(no subject)

[mrph]

Actor Christopher Eccleston has quit as Doctor Who after just one episode of the new series, the BBC has confirmed

Er. Right. Remind me, didn't he actively ask for the role? Oh well.

Feck.

Comments

[dmh.livejournal.com]

Yup. A bit of a downer after the confirmation of the second series and Christmas special, but hey, I wish him well all the same.

[esran.livejournal.com]

What!? Hmm. The pessimist in me is going 'fuck'. The optimist is going 'still, its Dr. Who and its good'. And the conspiracy theorist is going 'so, they leaked the episode and now are scaremongering eh?'.

[zarbi.livejournal.com]

Talk about lack of loyalty, after all the build-up. For a few confused minutes I was checking the date - April 1st? But no. This is a downer, and puts me off watching the rest of the series.

Are we being had?

[zarbi.livejournal.com]

Just a thought... An April Fool about Dr Who would, of course, be a day early... what with the time travelling and all..

[aoakley.livejournal.com]

The Beeb's confirmation appeared to have been forced after the story leaked to The Sun and The Mirror. I'd like to think that it is an April Fool that got leaked a day early, but... it's Doctor Who, nothing is certain.

The confirmation story was issued at 00:06, which is a very odd time to officially announce anything (there can't be many senior staff on hand at midnight, surely?). There is also an earlier BBC story at 5pm confirming the Christmas Special and second series but ominously stating "it was not known if Christopher Eccleston would return".

The fans will go nuts in a not very nice way if CE has indeed quit by his own choice after only one series. Can't imagine it would be very good for his chances of being hired for anything else, either; he'd be forever remembered by programme comissioners as "the quitter".

The BBC's confirmation mentions David Tennant (Casanova) as a possible replacement, which again strikes me as a bit of a whacky April Fool's choice (from the little I've seen, Tennant is far too young and effeminate IMHO). But as I keep telling myself, it's Doctor Who, you just never know.

Is Christopher the Timothy Dalton to Paul McGann's George Lazenby?

[jorune.livejournal.com]

If it's an April Fool then it's a high risk strategy as media history will link it with the Howard Flight fiasco, a story that is still unfolding. Both were ancient and both of them invited warmth and hatred in equal measure, the Tories and Dr Who appeared to be rising strongly before self inflicted wounds.

If it's not an April Fool then surely he could picked a better time to leave. This is not courting controversy, but a live sex show with controversy in the middle of Picadilly Circus.

Either way I agree with zarbi that it does spoil one's interest in later shows.

[surje.livejournal.com]

so do you think they mean that he has quit after one season's filming, and after one episode was aired?

[aardvarkoffnord.livejournal.com]

> This is a downer, and puts me off watching the rest of the series.

Indeed, and I haven't even see "Rose" yet.

*sigh*

[claire-smith.livejournal.com]

Arse. :(

[lucy-pointycat.livejournal.com]

Hiya, how's it going? Sorry for using LJ but I'm not sure I've got an email for you. Wondered if you wanted a demo for DJing purposes or a copy of our new album, Vodka Milk, for reviewing purposes? (Freebie obviously). P.S. Are you going to whitby?

Anyway, let me know if you do, by emailing me on band @ psychophile.co.uk

Lots of love and beeeg kisses!

Lucy xxx

[zarbi.livejournal.com]

Can't imagine it would be very good for his chances of being hired for anything else, either; he'd be forever remembered by programme comissioners as "the quitter".

Exactly. If he wanted not to be stereotyped, he has done exactly the wrong thing. Past Dr. Who actors have not suffered from this, whereas he will be long remembered as the one who let the fans down.

[sadaprilsky.livejournal.com]

It's silly. I have to remind myself it's only a TV programme. I feel like I've only just met this incarnation of The Doctor and already he is leaving. I liked David Tennant in Casanova, but I've only just got used to the Ninth incarnation, I'm not ready for the Tenth yet!

[dakiara.livejournal.com]

Wasn't there one theory about timelords only getting 9 incarnations or thereabouts if I recall correctly (been a long time since the days of the fan conventions)? Perhaps it's the BBC trying to finish the series off for good? ;)

I definately agree with it being a bit of a bad thing to do from a professional viewpoint - perhaps he's holding out for more money though as it's been a success?

/em sticks head in sand and hums cos she liked this doctor and therefore none of this is happening :(

[polidori.livejournal.com]

"Past Dr. Who actors have not suffered from this"

Actually, most of them have, and several Doctors have quit the series for exactly the same reason as Eccleston apparently has.

Being slightly more cynical, The BBC appear to have a love/hate relationship with Doctor Who, and they spent many years trying ther best to get ratings to fall to justify axing the series: Terrible scripts and horrendous costumes/sets which plagued Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy, for example.

Perhaps, as the Doctor has only a few lives left (12 Regeneration = 13 Doctors), they may be thinking to quickly cycle through the last few incarnations and end series totally.

[aoakley.livejournal.com]

This is now increasingly looking like something that has been planned for some time, with a successor David Tennant apparently having been officially in discussion with the BBC for several months.

I have posted a major spoiler which fits with this over on my LJ.

[mimmimmim.livejournal.com]

It's extremely annoying.

Jack Davenport for New Who!

[giggly-teapot.livejournal.com]

okay this is off subject,
I hope you are better now
missed you at BTV III

hugs....