posted
As if the title didn't give it away - the new series has always been renewed, but Christopher Ecclestone has announced that he's not goign to come back. Read on for the news byte from outpostgallifrey.net:
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BBC News has confirmed rumors from earlier today that Christopher Eccleston has decided not to return to Doctor Who for a second series. Press Association, a news wire service, says "Actor Christopher Eccleston has quit as Doctor Who after just one series, it was announced tonight. The star, who has appeared in television drama Cracker and hit film, Shallow Grave, is 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: ‘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 assistant, 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 today, the BBC announced it had commissioned the second series." Outpost Gallifrey earlier reported that the Sun newspaper was leading tomorrow with a story entitled "Doctor Who Quits!" but that it was possibly speculation taken from the Jane Tranter comments earlier today; however, with the news flash on BBC News, and a statement from Eccleston, it now appears to be true. We will keep you posted on breaking news about this development.
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There had been scattered reports during the filming that Eccleston had been unhappy with the pressures of filming an intensive series (13 episodes is unusually long for a BBC television drama), and even some of the recent media interviews quoted him as being worried about typecasting. So, while this is a blow for the show, it's not a COMPLETE suprise. Most people, myself included, are basically shocked that he'd leave the show after so short a time.
Frankly, yeesh - this guy would never survive in Hollywood or Vancouver...
posted
They're going to have to find a way of getting around that 12 regenreation rule sharpish at this rate...
-------------------- Yes, you're despicable, and... and picable... and... and you're definitely, definitely despicable. How a person can get so despicable in one lifetime is beyond me. It isn't as though I haven't met a lot of people. Goodness knows it isn't that. It isn't just that... it isn't... it's... it's despicable.
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
Bah! The Master managed to get at LEAST four extra bodies after his thirteenth incarnation, through various means. When the Doctor gets to that bridge, they'll almost certainly find a way around it. They probably won't even bring it up, Valeyard manifestations aside, until whoever picks up the 13th mantle has been at it for a while.
posted
Four? His thirteenth body was, presumably, Roger Delgado. That body degraded into the skull-faced version played by a couple different actors in "The Deadly Assassin" and "The Keeper of Traken" (still his thirteenth body, though). Then he stole Nyssa's father's body (that's one). He was a weird snake-thing in the movie, but I'd hardly count that as a "body". And then he stole that paramedic's body (that's two). So, where did you get four?
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
It depends a lot on who you ask, and which EU novels they've read.
The Delgado Master and the resultant living corpse are generally regarded as the thirteenth incarnation, though some try to conclude that one or both of the corpses in "The Deadly Assassin" and "Traken", being both a different costume and different actors both times, were the result of the Master trying to regenerate and failing (this presumably from fan speculation and I think one novel). Then, there's the Anthony Ainley incarnation we know so well; however, the Master as seen being exterminated by the Daleks (albeit partially concealed) at the beginning of the TV movie was much younger and thinner than the last time we saw him. The snake-thing is often counted as an incarnation (hence, depending on who you ask), and then of course there's Eric Roberts.
So, it's really up to the individual to judge just how many lives the Master has had. But most are satisfied just to conclude that the Master just really doesn't want to DIE die, and will do anything to keep on going.
posted
The Fried-Egg look from The Deadly Assassin is my favorite.
Much later, he regenerates into Pizza The Hut.
-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
All the Brits are starting to calm down now... While feeling betrayed, acceptance is starting to settle in, and "Who's Next?" will reign supreme once more within days.
They should have signed Eccleston to two years, minimum. Personally, I'm unsure what changing a series lead just as it's being established will do in British TV... I'm having flashbacks of "Earth: Final Conflict" here, though it's muted as the production team will be remaining stable. Whoever's next will hopefully have more staying power.
posted
Not likely - another example of a guy more used to movies than TV. Remember, the average season of TV drama in the UK is something like six epsiodes per year.. Doctor Who this year is the current record holder for the season, I believe.
Hehe... The outpostgallifrey forums have been shut down due to all the fighting... We've never done that for Trek, have we?
posted
Strangely though though that doesn't apply to shows like Casualty, which seem to be able to produce new shows all year long despite not being a soap.
-------------------- Yes, you're despicable, and... and picable... and... and you're definitely, definitely despicable. How a person can get so despicable in one lifetime is beyond me. It isn't as though I haven't met a lot of people. Goodness knows it isn't that. It isn't just that... it isn't... it's... it's despicable.
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
I saw some programme that featured Casualty the other night, it mentioned it had been running for 18 years and. . . I can't remember how many programmes, but I think it worked out at about 20 to 30 eps a year.
-------------------- "I am an almost extinct breed, an old-fashioned gentleman, which means I can be a cast-iron son-of-a-bitch when it suits me." --Jubal Harshaw
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
Its crapness isn't the issue, but rather the fact it seems to be able to be on on an almost regular basis without being classed as a soap. Which it is, really.
Mind you, we sort-of like Holby City. If only because it's got Hugh Quarshie and Art Malik in it.
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