Big announcement tonight?

[KryptonSite]

Rumor has it that a big Doctor Who related announcement will be made by the BBC at midnight London time tonight.

Any clues on what it may be?

My leading spec is that they'll announce Series Four as David Tennant's last, since he's doing a play for most of next year. Steven Moffatt as showrunner? Guess we'll find out soon enough....

[TMLS]

Yep, have heard that too but no concrete buzz on what it is.

Just seen on another forum:

The people that have seen the announcement seem to be suggesting that it will announce David will do a 5th season, but that it won't be till 2010, and that we'll have to make do with 2/3 specials in 2009.

Hmm.

[MidgardDragon]

Hrm, seems odd. Why wouldn't they just recast a new doctor and have a regular season in 09? I'll believe that when I see proof. I think this being Tennant's last year sounds more plausible.

[TMLS]

Apparently it was just accidentally on the BBC site, and that IS what the announcement is.

Has now been taken down though.

This is what it said:

Doctor Who to return for fifth series in 2010.

After months of media speculation, the BBC can confirm that the BAFTA award-winning Doctor Who will return for a fifth series in Spring 2010.

Viewers are in for a treat this Christmas, as a special episode starring David Tennant and Kylie Minogue will be broadcast on BBC One in December 2007.

Series Four, which went into production in July 2007, will hit UK screens in Spring 2008, followed by a special episode for Christmas 2008.

In 2009 Doctor Who will return with three specials starring David Tennant, with Head Writer, Russell T Davies.

The full-length fifth series will transmit in 2010.

Jane Tranter, Controller, BBC Fiction, says: "Doctor Who is one of the BBC's best loved and most successful dramas. Its journey over the past three series has been one of the most ambitious and exciting that we have had, and I'm delighted to be able to confirm not only three exciting specials for 2009, but a fifth series in 2010. "

Menna Richards, Controller, BBC Wales, says: "The success of Doctor Who is a fantastic tribute to the dedication and expertise of the production team at BBC Wales who have worked on the project from the outset. This announcement is marvellous news for all involved, and more importantly for the programme's amazing fan base and audience. BBC Wales is looking forward to producing the fifth series."

Following the critically acclaimed season three finale, the BBC has announced that Catherine Tate is set to return to the TARDIS for the complete 13-week run of series four, reprising her role as Donna from the 2006 Christmas special.

Freema Agyeman, who won praise for her portrayal of Martha Jones in series three, is also set to return mid series four.

Up permanently now:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2007/09/03/48471.shtml

[MidgardDragon]

Wow, that seems so strange to me. Do they want to keep David that bad? I thought a big aspect of the show was The Doctor's regenerations and having different actors to change things up. Is there more to this story than meets the eye or what?

ETA: And more Martha? Don't get me wrong, she didn't suck, but I don't particularly care to see her come back either.

[TMLS]

It doesn't state there that Tennant's doing S5, just the specials. Maybe they're giving a new creative team/Doctor an easier first year of production?

[MidgardDragon]

Possibly. I mean if that's the case S5 better be huge, but it seems pretty easy to believe that they delayed the season to allow David Tennant to continue, too, since he's doing that play.

[constantine]

I think a gap year could be a good thing - if Russel is heading out, it means the team can get used to a new production team, sketch out the stories more thoroughly, and even decide on casting decisions.

A friend of mine reasonably in the know is also suggesting it could be a plan to delay british broadcast so that the continental US and Australia can be more in synch, and thus reducing piracy issues.

[newbaggy]

A couple of things strike me. If Russell T Davies had been feeling that pressure of work meant that he might want to leave the series after seaon four, then a replacement would have needed to be in place by January 2008 (to start work on storylines for season 5). The most widely touted names, Steven Moffat and Matthew Graham, are currently comitted to other projects. So it may suit all involved to delay the need to find RTD's replacement for a year (or more, if RTD feels rested enough to do the full season 5). Equally, there might be a feeling that keeping David Tennant on board for another year might make the position of an incoming showrunner easier, as they would be free to cast their own Doctor.

The other thought is that the BBC are committed to making all their dramas in high-definition, but have to make Doctor Who in standard definition because it would take to long to render the required number of effects shots in HD. It may be that giving the visual effects team a bit of a breather might give them a chance to gear up for producing Doctor Who in HD (assuming that suitable hardware/software is available).

[pipersmum]

I absolutely love David Tennant as the Doctor and I would love for him to continue. The reason why they might want to hang on to him is he is running out of regenerations they are on number 10 and I think he is supposed to have 13. Of course this is my opinion but also David is well liked here in the UK so maybe they just want to keep the audience ratings.

[constantine]

I'm actually kind of hoping david will move on at some point...he just doesn't feel right as a doctor for me...you know?

[KryptonSite]

I'm kind of mixed on this idea... though, I think it was probably between getting three specials of David and nothing at all, since he's doing that play next year, so that part at least is good.

But "hiatus" and "Doctor Who" together are two scary things.

What would be really great is if the fifth series was for more than 13-14 episodes, but British TV doesn't seem to work that way.

I still hope Steven Moffat takes over.

[SuperShazam!!]

yeh we only get 13 episodes, but then normally the season's main plot isnt dragged out and we dont get filler/crap episodes

[MidgardDragon]

Shouldn't that be filler or crap rather than filler/crap? They're not synonymous y'know.

[Estro-gen X]

I'm still holding out that they will bring billie back for these

*is in a pit of denial- so what?*

[constantine]

Originally posted by Estro-gen X
I'm still holding out that they will bring billie back for these

*is in a pit of denial- so what?*

I'm betting that there'll be a staggering of shows (i.e. torchwood on air while doctor who is off) factoring into this as well

[borednow]

Originally posted by Estro-gen X
I'm still holding out that they will bring billie back for these

*is in a pit of denial- so what?*

Billie did say, at some point that she was open to coming back before David leaves, at lest thats what I heard, and there is the whole Bad Wolf thing still running around. If there was no chance they would have just droped it. If that's a pit of denial I'm in it with you! :D

[TMLS]

Bad Wolf still around? Eh? That was tied up in The Parting of the Ways...

[constantine]

yeah. which episode ws it where russel t davies and freema agyeman were thrown into an event horizon? oh. that hasn't happened yet.

[MidgardDragon]

I have heard (completely unofficial) rumors that Billie wants to come back for the three specials they're doing in 09.

[constantine]

completely untrue. sorry.

[MidgardDragon]

Please provide the link wherein Billie or those who run the show have proved these false. I was happy to state that my rumors were completely unofficial, but sense you are claiming some kind of truth to yours, you have to provide proof.

[Estro-gen X]

Originally posted by TMLS
Bad Wolf still around? Eh? That was tied up in The Parting of the Ways...

If it was a message to the ninth doc then why turn up at bad wolf bay? Why did the werewolf say the wolf was in rose's eyes? At its simplist its the connection between the doctor and rose- bad wolf here, bad wolf there which logically can be used again. In gridlock there was a poster in the asian girls car with bad wolf written in mandarin and a drawing of a blonde woman next to it.

[SuperShazam!!]

Originally posted by MidgardDragon
Shouldn't that be filler or crap rather than filler/crap? They're not synonymous y'know.
:lol: yeh i didnt realise what i put, i meant crap

[constantine]

Originally posted by MidgardDragon
Please provide the link wherein Billie or those who run the show have proved these false. I was happy to state that my rumors were completely unofficial, but sense you are claiming some kind of truth to yours, you have to provide proof.

No I don't.