Doctor no longer in the Tardis

[anotheranon]

Yep, he's stepping down. Don't worry, the first series is already in the can, so there are at least 12 more episodes to look forward to.

I'm not heartbroken as I'm not a long-time Dr. Who fan, but I have seen the first episode and enjoyed it - Eccleston was wonderfully funny and eccentric.

But it does get back around to, if not Eccleston, who? My favorite suggestion so far is Eddie Izzard - the doctor's been everything from a preppy to a Victorian dandy, so why not an "executive transvestite"?

Casting call: who would you cast as the next Dr. Who?

Comments

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

DARN!!! I was just celebrating the fact that the show had been resurrected earlier this week!

Bill Nighy (another suggestion from the article), would make an excellent Doctor. :-)

Other picks that come immediately to mind:

Richard E. Grant (a blend of the Doctor's snarky/cranky first incarnation and his quirky/off-the-wall second incarnation. Then again, he'd be great cast as the Master as well ... perfect villain material!)

Chris Barrie (sadly, he'd probably never get it 'cause TV execs would think that viewers couldn't switch their brains over from seeing him as Arnold Rimmer, but I think he'd be great in the role)

Claudia Black (well, why not? and I bet she'd have FUN! ... there was talk in the early eighties of having the Doctor's regeneration change his gender as well as his outside appearance, but it never happened)

Hugh Laurie (I've seen him in dramatic roles as well as the more familiar ditzy Bertie Wooster/Blackadder "George" incarnations, and he could certainly handle the role)

Steve Pemberton (I'm sure I've read that he'd love to play the role and he may even have been on the shortlist for the new series ... he's playing Mr. Prosser in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)

[tommx.livejournal.com]

hugh laurie is a good choice, but unfortunately he has a hit show on fox and is probably getting a lot more money for that than the bbc could afford for dr. who.

i myself would love to see bill nighy.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Hard for me to reckon Bill Nighy. Everything I've seen him in he's been rather dour and/or creepy, which seems very un-Doctorish from my (admittedly limited) perception.

Unless he was the softie vampire in that old Pet Shop Boys video, "Heart" - I've always wondered....

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

Another reason to see Love Actually ... Bill Nighy does quite a nice comedy turn in that one (plays an aging rocker making a comeback with a cheesy Christmas adaptation of "Love is all around").

P.S. If you think dour and creepy is un-Doctorish, check out the very first (William Hartnell) incarnation ... he was quite capable of both. =O

[tommx.livejournal.com]

have you ever seen love actually? he's a scream in that. very comedic.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't seen it - one of those I meant to see but it left the theaters before I had a chance.

I've heard good things about the movie all around - I should get off my ass and look for a copy!

[tommx.livejournal.com]

bill nighy plays an aging rock and roller promoting some kitschy christmas song he's been paid a large amount of money to record, and promotes the song in outlandish fashion. example, during a television interview, he says "boys and girls, don't buy drugs! instead, become a rock star and they give them to you for free!"

it's one of the best chick flicks i think i've ever seen.

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

If you can't find it, let me know ... I can give you a loan-by-mail of my DVD. :-)

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

Ah well ... Hugh can be the NEXT Doctor, right? ;-) ***starts tallying up regenerations on fingers***

[tommx.livejournal.com]

i guess it depends on how long house remains a hit. he is a damn fine actor, and would probably play a wonderously nasty doctor. (he's so good at roles in which he insults everyone around him such as house and the guy he played in mi5)

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Much as I love Claudia Black, I don't think she'd be right for the role - not English OR eccentric enough. Hugh Laurie might be a real possibility though!

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

I dunno ... remember 4th-season Aeryn as a blonde princess with a southern accent and a lisp? ***grin*** (Peacekeeper Wars DVD extras include a "pregnant" Claudia skippity-hopping across an outdoor set with a sunshade umbrella that's nearly bigger than she is, and exhibiting other silly behaviour ... it's this outtake-type stuff that I've seen her do that helped influence my pick)

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Ok, the blonde princess WAS wonderfully cheezy. I can't say I've seen the outtakes though - perhaps if I did it might change my mind.

For a woman Doctor, I can't help but think "British and quirky" - Jennifer Saunders?

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

Hmmm ... possible. I've never seen her do anything but comedy ... has she done any drama? (playing the Doctor requires ability in both areas)

[tommx.livejournal.com]

she could probably do drama...i could see her as a possible female doctor.

however, you just inspired me...

what about lenny henry? there's no law that says the doctor can't be black, right?

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

LURVE Lenny Henry! I could see him in the role!

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

Oh, YES ... Lenny would do an incredible job! :-)

[tommx.livejournal.com]

his voice alone should be enough to get him the part, but he has so much more to offer on top of that.

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

And now that I've read the rest of the article (I see Richard E. Grant is mentioned) ... I agree that Alan Davies would also be an excellent choice (his Jonathan Creek character is practically there already!)

[semmie17.livejournal.com]

Alan Davies! Squeeee!

Although my second choice would be Eddie Izzard.

I wonder if they'd consider Robbie Coltrane....*ponders*

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

I did think of Robbie ... his acting skills and personality are perfect, but the Doctor has traditionally been a fairly active character (some doing own stunt work required, plus much climbing and running) and, for that reason, I regretfully crossed his cuddly person off my mental list. :-(

Now that I'm thinking Scottish, Billy Connolly could do great things with a TARDIS ... ;-)

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Gawd, Billy Connolly would be PERFECT!!!

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

Wonder if Billy still has the banana boots he used to wear on tour ... talk about perfect eccentric Doctor gear ... :p

[skill-grl.livejournal.com]

If you're a Doctor Who fan, you've gotta meet the hosts of the LambdaSF book group some Sunday or Thursday. Y'all will hit it off.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I'm not a huge fan, but the more I think about it I seem to remember more episodes than I thought I did. Tom Baker was a scream!

And yes - hopefully I can hit some LambdaSF events this summer!