WHO'S NEXT? DOCTOR WHO

Tonight the final episode of David Tennant's run as Doctor Who has been screened - the final scene showed the Doctor rregenerating into his new persona, that of actor Matt Smith. Not only is a new actor stepping into the role but a new producer takes over. The show also has a new logo and there are high hopes for the new actor in the role.


"We are not of this race, we are not of this Earth. We are wanderers in the fourth dimension of space and time, cut off from our own planet and our own people by aeons and universes beyond the reach of your most advanced sciences." From the Doctor Who, pilot episode.

David Tennant's tenure has been successful - to the current generation he is the Doctor and Matt Smith has big shoes to fill. Have no fear, though the show will continue and there is little doubt that the new actor will make the role his own. In a few months it will be a case of - David Who?

I still remember cowering when Jon Pertwee turned into Tom Baker but within several stories the ghost of Pertwee was laid to rest. In fact Tom Baker's run can be compared to Tennant's terms of success and for anyone over forty Tom Baker is still the Doctor.

Giving the character the ability to regenerate was a stroke of genius that only came about originally because original actor, William Hartnell wanted to leave the role. The producers were thrown into turmoil but then someone had the bright idea that because the Doctor was an alien he could renew his body when his old one was worn out. It wasn't yet called regeneration but it allowed Patrick Troughton to step into the role for the 1966 story, The Power of the Daleks.

The video below show all of the Doctor's regenerations up to the eighth Doctor. 8 turning into 9 was of course never seen since it occurred presumably during the years the series was off air.

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No doubt the latest regeneration will be on You Tube before the night is out.