Thu Nov 6, 2008 — by Robert Greenberger

'Doctor Who' Speculation Grips England

David Tennant Talks Replacement

The British media has been in overdrive since David Tennant announced last week that the four specials in 2009 will be his final year as The Doctor. He appeared this week on BBC Breakfast and said, "Who knows what might happen in the future? The door isn't necessarily closed forever.

"I actually think it's one of those parts that any actor could bring something very valid to, because he can be anything and because it's a sort of blank canvas every time.

"In fact, the difference is the virtue with each doctor, it's not like recasting Tarzan, where you have to got someone who looks good in a loin cloth. It can sort of be anything."

After all, his predecessors have managed to reprise their incarnation of the Time Lord for the annual Children in Need charity special and audio books.

When pressed, he refused to join in the speculation for a successor, saying, "It's not down to me. I've got nothing to do with it." Then he lightly suggested if they wanted to go with a female doctor, Billie Piper, who played the beloved Rose Tyler, would get his nod.

He also mentioned that when incoming producer Steven Moffat outlined his thoughts on the doctor, Tennant was tempted to reconsider his decision which he apparently made some time back with current producer Russell T. Davies.

The odds continue to favor James Nesbitt (Cold Feet)as receiving the key to the TARDIS. When asked, Nesbitt said it would be career suicide to follow Tennant and said his competition, Paterson Joseph, "would be great".

Reuters notes that “Bookmaker William Hill has made 44-year-old David Morrissey, who starred in BBC dramas State of Play and Blackpool its favorite to get the job, while the Daily Mirror is tipping former Eastenders actor Tom Ellis.”

Radio newscaster Terry Wogan aired a report that the replacement doctor may well be first seen on November’s Children In Need.

ODDS ON NEW DOCTOR FROM PADDY POWER (3rd Nov 2008)

2/1 David Morrisey
6/1 Patterson Joseph
8/1 James Nesbitt, Chiwetel Ejiofor
10/1 Russell Tovey, John Simm
12/1 Anthony Head
14/1 Robert Carlyle, David Walliams
16/1 Richard E. Grant
18/1 Richard Coyle, Aidan Gillen, Alan Davies, Sean Pertwee
20/1 Jason Statham, Harry Lloyd, Nigel Harman, Marc Warren, Jack Davenport
25/1 Julian Walsh, Adrian Lester, Alexander Armstrong
33/1 Julian Rhind-Tutt, Rupert Penry-Jones, James McAvoy
40/1 Bill Nighy, Stephen Fry, Ben Wishaw
50/1 John Barrowman, Ben Miles, David Suchet, Hugh Laurie
66/1 Gary Oldman, Matt Smith, Paul Bettany, Joel Beckett, Christopher Eccleston
80/1 Alex Kingston, Dean Lennox Kelly, Christopher Villiers
100/1 Ricky Gervais
150/1 Hugh Grant, Russell Brand, Vinnie Jones
200/1 Robbie Williams

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