Doctor Who, Series 5 and Specials.

[Geekyfanboy]

No, the story I heard is that shooting is dependent on health. I don't think there's anything in the can at his point.

FWIW the Doctor is male. I guess I'm too old school to take on a different view. As Meds says, Time Lords have always had a specific gender. Changing that now would be a step too far. I'd still watch but it wouldn't be the same show.

Do you feel that same way about the Doctor always being white.. can we have another race Doctor or is that out of the question?

[Feathers]

OK, I've thought about that a bit and have to say that for whatever reason I don't have the same objections. I feel he's a male character but skin tone doesn't worry me. More than that, I could probably come up with a couple of Black/Asian actors I could see in the role. I think I'd still like to see a Brit in the part though.

It's almost a surprise really since that wasn't a question I'd considered before.

[Rico]

I've really only been into Doctor Who since it had it's restart.  But I also have to say the idea of a woman Doctor seems odd to me.  This isn't like a new Trek series and a new Captain to cast, there are reasons the Doctor is male.  He regenerates which alters his appearance somewhat but he's still the Doctor.  I guess another factor for me would be if they did the female thing it would seem kind of like a gimmick to me.  As far as race, color - that doesn't matter to me.

[Meds]

I'm more than happy for the actor to have a different skin tone. I'dbe very happy if Paterson Joseph takes the role, he was great in Survivors (even though i didn't like the remake) and he was great in Spooks. Also if you look at the below table the second actor tipped Chiwetel Ejiofor is also black, so could be  on. Also with your new president to be it would be favourable (marketing point here) for the new Doctor to match a new black president.

Here are the betting odds at the moment.

ODDS FROM BETFAIR, MIDDAY 4TH JANUARY
Patterson Joseph - 31/10
Chiwetel Ejiofor - 22/5
James Nesbitt - 37/5
David Morrisey - 20/1
Billie Piper - 21/1
Aidan Gillen, Sean Pertwee - 24/1
Jack Davenport - 25/1
Ben Wishaw, Rhys Ifans, Robert Carlyle - 29/1
Colin Salmon - 43/1
Russell Tovey - 47/1
Alan Davies, Jennifer Saunders - 49/1
Richard E Grant - 54/1
John Simm - 59/1
Catherine Tate - 64/1
Richard Coyle - 79/1
Paul McGann, Jason Statham, Rowan Atkinson, Daniel Radcliffe, Stephen Fry - 99/1

I think we can take out the following.
Paul Mcgann, Jason Statham, Rowan Atkinson, Dan Radcliffe, Catherine Tate, Billie Piper, Sean Pertwee, John Simm and David Morrissey.

[KC]

Oh I'm so excited, I'm going to be checking Google News constantly for any updates from the BBC. :)

[Rico]

Aren't we learning the real deal today??

[KC]

Aren't we learning the real deal today??

Yes, sir. Meds probably knows more about the exact time we're finding out.

[Meds]

There is a new programme on at 5.35pm (Brit time) its a special doctor Who confidential. I reckon they will announce the new Dr at the end of the show. I'll have the laptop on so will post here straight away as soon as i know something.

[M-5]

There is a new programme on at 5.35pm (Brit time) its a special doctor Who confidential. I reckon they will announce the new Dr at the end of the show. I'll have the laptop on so will post here straight away as soon as i know something.

Thank you Hawkeyemeds!  I'm dying to know who the new Doctor will be.

[Meds]

No news yet but i think its Matt Smith

[Meds]

New Doctor Is........................ Matt Smith

[KC]

New Doctor Is........................ Matt Smith

Dang, he's young!  That aside, I'm very excited to see what he's going to do with the character.

[Meds]

The most texts i've had so far, is " he's got good hair"

[Meds]

26-year-old actor Matt Smith has been cast as the Eleventh Doctor, as revealed in today's special broadcast of Doctor Who Confidential on BBC One. Smith will succeed David Tennant in the role for the fifth series, which begins filming this summer and will air in 2010.

Smith has appeared in various television productions, including alongside Billie Piper in the BBC's adaptations of the Philip Pullman novels The Ruby in the Smoke and The Shadow in the North. He co-starred in the drama series Party Animals, and on stage was in Alan Bennett's acclaimed play The History Boys.

Smith was born and bred in Northampton, England, and later attended the University of East Anglia in Norwich. He is the youngest actor ever to have been cast as the Doctor in the TV series.

BBC News quotes Smith as saying: "I've got this wonderful journey in front of me where I've got this six months to build this Time Lord - and that's such an exciting prospect." Executive producer Piers Wenger has said that: "It was abundantly clear that he had that 'Doctor-ness' about him. You are either the Doctor or you are not."

The BBC Press Office, meanwhile, has a full release with quotes from new chief writer Steven Moffat, who was one of those behind Smith's casting. "The Doctor is a very special part, and it takes a very special actor to play him. You need to be old and young at the same time, a boffin and an action hero, a cheeky schoolboy and the wise old man of the universe. As soon as Matt walked through the door, and blew us away with a bold and brand new take on the Time Lord, we knew we had our man."

[Meds]

Another picture from the BBC.