piano. But we're planning the most enormous and spectacular ending, so keep watching!"
Doctor Who returns to our screens on BBC this Christmas. The Next Doctor starring David Tennant, David Morrissey and Dervla Kirwan will be screened on the 25th December on BBC1.
Let the speculation over the next incarnation of the Time Lord continue.
Jump to comments (7) 
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Comments (7)
Andrew Pepoy (7:48 PM on Wed Oct 29, 2008)
With David gone I won't be able to get my wife to watch with me anymore. She's never been a Who fan, but David gave her the one doctor she could watch and enjoy.
Oh, well... back to watching it on my own, as I did most of my life.
Neil Ottenstein (8:37 AM on Thu Oct 30, 2008)
He'll be missed. I wonder if he'll transform at the end of the last 2009 special or if he will be convinced to do one more show in 2010 where it will take place.
The video of his announcement can be seen at You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRtQaPfVvT0
Allyn Gibson (9:14 AM on Thu Oct 30, 2008)
I wonder if they might leave Tennant's era open-ended. Rather than show the regeneration, let the eleventh Doctor's era begin like the ninth Doctor's era began β€” he's been in existence for an unspecified period of time, we don't know how he came to be, and it's a fresh start with a new status quo.
That will also account for River Song nicely. :)
Neil Ottenstein (9:22 AM on Thu Oct 30, 2008)
I wonder whether one of the specials will feature River Song. Whether they have a regeneration or not, since they are doing these specials, there can always be an undetermined amount of time between them. I don't think they can resist not having a regeneration story, though.
Alan Kistler (2:57 PM on Thu Oct 30, 2008)
Technically, since the Doctor is traveling alone in these special (and has been traveling alone since the finale) there can be years of adventures between each one. The new books coming out are already taking this premise, showcasing a half dozen adventures he has between now and the christmas special already.
Rob (10:03 AM on Fri Oct 31, 2008)
Maybe, but when is all said and done, it is the ongoing series that is always considered canon.
They had better have at least one episode with River Song, because when the two of them met, there was no comment of "Well, this is the first time I've met that face." She said he was younger than she had ever seen. But she still recognized him.
I think at least one television appearance is in order. Then leave any other 10th Doctor/River Song encounters up to other mediums. :)
Jeremiah Avery (8:53 AM on Fri Oct 31, 2008)
I started, recently, to watch "Doctor Who" on a regular basis. I must say, it is a very addicting show. I hope to catch as much of it as possible before he leaves.