If you’re not a Doctor Who fan, then you can skip this post. If you are, and you don’t want any spoilers at all for Season 4, then skip this post immediately.
As you may know, Catherine Tate, aka The Runaway Bride, will be the new companion. I think this is cool; she has potential. I found a publicity still via (the in this case inappropriately named) Hollywood News:
While fooling around on YouTube, I also found this skit by the pair. Her character’s accent can be difficult for us Yanks, but muddle through, the ending is pretty funny.
So now we wait until the Christmas Special with Kylie Minogue. Kewllll.
September 26th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Tate was ok. I didn’t have visceral instant hatred so many British people I knew expressed. Apparently she’s one of those love-or-hate kinds of comedians. However, I’m not sure she’s gonna be good for a whole season of travel. Personally, I would have preferred Sally Sparrow.
September 26th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
I think I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Lauren before.
I did have to pause a repeat a coupla things, but I think I understood most of it.
September 26th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Yeah, I hope they keep Sally open as a companion for Season 5. And maybe Steven Moffat as head writer…
September 26th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
moffat is rumoured to be taking over from davies in the future
http://www.syfyportal.com/news423909.html
which i think is good news we need more moffat\cornell and less davies.
also sally sparrow as the companion would be an awesome idea
September 26th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
I didn’t really like her too much in the last Christmas special…I thought she was too whiney. I much prefer Martha. But if Tate’s character has grown-up a bit (read “not whiney”), then I’ll probably be okay with her.
Anyway, it’s David I want to see! Did anyone catch him on the Graham Norton show? Too frickin’ funny!
September 26th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Personally, I think Catherine Tate will be excellent (this is old news to us Brits – that youtube clip was from a charity telethon on the BBC last November).
If you want to keep up to date with all things Who, you could do worse than checking Outpost Gallifrey’s news pages at http://www.gallifreyone.com/news.php
I’m not sure about Sally Sparrow returning, but at the end of Blink when the Doctor sees Lawrence Nightingale there is a definite “moment”. I predict he’ll be back at some future stage.
September 26th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
I am not sure what is considered a “spoiler” here. However, last I heard, the series was to have been discontinued after season 3. Now there is even a 5th series anticipated. So this is GOOD news!
September 26th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Tate’s character was nothing more than an older version of Rose. The same useless person- no skills, no purpose, just an object to fawn over the Doctor’s extreme confidence.
Sure, Doctor Who has had those sorts of companions before. But I like to think back to companions like Zoë. Sure, she had her share of damsel-in-distress moments, but she was a supremely competent mathematician. Ace – a girly MacGyver with a hard nose. Romana- the Doctor’s equal! Or the barbarian girl (whose name escapes me), who was equal parts tough-guy and eye-candy.
Rose and Tate’s characters were both the “normal” girl, temporarily brought out on wonderful adventures. Rose is a better example- we have a larger sample. Ignoring the deus ex machina Bad Wolf finale, her entire stint with Eccleston involved her blundering around uselessly. The switch over to Tennant showed us her blundering uselessly and fawning over the pretty boy.
The change-over to Martha showed us someone who was self-motivated and competent. I hoped a “sign of things to come”. In episodes like “Human Nature”, we saw her operating in an unfamiliar time without the Doctor truly capable of guiding her through it. She survived by her own pluck and wit.
Maybe Tate will be more like the former- but I’m not optimistic.
September 26th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Of course Donna was all screechy on the Runaway Bride episode. If any woman was walking down the aisle at their own wedding and suddenly got beamed aboard the Tardis, the term ‘Bridezilla’ wouldn’t begin to cover it.
September 26th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Fair enough, Brian T. That’s why I’m leaving the possibility that she’ll be better for season 4. I really am an optimist at heart.
September 26th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
“down the aisle at their own wedding and suddenly got beamed aboard the Tardis, the term ‘Bridezilla’ wouldn’t begin to cover it.”
You haven’t met my wife. If she ended up on the Tardis like that, I wouldn’t have seen her again for ages. Especially if it was Patrick Troughton- she very well might have eloped with him
September 26th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
And meanwhile, we’ve got the Sarah Jane Adventures to tide us over! w00t!
September 26th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
If you’re not a Doctor Who fan, then you can skip this post.
No. I don’t want to skip the post; I want to moan and whine about how this is supposed to be an astronomy blog not a television blog!
September 26th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Aren’t they skipping a year with season 5? So it won’t be in 09, but in 2010? So we get donna for a year (who I HATED in that episode. Strangely I find Tate’s humour bareable, but as Donna OMG. Bad.), and then we get… nothing. Well, three specials in 2009, but that’s it. No regular season at all.
How many shows out there skip an entire season just cause they feel like it 0_o. Weird. I can never see that happening in NA.
September 26th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
I think the way Rose was used in the first series was an excellent piece of writing. If you go back and watch the first few episodes, we’re basically watching the show through her eyes, discovering (or rediscovering, if you like) the Doctor as she learns more about him.
Tate will obviously have to play a different role. Time will tell if she works as a companion. Fingers-crossed.
Oh, and I can’t pass up the opportunity to pass on my favorite Catherine Tate sketch (co-starring Daniel Craig, the new James Bond). Makes me laugh every time I watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4AgzQvFNZs
As a bonus, this character is a lot easier to understand than Lauren.
September 26th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
The barbarian girl was Leela. L-E-E-L-A Leeeeeela… Played by Louise Jameson, and thus a two-eyed brunette cutie rather than a one-eyed purple-haired animated cutie. As to Tate – I am, despite fear of the potentially horrible way this could all play out, reserving judgment, for the moment. I’ll see what they do with it, and then comment. Bonnie Langford was a redhead; Bonnie Langford was a lousy companion. Catherine Tate is a redhead; it does not necessarily follow that Catherine Tate will be a lousy companion.
Having said that… Sally Sparrow yessssss. Give her her own series, make her a recurring character in DW or Torchwood or The Sarah Jane Adventures, whatever; more Sparrow. More Captain Jack, more Sally Sparrow, fuse the two and give us more Captain Jack Sparrow, and before you know it… sub-standard sequels? Okay, give me a minute to think this through…
September 26th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Bad Astronomer = Davros
>;^)
September 26th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Errr Matt,
That’s Captain Jack Harkness.
Loved his episodes BTW. “Face of Bo” indeed.
September 26th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
gopher65 — yeah, they’re skipping a year, but that’s because Tennant is going to be doing Hamlet with the RSC and it would conflict with a normal full season of filming.
September 26th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Huh. I thought it was The Master who shrunk down those who annoyed him. Or am I confused yet again…?
September 26th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
I propose that PZ from pharyngula = the Master
>;^)
September 26th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
[...] And of course, saving the day by unleashing the ultimate weapon: a story about the Doctor, told to everyone on Earth, so that they will believe, is not just Tinkerbell brought back to life by wishing hard enough, it saves us from the Nihilism of false hope provided by governments and religions by giving us something real to believe in, an old man whose been to the future and knows how it will end but carries on anyway for the fun and joy of telling a story to whomever will listen. *** Phil Plait, the best Bad Astronomer around, has a bit of news on Season 4. [...]
September 26th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
“Hi, this is Patrick Stewart. Would you mind putting TNG on hold for a year so I can go do theatre? What’s that? No? Oh… well then…”
I just can’t see something like that ever flying with one of the networks here, no matter how big of a star the person is. If they make unreasonable demands, you can then and move on. If your staff is tired, you replace them. It’s not like they exactly have top quality staff on Doctor Who anyway.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Didn’t Angela Lansbury miss a big chunk of a season or so of Murder, She Wrote to do some stage work? It’s doable with a genre. Maybe with Doctor Who, with seasons only 13 episodes long, they could think of some other story line that would fit in that universe. I can’t but I don’t have much of an imagination, sorry.
September 26th, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Aww, now make up your mind Phil. Either you want spoilers here or you don’t…
Season 3 was superb, Season 4 will depend on how annoying the character of Donna is, and how overboard they go with the whole “Guest star” thing; parachute in too many famous names and it will become a bit of a pantomime, I fear, I don’t know about anyone else but whenever I see a famous name in a show like this I don’t see the character they’re playing, just the famous name, it can absolutely ruin it sometimes
I’d hate DW to become a victim of its own success and eat itself in a celebrity feeding frenzy.
They’ll miss Martha in S4 until she returns, believe me.
September 27th, 2007 at 3:36 am
Bwahahaha…I have PICTURES of our lovely Kylie – in her boots – leaving the Dr. Who set!
http://forums.superiorpics.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=6&Number=1424721&Searchpage=3&Main=1424721&Words=kylie+boots&topic=&Search=true#Post1424721
Can’t wait! You know I live for this stuff!
September 27th, 2007 at 4:18 am
I like the way you youngsters call the new series ‘Season 4.’ I’ve lost count but it must be knocking on thirty series by now.
My favourite companion was the Time Lady, Romana, played by Mary Tamm. She didn’t take any nonsense from the Doctor and was more than capable of taking over when they got into ticklish situations.
Unfortunately, and way too soon, they regenerated Time Lady Romana into Drippy Romana played by Lala Ward.
The best runners-up for me have been Leela with her Janus thorns and Martha, because both have been pro-active rather than dithery-squeally.
–
September 27th, 2007 at 7:23 am
They stopped making the show for 2 decades. So this IS season 4. To use the TNG analogy again, it wasn’t season 4 of Star Trek, it was season 1 of TNG. It was the same show with new characters, just like Doctor Who. Just because the new show has one of the characters from the old show (The Doctor) doesn’t mean it is still the same series. Different writers, different crew, different actors, and a 2 decade break says that it isn’t.
September 27th, 2007 at 8:08 am
Doctor Who started in 1963, pre-dating Star Trek by three or four years. I remember seeing the very first episode when I was six years old! I had a prepubescent crush on Zoe (Wendy Padbury) and, finding a contemporary photo of her recently I have to say she still looks great.
I think it’s good that the show has managed to attract plenty of fans in the U.S. without compromising its format too much, although for me the stories tend to be too short nowadays. That does seem to be changing gradually though. I hate it when producers of British shows try to sell their ideas to the U.S., who then do their own versions with American actors etc. and tend to miss the point of the original show completely (remember the U.S. version of Red Dwarf?). At least Dr. Who hasn’t suffered that fate. It’s a British show, and it must remain that way in my opinion. But having said all that, I tend not to watch it nowadays, preferring my collection of Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker videos!
September 27th, 2007 at 9:26 am
I was a huge Tom Baker fan in college. Had a scarf like his and Dr WHO buttons on my backpack. yes, I majored in engineering.
September 27th, 2007 at 11:29 am
I was a little down when I heard this, and it still doesn’t sit well with me. I just didn’t like her character in the Christmas episode. I don’t think it was her as an actress, though. But still, I will give it a go. Hopefully they can develop the character a little more to something likable.
September 27th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Agree all the way Elwood; Pertwee and Tom Baker (not to be confused with Collin Baker, I didn’t care for his Doctor though that mighta been the garish outfit he wore) were the best Doctor’s hands down. I also hope they go back to having stories stretch out over more than an episode or two; part of the fun of watching the old series was having to wait a week or two or three to get the conclusion of the story. Having tossed my two cents I think I’m gonna go watch some of Baker’s stuff.
September 27th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
The skit was funnnny! Tanks, Phil.
Gary 7
September 27th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
The Doctor should go back and get Rose- maybe the White Guardian will cut him a break and suspend the laws of nature for the occasion.
Also given the Lalla Ward connexion, bring on Richard Dawkins as a guest villain!
Jess Tauber
October 5th, 2007 at 9:46 am
[...] (vía Bad Astronomy) [...]
October 8th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Well I hate to see them take a whole season off. But for counting purposes this is Doctor Who, not Dr Who, so different title new count.
Patrick Stewart did act mid season, in the long Christmas breaks of TNG.
Could the Master really have regenerated since he was “stealing” lives way back when Mary Tamm was playing the good, not Lala gaga, Romana?
Liked Leela but also like Sarah Jane.
Do we in the “colonies” get to see any of the offshoot stuff, Torchwood, Sarah Jane, or just the Doctor. If they are available State side I would like to know where!
I hate the fact it makes sense for Martha to leave. Will just have to wait and see how it al works out.
October 13th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Hey mandlk, Torchwood is shown in BBC America. Check your cable or sat. provider. Its a good show, similiar in a small way to DW.
October 13th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Oh and btw, its on Saturdays but they show stuff on BBC America on demand too, which is free with no commercials!
October 13th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Oh and to stay on topic, Martha was ok I don’t get how people see her as being so good at doing things on her own because I remember her doing the damsel in distress thing a lot of the time too. She was kind of wimpy where Rose was a fighter. And you have to remember Rose was young (19) so teens aren’t always going to do things like someone who has more experience or education but she did pretty good in my opinion. I’ll give Tate a chance but I don’t know. I’m not looking forward to this next series or to waiting so long for the next installment because of Tennant going to do theater work. They should just get a new doctor!
October 16th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Well I think this is a clue. When I was watching, The Sarah Jane Adventures (the episodes with the nunns) the woman named bea kept mentioning about (sorry i can’t remember the name of the alien) is the silliest race in the galaxy. Bea also mentioned that her husband was an archeologist named edgar who found an alien device. I won’t say what the device is because it will spoil the story for those who wish to watch it.
What do you think about this? This could be nothing, but it sounds like something that could be part of a bigger storyline.
For you americans, you can watch the sarah jane adventures on http://www.tv-links.co.uk/listings/1/9236
(at the time of writing the link I gave you is two episodes behind the most recent)
October 16th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
oh and she said he travelled the world with her. She also has altzeimers (sorry if it’s mispelt). Edgar could have erased her memory maybe?
October 18th, 2007 at 12:01 am
No! I really REALLY didn’t like her! I don’t think she’d make a very good companion at all; she was so annoying!
October 20th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
I agree Bekka, Catherine Tate is funny outside of DW. I wanted to haul off and slap her during the Runaway Bride episode. We just got to hope for the best is all for this season!
November 9th, 2007 at 3:38 am
bring bak sally sparrow. she was one of those independant characters that baisically went through the whole episode without guiding hand of the doctor and catherine is just going to be a hinderance
November 12th, 2007 at 3:15 am
The first episode I ever watched of DW was back with Tom Baker, whom my mother had an insane crush on. My weapons-programmer father lived for sci-fi, and mom just liked TB, so we would watch as a family… it was the one with the pschic fair or something like that, and the stone creatures and something called Ragnarok…it blew my mind.
Been a fan ever since.
But I am very concerned for the series because Martha was the best sidekick since Ace. I can’t imagine viewers suffering through 13 episodes of that whiny, boring bridezilla. Gwen Cooper from Torchwood should get sucked up and teleported to the TARDIS! She’s give the Doc a run for his money!
November 17th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
Last episode of series 4 was that the hand of the Rani taking The Master’s ring? Would be great!
December 1st, 2007 at 9:38 pm
First of all, Rose Is the best sidekick since Sara Jane. They need to bring her back by any means possible. Billie Piper and David Tennant have great on-screen chemistry together that It would be awesome for the fans and story lines to see how there relationship would develop and possibly grow into a full blown romance!
Secondly, In my opinion they are commenting suicide, two way’s. The first Is by bringing Tate onto the show as the Doctor’s companion. She will not only turn off true Dr Who fans as his sidekick, but also turn them away. I personally will not be watching If she Is on the show and I have been a Who fan for over 30 years now! Next Is by letting David Tennant have a season of to go play In the theater. He has plenty of time to play Hamlet after his reign as the Doctor Is over. I agree with (CE is my DOCTOR) If they are going to do this then they should get a new Dr. Believe me I find It very hard to say this because David Tennant Is my favorite Doctor since Tom Baker. This again will turn off true fans and send then changing the channel or finding better things to do with there time then waste an hour on a show that pisses them off!
In closing, I hope that the BBC producers and the Dr Who staff come to there senses and decide not to hang themselves with that all to familiar Hollywood length of rope!.
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Rose tyler will be back i season four:) she’s not the most beautiful girl, but i sure hope that the docktor and her will be together, i’m a sucker for happy endings.
December 4th, 2007 at 9:18 am
WOO! People talking about Doctor Who!
I love Rose and am thrilled she will be back. However – lets not turn Doctor Who into a romance. The few “snogs” (see me use Brittish slang) that have occured had justifiable reasons and were tantalizing enough. It is always a bad idea to consumate sexual tension on a non-romantic show. Remember what it did for that damn show where Bruce Willis got his start? (Name escapes me.)
I liked Martha except that she was a little too smitten with the doctor. I thought Donna was funny but Sally would make a cool companion, too. My favorite companion is Lela followed very closely by Captain Jack.
I also like the new Master a lot. A little more three dimensional than in the original series (all the bad guys are) and he has a darling smile. I also like that not every single episode starts with whoever ends up being the doctor’s ally accusing him of having done the evil that the bad guy actually did. Formula got way old.
I can forgive David for going away and doing a play since I don’t want him to regenirate into a sucky doctor like what happened after Peter Davison. (However, Hamlet is a whiner – what role is he playing?)
My favorite doctor is Peter – he was the first I saw and he made me fall in love with the show. David, however, has up-rooted Tom Baker from second place (does this make me a bad person?).
And lastly, I must say thank goodness for the second season of Torchwood – it will give me something to chew on until season four of the Doctor makes its way accross the Atlantic.
December 8th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
I have seen every Doctor who there is that still remains in existence. I must say that of all of the Doctor’s, William Hartnell made Doctor Who. Tom Baker Redefined it. David Tennant brought it back to life. I would love to see the BBC try and explain a few things, tie in things from the old Doctors with the new. I especially loved TimeCrash, the BBC special for children. It wasn’t just another “Five Doctors” reunion type thingy, but it was fantastically brilliant to link the old with the new. Tennant’s Doctor has gone into explaining things a little about Gallifrey and his past…the Master as a young boy seeing into eternity, driving him mad…what about the Doctor? Could he ever bump into his youth? The would be Hartnell’s Doctor? Give him a reason to leave Gallifrey? What about Susan? If the Doctor is the last time lord, however leaving Susan on Earth to live amongst humans, does he have ancestry here on Earth? Captain Jack, a distant relative from Susan’s loins? Ok, he isn’t time lord, and he did receive life from Rose possessed by the Tardis, but could he be a long lost grandson? Could that be why he is so loyal to the Doctor? Anyway, anyone who wants to discuss…lets.
December 13th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Personally, I think that Catherine Tate as Donna will be a nice change from the Doctor’s usual companions. Both Rose and Martha were decent characters, but they were both so blandly nice and enthusiastic that it got a bit tedious after a while. I know that Donna’s obnoxious, but that may be just what makes her a great addition to the show.
Looking forward to watching Donna and the Doctor argue in Season 4!
December 14th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Hi all, I’ve been a huge Dr. Who fan since I saw the first episode with Christopher and Rose after that I have been watching religously. Although Martha was a good companion, my money is still on Rose, i have never seen the Dr so broken up over losing a companion as when he lost her. The show with Bruce Willis was called Moonlighting. Breaking the Sexual tension isn’t all that bad if they keep playing it off back and forth just think back to Remington Steele they never actually got together until the last episode and even then they left you wondering.
December 15th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Season 4 will be very exciting and it may feature the return of Davros. Three companions will feature in the fourth series: Catherine Tate will reprise her role as Donna Noble, who was first introduced in ‘The Runaway Bride’, for all 13 episodes; Freema Agyeman (Martha) will return mid-season for five episodes, and Billie Piper will return as Rose Tyler for three episodes.
December 20th, 2007 at 7:02 pm
[...] can Jesus compare to Gandalf, Superman or Doctor Who? Jesus, the character**, is just a magic carpenter who can walk on water and provide [...]
December 26th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
I’d like to see Rowan Atkinson be the doctor for a season. He could re-decorate the tardis as mini and program his teddy to substitute for K9. He could entice Hilary Clinton as his traveling companion and abandon her at the end of the universe (half way through the first show and then spend the rest of the season trying to distance himself from her in both time and space).
December 27th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
I really, *really* hope the fourth season will not be ruined by Tate.
She was so annoying and stupid in The Runaway Bride, I hoped from the beginning of the last Christmas Special, she would not be the companion for season three and was *so* relieved she rejected to come with the Doctor.
And now they will bring her back.. I still cross my fingers her character will evolve, so you will not think of her as the “Runaway Bride” all the time.
December 30th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Did ya’ll see the Christmas special on Youtube? I liked it though it was a ripoff from an old movie in a lot of ways. I think Kylie did a great job. I’m worried bout CT on the show. Seeing the preview of the new season didn’t get me all worked up and excited…only excited to see Rose at the end. I can’t wait for Torchwood though. OMG didn’t ya’ll love Cpt Jack on DW? I think he rocked with the doc. Aren’t ya’ll getting tired of every chick kissing the doc? Specially the companions. I am sick of it. BEEN THERE DONE THAT PEOPLE! I can’t believe someone brought up Moonlighting. I remember watching that show when I was a youngster.
Maybe all the fans should write to the producers and BBC to protest having to wait for DT to return as the doctor. Maybe they should get a new one since he wants to play Hamlet so bad!I got a few ideas on replacements (including other brit actors who aren’t anglo). What ya’ll think of that idea?
December 31st, 2007 at 1:22 am
I must say David Tennant is my favourite doctor.He is so enthusiastic and seems to really enjoy himself.As for Rose verses Martha, i can’t really pick between them, they were both brilliant in different ways.Donna didn’t convince me in the Christmas special but shes sure to improve with time !!!
December 31st, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Hey guys,
any idea when series 4 is starting?
i can’t wait!
January 3rd, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I’m wondering were can i watch the preview for season 4. I started watching D.W with the first new season 1 so i’ve only ever seen 2 doctors please suggest wesite that i can watch old episodes on
January 5th, 2008 at 11:47 am
IF YOU DO NOT WANT ANY SPOILERS ABOUT SEASON 4 DO NOT READ MINE AT ALL!!!!!!!
Season 4 episode 1
Partners in crime
Donna Noble encounters an alien emergency in London and there’s only one person she knows of that can help her. But who is the mysterious but powerful business woman, Miss Foster and why does she have her own sonic screwdriver?
2.Up Pompei Again / The Fires of Vulcan II
What has ancient Rome got to do with anything? A quick trip to Pompei when Mount Vesuvius is about to explode. Can they save all the people? Can Donna avoid being sacrificed? Russell says that the monsters in this episode are the most ambitious to date.
3.TUATW
Donna and The Doctor visit Agatha Christie, played by Fenella Woolgar, and together they investigate a strange murder.
4.Planet of the Ood
A trip to the far future. Donna has to deal with some Ood.
5.The Sontaran Strategem
6. —Title Unknown—
The Sontarans invade Earth to try to find an escaped Rutan carrying secrets. Martha is captured. Can the Doctor and Donna save her?
7.Revenge of the Axons
8.Destruction of the Daleks
Okay. Don’t really know whether the Axons are in season 4. We can only hope.
9.Rescue the Doctor
What do the Eternals have to do with things? Rose, Martha and Donna band together to control the TARDIS and try to find the Doctor who gets himself lost in space! Captured by the Eternals, Daleks, Axons, Sontarans?
10. Time War Part 1
11.Time War Part 2
12.Time War Part 3
13.Time War Part 4
Confirmed that this final story will feature Rose, Mickey, Pete, Jackie, Sarah Jane, Captain Jack, Martha Jones and K9 as well as Donna and the Doctor. It’ll also feature Davros though whether he’ll be played by Ben Kingsley, Patrick Stewart or Terry Molloy is unknown. It is likely to feature Sontarans and Daleks in a war as well as other aliens in a final gobsmacking battle.
It’s also possible the Master will be back in this episode, manipulating everything from behind the scenes.
This would also be story number 200 and worth a celebration in itself.
The 4 Doctors
Rumoured that an extra special story will be written for the 45th anniversary to be broadcast on the 23rd November 2008 starring Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant with special appearances by other guest actors.
January 7th, 2008 at 10:05 am
If you want to know about Series 4 info then go to wikipedia
January 17th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
I only started watching Doctor Who last year. So I really don’t know who all the old doctors that you guys are mentioning are. However, I do think that David Tenant makes an excellent doctor. As far as the Rose vs Martha thing, I definately think Rose made the better companion. I really never liked Martha. As far as the new companion for season 4, I really didn’t like her from the runaway bride episode. I hopes for the new season of Doctor Who are not very high. I don’t even think I’ll watch the new season, at all.
January 19th, 2008 at 9:35 am
i was speaking to someone who had some info re: doctor who… season four will have davros (ben kinglsey) and rani evil timelord (not the master).. the doctor wil have 4 assistants.. wait for it.. Donna, and martha later in the series.. Rose and sarah jane (look for the sarah jane, martha,rose,doctor who picture on the net) and captain jack. This will lead upto the big finale.. nezt year there will be 3 specials = 90mins and the xmas special and doctor who will return as normal in 2010.. The bbc do not want a series in 2009 as the bbc new recorded format of tv programmes will be filmed in hd.. this starts in 2010. As for the news of the world (crap uk paper) saying John Simms is to play the new doctor.. this is not true.. rermember they said david tennat was going to leave half way through series 3…
as for future stories?? remeber the Genesis Ark?? full of Daleks and was made by the time lords.. they could hold a lot of time lords if there was a war on? a time war..and new planets.. earth 2 earth 3 or maybe a new planet where the doctors people are living happily and the the doctor doesn’t know yet.. and rumour has it kylie may come back into doctor who series 4 or later. and a Billy to return in 2009/10. and the girl in Blink will be returning in a story inthe future..
January 25th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
As said above in 2009 there will be movie length specials thoughout the year but there is now to be 4 specials. I heard the John Simm rumour about 6 months ago and have been hoping ever since it is true. Not to spoil this for anyone who has not seen “Last Of The Timelords” a ring was picked up at the end by a female hand (who’s it is is unknown), this was written in by Russel T Davies as a way to bring the Master back if need be, (though he did mention he is not a fan of the Master character). I’m hoping that The Doctor finds this ring… puts it on… and turns in to John Simm. This has two wonderful points A: John Simm as the Doctor (not saying it won’t be sad to see David Tennant go, I have been emotionally prepairing myself for about a year. How can he leave for Hollywood? I would much prefere to stay in England), and B: it could be counted as not really a regeneration and then Doctor Who could continue running for longer, as The Doctor only has 3 more lives left.
P.S Sally Sparrow as an assitant would be ace (she could ba as good as Ace) and Martha beats Rose any day.
January 29th, 2008 at 10:37 am
I hope that the series 4 final is better than the rest
it”s bound to be if davros is in it
February 16th, 2008 at 4:46 am
They said that David Tennant would be trying to break all of the Doctor Who records e.g. he has to stay for another 8 series of Doctor Who to break the record of Tom Baker (4th Doctor) I’m guessing that he is going to be around for a very long time, oh and by the way if you didn’t notice the end of series 4 will be another three-part story just like series 3 last year! Everybody is going to be in it, The Doctor, Rose Tyler, Martha Jones, Donna Noble, Rose’s Parents, Martha’s Parents, Donna’s Parents, Captain Jack Harkness and the Torchwood team, Sarah Jane Smith and the SJA Team, Mickey Smith, Astrid Peth and the master, the rani and the Daleks and the Sontarans are the villians in the story, IT’S GOING TO BE SO GREAT THIS SERIES 4 FINALE!!!!!! Episode 1: Partners in Crime. Episode 2: The Fires of Pompeii. Episode 3: Planet of the Ood. Episode 4: The Sontaran Strategem.(Part One) Episode 5: Title Unknown(Part Two) Episode 6: The Doctor’s Daughter. Episode 7: The Unicorn and the Wasp. Episode 8: Title Unknown. Episode 9: Title Unknown. Episode 10: Midnight. Episode 11: Title Unknown(Part One) Episode 12: Title Unknown(Part Two) Episode 13: Title Unknown(Part Three). Whoever you are Bethii you’ve got the complete series 4 episode guide WRONG!! I know a lot about Doctor Who so if anybody wants to ask me a question just do it! Because i can give you the right answer!
February 21st, 2008 at 3:54 am
I would have to say that I adore Rose and really miss her … I liked her from the beginning. I have no problem with Catherine Tate; I really think she did a great job. As for Martha Jones, she annoyed me immensely … always having cow eyes over the Doctor, trying to find little hints in the way he would look at her or speak to her … reminds me of those old movies or books where the women would say ” oh, he looked at me, he must love me” Really irritated me. though, Rose and her entire family are supposed to be back for at least 3 episodes in the end of this season!! Hurray!!
February 26th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I cannot wait for Rose to come back, as for Donna, I think it will be interesting to see what happens. She is only in the show for the next series, after that we could be looking at yet another new face in the TARDIS, unless Rose will be his sidekick throughout the 3 specials in 2009, and maybe his companion in Series 5.
In The Runaway Bride we watched as Donna was hoisted away from her wedding, into outer space. How would you cope with a situation like that, I know for a fact that I would be screaming a lot. A lot of you are being cynical towards Tate. Just remember, she is not going to be screaming and shouting in every episode. I think it is a bit dramtic for people to be purposely avoiding the show, or saying they will be switching over. How could anyone actually say they wont be watching, when we havent even seen her as his companion. The phrase, `You cant judge a book, by its cover`, comes to mind.
When Series 4 does air, then you are entilted to your opinons on whether Tate is good enough. Until then, stop being so narrow minded. (No Offence intended)
February 27th, 2008 at 8:30 am
well the way i see it, donna wansnt given like the best role on the christmas episode..but now shes a companion they wud of changed her a bit…we do see that she is a bit liek she was but only cos shes a grown woman…and shes lived life and she’s not niave, the writers of doctor who arent stupid…theyre gonna make her good like they did with rose and Martha, personally i dont like her sketch shows…but acting takes on different roles…so be open minded…and if u had enogh sence ..not in a million years are they gonna bring back sally…
February 28th, 2008 at 1:30 am
it is the thirtieth season, NOT FOURTH! i think calling it series 4 is disgraceful for the very reason that it implies that the other doctors had nothing to do with bringing DW to where it is today!! it implies that the other seasons never existed! ingrates! if it werent for bill hartnell, we wouldnt even have the idea of regeneration! the new sereis is nothing without the existence of the old series to back it up!! the old series was infinately better any way! thats why i cannot wait to see who they bring back each time! hope its davros. the fact of the matter is that they simply HAVE to write well for him, or many fans will “walk out” on those eps and label them as utter RUBBISH!
February 28th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I completly agree with you. But also, its labled Series 4, because it is the fourth series since it was revived in 2005, or 2004 not sure. I think its 2005.
March 2nd, 2008 at 6:13 am
Rose is coming back for series 4 , and there are rumors that she will be in the 2009 specials with the 10th doctor……………..
I think that the doctor and rose should get together and KISS…!!!!!!!! what do you think?
March 2nd, 2008 at 3:16 pm
It would be nice to see the Doctor and Rose kiss. They both know how they feel about each other, from the their last encounter in Bad Wolf Bay.
March 3rd, 2008 at 2:21 am
rose,martha and donna are coming back in series 4,now they just need sally sparrow.jon pertwee and tennant were the best doctors.
March 6th, 2008 at 4:58 am
The episode titles are as follows.
1. Partners in Crime
2. The Fires of Pompeii
3. Planet of the Ood
4. The Sontaran Stratagem} Two Parter Episode
5. TBA }
6. TBA
7. The Unicorn and the Wasp
8. Silence in the Library } Two Part Episode
9. TBA }
10. Midnight
11. TBA
12. TBA – Two Part Series Finale
13. TBA
March 8th, 2008 at 10:30 am
I don’t know why most people hate Catherine Tate’s character, Donna Noble. Think of her a new version of Tegan. A very fiesty character that doesn’t always listen to the Doctor and sometimes gives him a little lip. I can’t wait. Tegan was my favorite companion because of this and I think Donna will be very similar to Tegan’s character.
March 18th, 2008 at 2:45 am
I have been watching Doctor Who since the early 1980s and have seen and heard and own every second of anything Who that exists including telesnaps, audio, BBC promos, Tom Bakers computer commercial, etc…except for the two recently found missing episodes(can you help me find them? RIP the other 108. Here is my opinion: The new show is great and thank the gods for it. Eccleston was classic Who. We in the USA never really got the real story why he left the show, but Tennant is wonderful in a Troughton/McCoy way. Paul McGann deserves to be the Time War doctor since he got shafted. There are some cool fan made time war videos on YouTube with him in it. The 4 doctors would be amazing. Why not 5 again or more? Remember Richard Hurndall replaced Hartnell. You will never see the McGann/Eccleston regeneration just as you didn’t see the 2nd to the 3rd or the 6th to the 7th unless it’s CGI. I don’t like bringing back old companions, unless it’s the brigadier, lol. Rose was not the first and she won’t be the last. The doctor can’t fall in love with a mortal because they all die, and this is just too much for him to bear as he tried to explain to Sara Jane. Colin Baker was a great doctor despite his coat of many colors. Turlough was a great companion. His job was to kill the doctor, but the doctor did not give up on him and redeemed him. That was the point. The new doctor should have more companions. He has traveled with three before. Why not again? Some of them should not be from earth. Ray from Delta and the Bannermen would have been a great companion, but that’s the way it goes as with Sally Sparrow. It was great to be reminded that the Tardis is a spaceship as well as a timeship. Yes, the master should not have been able to regenerate the way he did. I did not care for the new version of the master, but I loved professor Yana. My friend David hates Doctor Who, but loves Derek Jacoby. I made him watch this, ha. As with peace, give Catherine Tate a chance. Don’t worry, they will find a way for the doctor to have more than three more lives, just as they will find a way to bring the timelords back. So all the time lords are dead huh? What about the Rani, The meddling monk, Dax, etc…Yes, if Susan lived on earth it’s possible that the doctor does have relatives. Remember he is half human on his mother’s side as well. That’s why he loves earth so much. Also if the doctor has a granddaughter he had to have children, parents, etc…right? Why did he never look them up? He can be a cold fish sometimes. He’s got issues. The next doctor should be an older character actor, and no not a woman. Male and female exist in nature for a reason. Yes, the new show is sometimes a little “gay”, but the doctor has traveled throughout the universe and has learned nothing if not tolerance and understanding. Does the doctor even care about sex? He definitely needs to get laid, lol. OK, OK, I could go on for days about all of this. I look forward to more debate.
March 20th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
the airing date of doctor who will be on the 5th of april starting with episode partners in crime…….. i dont understand why people are taking the mick out of cathrine tate, i think shes going to be great , and will probably add a bit of humor to it……………. billie pipers coming back, which im really happy about……………………. and there are rumors going around that davros is coming back for the series final, along with jack harkness and his crew……….. overall i think series 4 (series 30) is going to be the best series ever EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 22nd, 2008 at 10:06 am
Doctor Who def back on 5th April…finale def has Donna, Wilf, Rose, Jackie, Sarah Jane Smith, Captain Jack, Martha, def Daleks… rumours that Torchwood team in it, K9, Mickey, and Davros (but no pics of these filming yet).
Doctor definately gets injured in finale…Rose gets help from Wilf (whilst carrying very big gun)…Doctor returns Donna to Wilf and tells him to look after her. Rumoured that the doctor locked in his Tardis whilst injured, then Daleks take the tardis with him in it.
(rumoured) Rose returns cos the Daleks somehow collapsed her universe and cos she’s orginally from ours, Rose and co get sucked back though just before her universe collapses.
For those not sure about Catherine Tate (Donna) – consider this rumour – she’s the assistant that goes BAD! Not sure if this is her doing or because of something that happens to her (circumstances etc).
Episode 6 – someone (poss sontarans) manipulates the Doctors DNA and genetically makes his Daughter (played by Peter Davidson’s real life daughter). This filming of ep6 was blocked together with ep10 (”Midnight”) so good chance they’re linked.
Can’t wait for it to start! I hope Donna goes bad … would be interesting to see something different with an assistant … wonder how they’re going to do it.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:50 pm
POSSIBLE SPOILER!!!! If you are up to date on Doctor Who & Torchwood then this will make sense: Torchwood isn’t just a spin off from DW it is very closely related and my reckoning is that the Finale of DW series 4 will see the Torchwood gang & DW team join together for a big battle.. Now the return of Rose..how is this possible?? Well if you have been watching Torchwood then you will realise that there is a “rift in time & space” in the centre of Cardiff..
Until now we have always assumed stuff can only go one way in/out…this is one possible entry back for Rose into the “real Earth”.. Watch Torchwood episode “Fragments” – everything makes sense!! – You even see who “may” have created the Sonic Screwdriver! (Tosh – from Torchwood). “Fragments” will also explain why Captain Jack is in Torchwood to start with – very interesting episode!
***Think on this***.. Remember when the Master was being cremated at the end of the last series and the Ring that was picked up from the ashes on the last scene…Do your history on DW “The Five Doctors”… That ring is the President of Gallifrey’s ring – who wears it – LIVES FOREVER! This could ultimately change Doctor Who as we know it and the 13 Regenerations of the Doctor may cease.. but does make me wonder the women who picked the ring up was clearly the wife character of the master in that episode..but was she human anyway….?? DW Series 4.. pretty sure there’s an episode named “The Doctor’s Daughter” !!!!!!
March 24th, 2008 at 12:26 am
I have wondered why they don’t go ahead and do what they’re doing for the classic star trek, the remastered ones, and redo the classic dr who in hd if possible with updated special effects for some of the stuff.. I think that would be very cool for rewatching the old series.. I know after watching the Star Trek remastered episodes, I’m enjoying seeing the classic trek again.. removing the really bad effects and making the picture a bit better really made it worth watching..
March 24th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
I really like David Tennant as the current doctor, with his youthful exuberance & sense of comic absurdity. I think he brings something new to the role. I think it’s OK that he’s taking a break for a year to do theatre work; he’s special enough to wait for his return.
It’ll be hard to do without Doctor Who for a whole year, but hopefully his fans will understand & be patient. Plus, there’s always Torchwood & The Sarah Jane Adventures to watch, to tie us over until then. 
In direct contrast to David’s ebullience is Christopher Eccleston’s much darker portrayal of The Doctor, which I also liked a great deal. Some people might say that he wasn’t as instantly likable as David Tennant, but I think that it’s precisely that same complex, brooding quality which made him interesting to watch on the show. He couldn’t have been more different from David. Plus, he’s an excellent actor in general.
Tom Baker was also superb. He was “my” doctor (as my first introduction to The Doctor!), as I grew up watching him as a child on PBS (I’m pretty sure it was PBS, it was too long ago to remember!). It’s not just nostalgia coming on strong, because I’ve watched many other doctors (i.e., Peter Davidson, Colin Baker, & other earlier docs in reruns, etc.).
Anyhow, I think that, in general, each doctor is unique in their own right, & I can find different reasons to like each one. Of course, there are some obvious standouts, but I think that for those of us who’ve been watching the show for years, we’ve learned to adapt to the changes & comings & goings of characters. The show would be boring & static, as well as rather unrealistic & untrue to its nature, if nothing ever changed. Even diehard fans have to ultimately learn how to accept that. Change is part of life.
That being said, I’m excited to see Rose & Martha return. I like both of them, & they are each special & spirited in their own ways. However, I have to agree with some of the other commentators on this blog that The Doctor loves Rose in the romantic sense, while he loves Martha as a friend. Plus, it would seem insincere & callous if he just all of a sudden dropped all thoughts of Rose & suddenly started loving Martha in the romantic sense. It takes time to let go of someone you love & begin loving anew.
The Doctor obviously develops bonds with each of his travelling companions, but as we’ve seen from his early relationship with Rose, it takes a while for the doctor to bond with them. Of course, part of the reason for this is that the pain of losing them is hard to bear, so it takes a while to reconnect to the next one.
At the same time, it’s weird that he seems to fall in love so easily (or perhaps it’s just lust!) with some of the people he meets along the way (i.e., Kylie Minogue’s character, or Sophia Myle’s Madame Pompadour).
In the end, it’s hard for any of us to truly know The Doctor’s heart, especially when his emotions remain unexpressed to a large degree, but based on his past actions (i.e., it was clear he was going to utter “I love you” to Rose before they were parted, while in direct contrast, he claimed that his kiss with Martha wasn’t romantically inclined), I’d say that his “homefires still burn” for Rose.
There was a certain part of me hoping that he’d eventually fall in love with Martha, as she proved herself his equal in many ways (brain power is sexy!), bravely roaming the earth on a mission to save it in “The Last of the Timeloards.” She’s a very capable & worthy companion. But I still don’t think we’ll see them kissing again anytime soon.
There is that part of me that thinks the suspension of desire is what makes the show work (think about Keats’ figures frozen in a vase in “Ode on a Grecian Urn”
), & that any consummation, however much the viewers want it to happen, would ultimately ruin the format of the show. Anyhow, that’s what Torchwood is for. 
I’m not saying that I don’t WANT the consummation to happen, because there’s some part of me that actually does — along with many other viewers (it’s all of us wanting it that makes it so juicy!), but just that I think it would ultimately be anticlimatic & untrue to the format of the show. The nature of The Doctor’s “job description” prevents that from happening. The show’s not built around romance as its central theme, it’s mostly about saving the universe, & sacrificing for what we believe in to fight the good fight. And of course, as eye candy for those other geeks out there who don’t care about the romance element of the show, there are always the aliens & cool technologically advanced gadgets to drool over. LOL. (Please note, I am a sci-fi geek through & through, so this isn’t meant as a put-down or an insult; it’s more of an affectionate jibe. 
)
On the other hand, the lack of consummation could be viewed as a puerile & stunted — After all, it’s hardly mature behavior for a man of some 953 odd years. And in many ways, The Doctor — even those he’s several hundreds of years old — IS still a big kid at heart. Full of hope & childish enthusiasm. That’s part of his charm.
As for the reprisal of Catherine Tate’s role as Donna in Season 4, I’m going to suspend judgment until I see what she actually does to further develop her character on the show. I’ll admit I did find her character rather annoying in “Runaway Bride,” but I’m betting that if given the chance, she might show more range. (I’m basing this opinion on some of her other TV appearances.)
I’m also curious how the three women — Rose, Martha, & Donna — will get along with one another. We’ll have to wait & see.
BTW, thanks, Phil, for the great post. And also, I must say thanks to everybody who wrote such great comments here; they made for fascinating reading. It’s good to see that I’m not the only one who endlessly analyzes the meaning of various plot sublines & characters of Doctor Who.
March 24th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Correction to the above: I referred to The Doctor’s heart in the singular sense of the word. Should’ve said that “it’s hard to truly divine the true essense of The Doctor’s two hearts.”
Maybe one of his hearts beats for Rose, & the other beats for Martha. Hahahahahaha.
March 25th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
ive seen scenes with daleks taking humans hostage and rose fighting a dalek with a cyberman gun!(possible return for cyberman then, and also http://www.cybuscoporation.com is under construction.definently a return!)
March 27th, 2008 at 9:24 am
bbc have confirmed that the airing date for episode (1) partners in crime will be airing on the 5th of april at 6:20 on bbc 1………… i am getting so exited!!!!!!!!!!!………
March 27th, 2008 at 9:36 am
This is what i think is going to happen (got it off a website, so bear with me)
Donna Noble is determined to find the Doctor again – even if it means braving the villainous Miss Foster and her hordes of sinister Adipose. But when the alien threat escalates out of control, can Donna find her Time Lord before the march of the Adipose begins?
So the alien threat of this episode is something to do with the Adipose… which is apparently ‘living fat tissue that absorbs’. This does make sense as:
“Adipose” is a word included in the encyclopedia
Adipose basically means ‘fatty tissue’
It could relate to an alien as apparently there are Adipose which are described as “little”‘
“Adipose Industries” are apparently somehow involved.
And its a good thing that the Doctor shows up to tackle this threat, since Donna has regretted not going with him when she got the offer…
Wilf: You seem to be drifting, sweetheart.
Donna: I’m not drifting… I’m waiting
Wilf: What for?
Donna: The right man… I’ve seen him, I’ve met him just once! And then… I let him fly away… If you ever see a little blue box high up there in the sky, you shout for me Gramps. Oh, you just shout… Coz, he’s still out there… somewhere… and I’ll find him Gramps… I’ll find him.
And its not just Donna who is feeling a tad unwanted and alone.. the Doctor himself seems a bit downhearted at having no one (again)
Anyway… from what we can see from the new trailer, it looks like the Doctor clocks on to this new evil threat, and follows it up to Adipose Industries…
If you look and at the bottom of the piece of paper thats stuck to the board (this bits in the tralier), you can just make out the word ADIPOSE
And its here that he meets Donna.
Why does Donna always get jobs in evil organizations?
So then the dynamic duo (I’ve always wanted to say that) team up in order to thwart this new alien threat… And by the looks of it they have a nice walk home together…
I don’t know why Donna has a red folder but it’ll either by hugely important or completely insignificant.
And then, when it get dark, they maybe go roam around the streets of London with a wee tracking devise, to try and find this big bad enemy.
“The first episode has the most unusual monsters we’ve ever created. It’s the sort of creature we’ve never tried before. It’s thrilling, it’s really thrilling. It’s fun, and it’s darker than ever in some places.” RTD
Sarah Lancashire stars as a powerful businesswoman called “Miss Foster” who we can assume is the main villain of this episode. Phil Collinson said in an interview that she is part of an alien plan to take over the Earth, but wouldn’t confirm if she was an alien or not…
She can be seen on the tralier holding a red and white pill that she says is ‘The spark of life’, AND we can see her with something that looks remarkably like a Sonic Screwdriver…
There you go… it almost looks like 2 sonic screwdriver type thingys, although one could just be a pen or another type of devise…
So… from what I’ve heard, Adipose Industries are a diet pill company run by the sinister Miss Foster. It turns out that Foster is an evil alien, which means it’s up to the intrepid Time Lord and his new assistant to stop a million overweight Brits being turned into sickeningly cute alien babies.
Um… then I’m assuming a lot of danger and excitement happens.
In her excitement, Donna mouths ‘Doctor!’
The Doctor stares at her, surprised, and points to himself in confusion… To help clear the matter up, Donna points to herself with both hands and mouths ‘Its me!’
AND, from what I can make out of the cloths that Donna and the Doctor wears, I reckon that this little interchange happens in this episode partners in crime.
(Although I could be wrong)
The Doctor: I just want a mate!
Donna: You ain’t mating with me sunshine!
You can even see the Doctor try to run out and stop it:
There was also two trailers on the set for “Penny” and “Clare” and filming has taken place in abandoned offices, suburban streets, and at Tiger-Tiger in Cardiff.
Speculations:
- Episode one involves a bomb in a cinema
- While Miss Foster seen raising her arms and looking up at the sky, she apparently says: “Go, my children, out into the Galaxy, rise up and meet your new mummies and daddies.”
Also, this scene is speculated to happen at some point during the episode partners in crime aswell… exciting!
March 28th, 2008 at 4:17 am
t3knomanser, the companion you’re thinking of is Leela. She was my favorite.
March 30th, 2008 at 6:32 am
There are so many WRONG spoilers about Doctor Who Series 4. Like these ones:
DAVID TENNANT LEAVES DOCTOR WHO
According to Digital Spy and a certain classy British tabloid, David Tennant is planning on quitting Doctor Who after the upcoming series. He signed a £1 million contact to make a third series (big waste of license fee IMO) but has been inundated with offers from Hollywood so wants to quit to persue them.
BILLIE PIPER : 11TH DOCTOR?
Obviously any talk of who will be replacing Tennant is all speculation at the moment. Surprisingly, I would place Billie Piper on the list of possible 11th doctors. In May, Billie Piper expressed her wish to play the Doctor. She reportedly threatened to quit the series if she was not made the Doctor.
Says Billie, “In the next few years I’d love to play a female version of Doctor Who. I know exactly how I would play her – she would be crafty in a clever kind of way.”
The writer of the show told the Daily Star that he’d happily give the role to Billie if they ever needed a new Doctor. In August, it was reported that the lead writer also wanted to give Rose her own spin off series. The series would have been named “Rose Tyler: Earth Defense” and made it as far as being proposed to the BBC. In the end, it was shelved. But this opens up the possibility that Billie Piper could return to Doctor Who as the 11th doctor.
And of course, in this age of political correctness, it’s inevitable that we’ll be seeing a female Doctor Who soon.
Someone wrote a good comment on it:
“I just want to say how stupid you are. Who ever wrote this article does not have a freaking clue what is going on. The bbc clearly denied any stories of Tennant’s departure publically and as for this rubbish with Billie Piper, she left the show so as to not get type-cast. She will not be returning as The Doctor. Get your facts straight.”
**round of applause**
I got it from this website:
Why do people say comments about the best show in the world if they don’t know if it’s true or not? Me upset. 
http://cow.neondragon.net/index.php/1648-David-Tennant-Leaves-Doctor-Who
April 1st, 2008 at 6:34 pm
My opinion was that Rose was a mistake. Personaly im sick that they decided to put the Doctor in a relationship situation. Even with Grace in the TV movie a was a bit peeved thank god that never happened but to carry on the thing between the Doctor and Rose for two seasons was rediculous. I mean rly one would think that the Doctor would fall for someone more older and intelligent than Rose and had plenty of chances.
Secondly I actually prefer the “Old Series” to the “New” because you didnt have all this drama surounding the Doctor and his companions. The closest they may have ever gotten would be the peck on the cheek that Nyssa gave him when she left.
Thirdly you’ld think that rose would get a clue about this “900″(which has to be an incorrect age cause the Doctor was 900 when he was in his 6th life) Person. Can you say Cradle robbing. Even tho it is possible to be alone for “900″ years with the Doctors personality its highly doubtfull. This is what Rose should have been thinking…but no one rly gave her credit for being the brightest cryon is the box.
April 7th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I’ve heard that the last episode is one where everyone (Martha, Sarah Jane, Jackie, Rose, Mickey, K9 e.t.c) comes back for one large final battle in an invasion of earth. Some of them die. The alternate universe collapses. They all travel to a future earth completely controlled by Daleks.
April 9th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Well I saw the last episode of Doctor Who and I think that Catherine Tate worked well. The only episode I find truly annoying was the Voyage of the Damned. It was sooooooooo cheesy, even for Doctor Who.
As for series four and any in the future, I’d like to see the Cybermen back. They my fave enemies, next to the daleks. I’m planning a few fan fic series, in which the cybermen feature heavily. It would have a new assistant and proberbly a new doctor.
I liked John Simms master and want him to return, and as for Catherine Tate being a bad apple I’ve heard a rumour circling that it was her hand picking up the ring at the end of Last of the Timelords.
I also say that the Torchwood team should come into it, hopefully finding a way to get Owen and Tosh back. I’ve heard that for Torchwood Season 3 Martha Jones will take a full time role and maybe also Noel Clarke as Mickey.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:12 am
i heard that DW will be exterminated and this episode will be called the journey’s end
April 11th, 2008 at 10:14 am
i have a pic of donna lying on the ground and wilf with a scared look on his face
April 12th, 2008 at 2:21 am
Davros will turn out to be harriet jones after fighting dalek caan!!!!!!!!!!
April 13th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
12th Doctor: Harry Potter
April 21st, 2008 at 3:08 am
I am seriosuly worried about David Tennant leaving and someone far inferior taking up the reins. DT has been by far the best Doctor since Tom Baker. However, I would be very happy to see Jon Simm take over as he was truly brilliant as the Master and his character seems to fit much better with the Doctor. Christopher Ecclestone was awful by comparrison.
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:17 am
David Tennant cannot leave!! He is by far the best Doctor since Tom Baker. He brings his own style & uniquness to the role (& ofc his looks xD) Back to the point, so s4 last episode is called Journey’s End, & there’s also an episode titled The Doctors Daughter (he did say he was a dad once s2 ep11 i think, Fear Her) In my opinion a female Doctor would ruin the show (not bein sexist i am a female myself) I just don’t think a woman would be suited 4 the role. Glad to hear Rose is back (even just 4 a few episodes) she was by far the best companion. She loved him & he loved her <3
Understandably Tennant is taking a year out to do theatre, hopefully thats all it is, a year, & he wil b continuing his role as the 10th doctor 4 a long tiime to come.
May 3rd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
i have just seen episode 5 with the sontarans and rose was in it well only it was for a short second i was surprised i don’t think that rose will be staying with the doctor because i heard a rumor that all off the companions die but i don’t believe that then i heard a nother rumor that rose and the doctor get married but i did’nt believe it because my friend told me that
May 8th, 2008 at 9:55 am
I have also heard loads of rumors about the series finale and the fact that we still don’t know the what one of the last episodes is called is slightly worrying. I hope Rose stays in it and I’m glad and hoping the rumors are true about Martha staying in Torchwood for good. I hope David Tennant continues to be the Doctor even after the special episodes after this series. I think a women would ruin it, even though i think it might be quite amusing for an episode or two. Apparently RTD says that all the loose strands finally fit together on this finale so potentially if a new writer were to continue doctor who they could start with a “blank slate” I’m not saying that RTD is leaving well i don’t think he is anyway but there would be no bad wolf or Torchwood in the way. Even though i think Torchwood is now much part of DR Who and will be always associated with it. I think John Simm would be a great Doctor however i don’t see how they would make that work with the whole regeneration thing. I guess will just have to keep watching….
May 11th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Perhaps the good Doctor may lose his last life and we will continue with his daughter, Jenny…or perhaps she will return in the season finale.
However a lot of time paradoxes are being created eg the Master finale in season 3 and the Doctor’s daughter in season 4 which may lead to other anomalies occuring.
May 12th, 2008 at 9:50 am
DAMN Jenny is BUFF
May 15th, 2008 at 8:24 am
I have just done some major digging of spoilers, and I’m sure some of them are fully blown out of proportion and exaggerated – really, some of them sounded like a nightmare.
I heard Robert Carlyle is going to take over when David Tennant steps down – don’t know what he’s like as an actor, so I can’t have much of an opinion …
I’m not a fan of Tate. She is, like someone said, Rose but older. And annoying, without the attraction. Rose was useful in her naivety because most viewers were new to the Doctor-Who world, and needed someone to have things explained to. Then her skills grew the more she travelled with the Doc. But with Donna … she just grates a bit.
I am so psyched for Rose coming back. I’d like her to walk off happily with the Doctor into the sunset, but I don’t fool myself that would ever happen.
May 25th, 2008 at 12:05 am
A few things…
1) Please tell me David Tennant remains Dr. Who for Season 5. I thought Eccleston was great and missed him in the first few episodes with Tennant. Now, I can’t imagine making that shift to someone besides Tennant. At least not yet… Plus, isn’t there only 13 incarnations/regenerations of Dr. Who? We’re getting awfully close to that final number. I would rather Dr. Who not end for good any time soon.
2) I admit, I didn’t like Rose at first. She’s grown on me absolutely though! I understand how some of you dislike moving away from the tradition of the non-romantic doctor but… I’ve got to say, I’ve loved the writing regarding this. Especially in light of the destruction of his race/planet… Wouldn’t there need to be a way to compensate/fill the void of such a loss?
3) Not a fan of Martha. In fact, she’s completely unrealistic. She’s cast as the strong, smart one. She’s a doctor afterall. However, I don’t see it. She’s beautiful but I’m not sensing the soul in her role. It was like the writers weren’t quite sure what to do with her. And the whole move to “military martha” – not so good. Sorry, I’m not looking forward to her move to Torchwood.
4) Now Catherine Tate as Donna I love. She is the perfect antidote to the romance with Rose and the heavy-handed mooning over the Doctor by Martha. Donna knows the Doctor is an alien and has no attraction for him whatsoever. A true mate. Not some star-eyed smitten companion. I love the chemistry, the humour. Just see that “poisoning scene” in The Wasp and the Unicorn – Brilliant! She’s like the mother hen/older sister figure. Impressed with him but she’ll call him as she sees him too, take him down a notch or two too and he’s better for it.
5) Can’t wait for the Master to return.
6) LOVE Capt. Jack. Great, great onscreen chemistry.
7) Can’t wait to see what Moffat throws at us. The episodes he’s written have been my top favourites! (After “Human Condition”)
I say let Tennant play Hamlet. (I wish I could see him in it.) As long as he comes back as Who in season 5. Whatever it takes.
My 2 cents. Very Best!
May 26th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
First,let me say,I only started watching Dr. Who in the middle of the second season and was totally hooked. I wish I would have watched the show when I was a kid in the 80’s. It played on PBS all the time. After watching all of the Eccleston and Tennant episodes, plus reading all I can from the web, and finally watching every thing possible on Youtube, I still can’t get enough.
Now that my brief history is out of the way, I will now say, I can’t stand Rose. She was too whiny and was like a spoiled brat, though she did mature as the show progressed. I was happy when she was lost in the alternate universe. I liked Martha for the same reasons many people have referenced above, smart, tough, and can hold her own. But I felt she was, again as many people above have mentioned, too infatuated with the Doctor. I was impressed though when she told the Doctor that she was leaving because of her feelings for him that would never be reciprocated. The look on her face as she walks away is like that of someone who had the weight of the world lifted of her shoulders. I LOVE DONNA. I find it refreshing, after 2 companions who were in vomit inducing love with The Doctor, to have someone who does not want anything more than the adventure. Fom the episodes I have seen, she has been able to use her life experiences to help The Doctor answer some difficult situations he has been in.
What I would love to see, during the shows hiatus, is for the BBC to bring back Paul McGann and have a series based entirely on The Time War and the regeneration of McGann to Eccleston.
Okay, I know this is a long post, this is the first time I have submitted something and did not know where to edit this.
May 27th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Okay, What I said about Rose, I take back. I just watched the mid season trailer and am now excited to see her return. I think it is something about the “Ramboesque” way she holds that weapon and looks ready to kick @$$.
May 27th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
lol.. Rose does look like she’s ready to whoop sum a$$! OMG I can’t wait for the episodes when Rose and the Doc. get reunited again! ultimate joy! haha
Anywayz, the show is very unpredictable after watching how the series has been going along so far. Spoilers are nice to read for the curious viewer *cough*cough* such as myself, but seeing how inaccurate or accurate some assumptions about what’s gonna happen are, anything is possible in the Who world.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:54 am
re: “isn’t there only 13 incarnations/regenerations of Dr. Who? We’re getting awfully close to that final number.”
You must remember that The Master used all his regenerations and this is what lead to his pursuit of The Doctor, in order to steal his remaining incarnations. The Timelords granted The Master a new regeneration cycle in “The Five Doctors” in return for his help.
May 28th, 2008 at 9:05 am
I like tate! whats not 2 like about her. ok, maybe she isn’t the greatest but she is doing the job right? funny and now we are seeing the real doctor, like with jenny and all that so um well all those haters i don’t see why you don’t like her?
May 29th, 2008 at 6:41 am
I know that Davros is coming back and I heard Sally Sparrow is coming back aswell as Rose, Jack and Sarah Jane.
Another rumer I heard was there are going to be golden Daleks and the doctor’s going to get shot by one BUT not die!
And there taking a brake from doctor who next year because there making a movie.
June 9th, 2008 at 6:12 am
RTD is producing/directing a few Doctor Who TV movies for 2009 while Steve Moffat (”The Empty Child”/”The Doctor Dances”, “Blink”, and “Silence in the Library”/”Forest of the Damned”) will take the helm for season 5 (2010). As a sign-off to season 4, characters over the last 4 series will join the Doctor in a battle against the Daleks. Rose is seen in the clips with a cybergun (probably obtained from the universe she was “trapped” in – remember that the Time War prevented the Doctor from travelling between alternate universes [or something]). In all, the end of series 4 and Moffat taking over from RTD is something to relish.
June 12th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Regarding Rose… I liked her in the first season. Her personality meshed with that of the 9th Doctor far more than the 10th. They both had a certain ’streetsmart’ quality that worked with one another. The transition to the 10th Doctor changed the dynamic, and ultimately, we are treated to a tired, old cliche of ‘budding romance’ that seemed utterly forced. Rose, from the beginning of the second season was unbearable. When she was written out, I was quite pleased. It was like a weight that was sinking the show was released.
Martha was introduced and *should* have been a great companion… she was smart, beautiful, and capable: except that pretty much every writer during the time after her introductory adventure bungled her character horribly. They didn’t seem to know what to do with her, so she was continually pushed to the background, or forced to follow around the Doctor like a love-sick puppy. It was like the writers didn’t know what to do if they couldn’t write for Rose.
This attitude led to the single most out-of-character moment I have *ever* seen in any Doctor Who (From the Shakespeare Code): The Doctor whining that he doesn’t know what to do because Rose isn’t there to tell him.
Yep… 40 years of Televised adventures, nearly a thousand years of implied experience, and he can’t function without Rose. Huh?
I was not pleased with the idea of Donna Noble becoming the companion, but I’ve grown to like her over the course of this latest series. It seems the writers have finally found the feet when writing for a companion again, though, oddly, in the episodes where they brought Martha back, they continued to consign her to pretty insignificant parts.
I’m not happy about them bringing Rose Tyler back. Her story has been told. She was given a fine sendoff, which will be rendered utterly meaningless by returning her to the series. Worse yet, if she returns, so will the romance subplot, which, as I said before, always felt forced to me. And worse still, it removes the focus of the show from the main character; The Doctor.
My ray of hope is this… with the departure of Russell Davies, and most of his production team, he has a golden opportunity to resolve all those plot threads he put into the seasons he did, and leave Steven Moffatt with a blank slate on which to begin a new and fascinating set of seasons. No Rose, No Martha, No Donna… a new companion, a fresh start, and hopefully a future less burdened with old characters…
June 15th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
anyone know any spoilers for the next episode
June 15th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I know the spoilers in series 4. First of all, Donnas in it, rose is coming back, the Doctors going to regenerate in the last episode, Rose is coming back, Davaros is coming back and captain jack is going to die by suffocation. In the christmas special Kyle Monoague is gonna die.
Spoilers
June 25th, 2008 at 7:29 am
yeah I know that I seen all of them apart from the last 2 episodes in season 4
June 25th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
wait a sec, jacks gonna make more torchwood episodes, so HA to u!!!!!
June 26th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
the doctor isnt going to die or regenerate because david tennat is signed up for season 5 and 4 specials durring next year while he is away on a theator tour. jack cant die because of the whole face of boe thing the only ones that can die are donna rose or martha because the torchwood team has already lost two members i think rose will because they will never let the doctor have a girlfriend
June 27th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
amen to that, however billie piper still hasn’t decided whether she will sign up for following series so i doubt she will die, donna maybe and i highly doubt martha as apparently she is set to be joining torchwood!!!
June 28th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Possible Spoiler/theories: The Doctor’s severed arm from the first Christmas special may have something to do with how David Tennant is still the Doctor in future episodes. There is also the fact that the region of space the Daleks have taken Earth to exists a second outside of normal time and space, that may create a loophole of some kind. Did anyone also hear the drums that Donna could here while visiting the Shadow Proclomation? The Master my also be in there somewhere, especially as there was the whole ring thing at the end of season 3, implying that he somehow isn’t dead afterall.
June 29th, 2008 at 6:37 am
was nice to see david tennent regenerate in lastnites episode ……the stolen earth, looking at the season finallie next week the cast lists ..john simm and robert carlisle is one of them the new DR !!!!!!
June 29th, 2008 at 7:47 am
NOOOOOOOO! by the satan pit why in the name of all that is doctorly are they regenerating david tennant. but yes he who shall not be named there are many loopholes as of now taht can cause the doctor to come back and unfortunately from what we have all spoiled ourselves with he will (thank god) i believe jack will use his “breath of life” on the dead hand when all of the planet stuff is fixed and the doctor will come back and by the luck of timelords all his memories will somehow be there (mabey a phsycic link in appendages) although they did say taht the doctors most faithful companion will have everlasting death mabey with will be a senario like Torchwoods season finale where jack died and came back for about one thousand eight hundred years. i hope not billie piper is a good companion but the doctor is also unfortunately not meant to have a love life is he? i also doubt taht the master has anything to do with this unless dravos is wearing his ring and has alien inteligence. and as to the masters ring it is probably stored his essence ans whoever wears it is most likely taken over and therefore the master again with a full set of regenerations and therefore imortal. but then again we may all be wrong all will be revealed in the next episode anyways but a week will feel like a timeloop to me.
June 29th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Doctor Who is great & so is Donna!
Haven’t a clue wat u guys are on about (oh donna’s gonna ruin the show!)
Don’t really care what u say donna is fanastic & is one of the best companions the doctors ever had!
Her story about something on her back.(Turn Left) WAS FANTASTIC!
Loved The Stolen earth episode yesterday & can’t wait for journey’s end next week.
Right now if you want some spoilers for doctor who here is the website!
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
did you knw that the docter as a split regenaraion and keeps his incarnation and his hand in the jar regenarates
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
how in the world would that work?
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:50 am
and is it just me or are like 3 replies missing one of my good ones to !!!
July 3rd, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Did anyone else hear the same ticking type noise that symbolised the bug on donna’s back in turn left, in the stolen earth too? I reckon, but dont know, that donna is still in the paralell universe, trapped (sorta) which may explain the death of donna. Billy Piper is set to play rose tyler for the 3 special episodes next year but not feature in the xmas special. Which brings me to this ……..
David Tennant is not leaving dr who as most have already stated. Youtube shows filming for the 2008 xmas special which will include the cybermen and David as the dr!