Today, Northampton, tomorrow ...
So, 26-year-old actor Matt Smith has been named as the new Doctor Who*. And he's from Northampton. Great. It used to have a certain cachet coming from Northampton. Not any more. Now there's Alan Carr. And Marc Warren. And the eleventh Doctor Who. I might start saying I'm from Duston. Bloody bandwagon jumpers.* Actually, I think it's a bold choice. He's little known, unless you watched Party Animals, which I certainly didn't. I liked him in the episode of The Street I saw him in. And he has to be better than David Tennant!
posted by Andrew Collins @ 8:20 PM
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25 Comments:
Not a Tennant-ite, Andrew? I think he's very good, but his shtick began to get old in S4 and I don't envy him trying to keep us engaged in 2009 with everyone counting the days. Even those who love DT must agree that the prospect of *another* season with him isn't a good one. He times his exit just right, I say.
Other Northamptonians: Joan Hickson, Nanette Newman and, cough, Lesley Joseph.
I enjoyed Party Animals - worth catching if you get the chance.
On balance I thought David Tennant was OK as Doctor Who, although the Christmas special was execrable.
Better than David Tennant? I hope you've cleared the server for a legion of growling comments. How dare you, sir!
Personally I think young Master Smith needs to give Brett Anderson his haircut back forthwith.
It was just announced that Johnny Greenwood has been cast as Dr. Who, nice one Johnny, hope that means the next Radiohead album won't be late.
"And he has to be better than David Tennant!"
That's a rather bold statement.
I've got a bad feeling about this guy already. He looks like a smug prettyboy to me. Of course that's based on absolutely no knowledge whatsoever so I hope I'm wrong.
There is also the famously grumpy author of Watchman, V for Vendetta and others, Alan Moore - who apparently refuses to leave Northampton.
Steve
I've said as much on my blog, too. I think he's quirky enough and has the right hair. Just like with Tennant, it's all about the hair.
I know everyone loves Moffat but I shall miss Russell. As himself, Smith looks like the elephant man auditioning for an indie band, but he's a great actor. He changes when he's in a role. His mannerisms, his looks - he inhabits his characters and exudes charisma. I think he could be very good if people come to the new series with an open mind.
Anna
I wouldn't say he was attractive myself, but it's all a matter of taste, I guess. I'l agree with Andrew's bold statement, I never liked DT as much as Mr Eccleston, but he grew on me a bit. Hope the companions of the future don't follow the "I've got a crush on you" antics of the past.
Oddly enough, I had a tenner on Alan Carr being the next Doctor. I should have gone for a Northampton Eachway.
I gave up on Doctor Who when Peter Davison was replaced.
I heard a whisper of 'Northampton' and thought it might be...but it wasn't, as I've said at my place. Even with your suitable hair.
I suppose Tennant was chosen as much for his ability and willingness to popularise the franchise and do good PR, just as Matt Smith has I suspect. In terms of acting the 'modern' part though I think the bar was set by Christopher Ecclestone - and that's something to aim for, a job for a man not a boy.
I hope he does well and isn't going to be the George Lazenby 'doctor'. I guess not.
Alan Moore is noteable for being one of the few famous Northamptonians won'thear a bad word spoken about Northampton. I personally can't see why, because when I was back at Christmas Abington Street looked like something out of an episode of The Wire. I half expected Bubbles be on the market square, selling bits of tat from a shopping trolley.
Steve
I look forward to Mr Herring's perfect impression:
"Iiiiiiiii'm the neeeeeew Dotcooorrrrr, Iiiiii aaaaaam!"
Never mind all this 'new Doctor Who' tosh, I'm livid that someone would dare impugn the name of Lesley Joseph, the object of a good deal of my adolescent lust.
Step outisde Jockney, I WILL have satisfaction!
It's William Hartnell for me, I'm afraid. Anyone else think Matt Lucas would be better than this Matt Smith??
To Mr Noseybonk: Well I guess when it comes to the ladies, you and I just aren't birds of a feather. Plus I've stood outside in the snow for an hour this morning and you didn't show. I asked everyone going past "Are you Mr Noseybonk? Are you looking for satisfaction?" Not a sausage.
I don't watch Doctor Who. Hope this helps.
Yeah, sorry Mr Jockney. I did show up but you look bigger in real life than you do on the internet so I scarpered to snog Dorean behind some bins.
I am staggered that there are so many comments against David Tennant. In my view the best doctor since Tom Baker (and possibly better), although let down by some of the scripts occasionally.
However, I do agree that he has gone at the right time whilst his fans still want more.
As with James Bond, every actor who has played The Doctor has been great in their own way (yes, I'll even defend Colin Baker and George Lazenby on this score.)
And yet every time they replace the role, "we" all cry "Oh no! They'll be terrible!" And the great news is that "we" have always been wrong. Always. (That's something of a testament to how strong the central idea is, as much as anything else though.)
It's been particularly noticeable with new Who (Billie Piper?! David Tennant?! Catherine sodding Tate??!!!) so the reaction hardly surprises me any more. I've decided to wait and actually watch the show before I make any judgement calls. And even then my immediate reaction will almost certainly be wrong.
-- David
Yawn - yet another jealous male knocking David Tennant. Strange how it's always the men.....
I'm not really part of the Doctor Who community, Caked Crusader, so I had no idea people knocked Tennant. I liked him initially, but grew tired of his acting style. It's within my rights to do so. I preferred Christopher Eccleston, and I fully approve of Russell T Davies' reinvention. I wish the new Doctor Who well. And I can certainly confirm that I am not jealous of David Tennant. You'd have to be an actor who didn't get the part to be jealous of him, presumably.
Are you male or female, incidentally? You don't specify.
I am not part of the Dr Who community either but I like and admire David Tennant as an actor.
If you had expressed your view as you did in your response to my comment I wouldn't have had any problem at all but your "And he has to be better than David Tennant!" line seemed rather petulant when it wasn't apparently really what you meant anyway.
Shame on me.
CC, you list David Tennant among your "likes" in your Blogger Profile; clearly, you're a fan. Fair enough. I've got nothing against him. I've liked him in other things - Blackpool, for instance - but I've grown a bit tired of him due perhaps to overexposure. This isn't because I'm male, and certainly not because I'm jealous.
I respect your desire to defend his honour against a flippant remark in a blog, but please accept that my feelings are based purely and subjectively on my reaction to his portrayal of the Doctor; no hidden agendas based on my gender, which was your original implication. A "jealous male" you called me.
I think George Clooney is both handsome and talented and I'm not jealous of him. I'm not sure where you're coming from with the jealousy charge.
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