Need Some Clarification on Sci Fi's Dr. Who

[Rl'Halsinor]

I've been fairly consistent in watching the Sci Fi channel's Dr. Who. The good doctor has "changed" i.e., a different actor playing the same character. Now I saw the one where he says, "I.m going to change now." Can someone explain the reasoning behind this?

1. Was it because the original actor wanted to move on?

2. Was this something oin the works from the beginning?

3. Or did the producers feel a change was needed?

 

[Jamdin]

I have read the following about why Christopher Eccleston left the series:

He was afraid of being typecast

He left so he could star in the movie version of The Prisoner

 

[Ed_Laprade]

In the unlikely event that you are unaware of how this works in the Whovian universe:

Way back in the sixties the original actor (William Hartnel) decided he didn't want to do the show any more. (He was getting on in years.) As the show was very popular on the BBC (it's a British show) the producers decided to bring in a new actor to play the role by killing off the original (in the show, of course) and explaining that he had transformed into a new form when it happen because it was something Timelords did. There have been several such transformations since. (6-7?)

 

[Cthulhudrew]

Christopher Eccleston decided (for whatever reason- as Jamdin noted, there have been several postulations) that he wanted to leave the show and not return for a second season. That's pretty much it. There wasn't any backlash against him, he wasn't fired or anything; if anything, people seemed pretty disappointed he was leaving, as he had done a widely regarded excellent job in the role.

Fortunately, as Ed_Laprade points out, there is a mechanism that has long been in place within the context of the show (the Doctor's regenerations) to cover such events.

 

[Tuzenbach]

Having now experienced Tennant's Doctor, I'm GLAD Eccleston left!

 

[Morrus]

I've been fairly consistent in watching the Sci Fi channel's Dr. Who. The good doctor has "changed" i.e., a different actor playing the same character. Now I saw the one where he says, "I.m going to change now." Can someone explain the reasoning behind this?

1. Was it because the original actor wanted to move on?

2. Was this something oin the works from the beginning?

3. Or did the producers feel a change was needed?

Over 700 episodes and 28 seasons, there have been 10 different Doctors. As a Timelord, he is able to regenerate upon death. For more information on Doctor Who, I strongly recommend the Wikipedia entry.

First Doctor, played by William Hartnell (1963–1966)
Second Doctor, played by Patrick Troughton (1966–1969)
Third Doctor, played by Jon Pertwee (1970–1974)
Fourth Doctor, played by Tom Baker (1974–1981)
Fifth Doctor, played by Peter Davison (1981–1984)
Sixth Doctor, played by Colin Baker (1984–1986)
Seventh Doctor, played by Sylvester McCoy (1987–1989, 1996)
Eighth Doctor, played by Paul McGann (1996)
Ninth Doctor, played by Christopher Eccleston (2005)
Tenth Doctor, played by David Tennant (2005–present)

 

[Tonguez]

Having now experienced Tennant's Doctor, I'm GLAD Eccleston left!

While I did like Eccleston portrayal I must agree that Tennant's Doctor is shaping up to be one of my favourites (he may even be on par with Tom Baker - because, well, it would be heresy to say he way better)

 

[Hypersmurf]

While I did like Eccleston portrayal I must agree that Tennant's Doctor is shaping up to be one of my favourites (he may even be on par with Tom Baker - because, well, it would be heresy to say he way better)

Yes - the 'better than Tom Baker' spot is reserved for Jon Pertwee alone!

-Hyp.

 

[Rl'Halsinor]

Thanks, guys, good stuff. Now it is clear. I remember Tom Baker from yesteryear and I liked his portral but I wasn't an avid follower of the series. I thought Eccleston's best portral came when he was confronted with that lone Dalek, showing extreme hate and unmerciful behavior (much of it understood), so extreme that the Dalek commented that the Doctor would make a good Dalek.

 

[Tuzenbach]

Best Doctors:

1) Patrick Troughton
2) Tom Baker
3) David Tennant



Good Doctors:

4) Paul McGann
5) Jon Pertwee
6) William Hartnell



Could-have-been-better Doctors:

7) Colin Baker
8) Christopher Eccleston
9) Sylvester McCoy
10) Peter Davison (captain boring!)