Eccleston: Saviour of Doctor Who?
Before everyone gets ready to draw knives to use on themselves or Christopher Eccleston, consider this: this show would have never have been treated seriously by the BBC, the press and possibly the viewing public without an actor the calibre of Eccleston to bring the series out of the starting gates. And now that he has done that to thunderous applause, the show could be poised to go on for a long time.
Risks can be taken in casting the next Doctor and by leaving during the first season an audience can quickly identify that the show is bigger than the actor. Another year, lower ratings, Eccleston wants to leave…who’s to say it wouldn’t be cancelled when he wanted to give up. But by committing to the series and showing what can be done and leaving early, it’s in fact validated the next season that was greenlighted today and ensured a future for Doctor Who beyond him.
So maybe instead of looking for the end of the world, we should just look forward to The End of the World instead and marvel at how bloody talented this man is, and how lucky we are to have him as the Doctor.
Posted by Graeme on Wednesday, March 30 at 7:05 pm
4 Comments...
I just found out this morning that Dr Who is returning and I’m looking forward to seeing it.
If anyone is still around from the pre-internet days, I used to run the ‘Bible, Dr Who BBS’. Drop me an email.
King
Posted by King on 03/31 at 03:57 AM
Well said Graeme! I agree entirely.
Posted by Luca on 03/31 at 06:44 AM
I agree with you to a point. But let’s not forget that the BBC was going to bring it back anyway. Once Russell T Davies was attached it went from the big-time to the mega big-time in the BBC’s eyes. No RTD, no Eccleston. I think Russell half-covers-the BBC part of the equation and most of the press part as well. Whoever he cast would have been really good. Did Eccleston’s standing help a lot? Sure but then so would Bill Nighy (for example if he was ever really up for it). David Tennant, if he is the man, is no slouch either though less well known as far as I can tell he is gaining similar standing to Eccleston though on a different path.
Posted by Ryan on 03/31 at 08:11 AM
Poor RTD. He’s having his trial by fire, having to jump start the series, and then go to the Christmas regen episode (assuming BBC and the Telegraph are right, and Shaun Lyon is just being careful). This may be the most delicate regen since Baker/Davison, or maybe even Hartnell/Troughton. I’m sure he’ll do a great job if Rose was anything to go by. Ultimately, this was perhaps unavoidable, since had the BBC signed him for more than one year, and the show was a flop, they’d have to pay him a million quid for potentially doing sweet f all. So thems the breaks…
Posted by Ari on 03/31 at 07:40 PM
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