No 5th series of Dr Who in 2009

sir_drinks_alot · 03-09-2007, 15:25

seems like thay are going to change the format for DW for the 09 season

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/...03/48471.shtml

DES_1001 · 03-09-2007, 16:15

Great news, Me the wife and kids all watch this together!

**Chris** · 03-09-2007, 16:16

BBC:

Quote:

David Tennant's appearance in the fifth series of Doctor Who looks uncertain after it was revealed there will be no new series in 2009.

The fourth series, starring Tennant, is due to hit TV screens next year, but the fifth will not be seen until 2010. Instead, Tennant, will star in three Doctor Who specials, written by Russell T Davies, on BBC One in 2009

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6976178.stm

sir_drinks_alot · 03-09-2007, 16:25

Maybe it's a good thing to give it a bit of a rest in 09

**Chris** · 03-09-2007, 16:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by sir_drinks_alot

Maybe it's a good thing to give it a bit of a rest in 09

It's not exactly getting a rest though - it looks like a change in format, producing 'specials' (which by their nature I would expect to be of longer duration and bigger budget) for 2009 broadcast instead of a full 13-week season.

The fact that the Beeb has also confirmed a full new series for 2010 is plainly meant to quash speculation that they are sidelining the show or losing faith in it - it is unusual for a drama series like Dr Who to get recommissioned that far in advance. So I don't think we should worry too much about the show's future.

I wonder what they have in mind though? I am guessing RTD has some massive set-piece up his sleeve that he managed to persuade the Beeb to go along with. Either that or it's a condition of keeping David Tennant on board for a while longer.

**Maggy** · 03-09-2007, 20:42

Perhaps DT has some other productions he wants to work on?

**Chris** · 03-09-2007, 21:41

Yes - he's doing a season with the RSC.

If you're a member of Outpost Gallifrey, it's worth a peep at their forum at the moment. It's practically in meltdown.

That place is the last word in paranoia.

Stephen · 04-09-2007, 11:30

Its seems to be a comprimise so DT can stay on as the Doctor.

I think it would be good to go see DT in Hamlet though.

**Chris** · 04-09-2007, 12:40

It looks that way. He is the face of the show at the moment, and with branding being more important now than it ever was back in the 60s, 70s or 80s, they will want to do more to hold on to him than the former producers ever felt they needed to do to keep any of the previous actors who played the Doctor.

I cannot understand the reaction of some of the people over on OG though. There was one on there yesterday saying 'I told you so' after apparently predicting that the show would get rested after 2008. The fact is, that prediction has been made so often, by so many people, that sooner or later one of them was bound to be right. And yet the fact that it has happened is taken as a portent of doom, that RTD and DT are now seen as 'bigger' than Dr Who, that the BBC commissioning team are a bunch of idiots, etc etc etc etc

None of them seem to have twigged that Dr Who is making the Beeb a fortune in merchandising and syndication and Auntie is not about to do anything to make that revenue stream dry up.

You only have to go into a branch of Woollies to see what I mean - I was in the Braehead branch last week and there was practically an entire aisle given over to Cyberman masks, Tardis playsets, radio-controlled K9s and action figures including really obscure bit-part characters like the Moxx of Balhoun ... (remember him?!) .

Whatever the Beeb is up to, I don't think we have anything to worry about. In fact, I suspect we can look forward to some spectacular set-pieces in 2009. And we shouldn't forget that before we even get to 2009, we have two Christmas specials and a complete regulart 13-week run to look forward to, plus at least one series of Torchwood (which surely has got to be an improvement on the first series, so it should be, at the least, enjoyable late night telly).

I'm happy.

mentalis · 04-09-2007, 12:49

One of the reasons they gave for Doctor Who not being in HD was timescales. If they are only going to do three in 2009 do you think they may be in HD?

**Chris** · 04-09-2007, 12:57

It would be nice to think that would be the case, but I think budget is probably still the major constraint. It costs a lot more to do the kind of FX Who uses if they are done in HD. Of course, if they are specials, they probably have a bigger budget - the question is, is it 'bigger enough'?

I can't see them doing anything in HD until they feel they are in a position to do the whole thing in HD.

So ... I guess they might, I hope they do, but I'm not convinced they will.

Delta Whiskey · 04-09-2007, 15:38

Someone at the Beeb knows how to leave the customers wanting more. If the series continued as it has up to now many people would start to drift away as familiarity with the franchise lead to boredom. This way you have the excitement of a whole series to come, three one off specials and then the return of the series, all adding up to keeping the viewer interested.