Lol I was just going to post about this Looks like an interesting Dr for the role What I want to know is will they bring back the Daleks and Cybermen

They are still negotiating with the Terry Nation Estate for the use of the Daleks, the Cybermen look likely. However since there is an emphasis on newness, and not just rehashing the old stories Id expect them to only use one of the two in the first series.

Also expect a return from lesser known monsters the Autons.

I do think Russell T. Davies is a good choice as director. He's done some excellent dark fantasy stuff for BBC kids tv. Anyone else remember Century Falls or The Dark Season?

Only faintly, Id love to watch them again now.

Crying shame we couldn't have Richard E Grant take over from Paul McGann: "Is that a Darlek?" "Shut up Doctor, of course it's an effing Darlek!"

Christopher Eccleston is a top-notch choice, much better than the franchise deserves really. I'll always remember him for his epic performance in Our Friends in the North, but I've not seen him do a wrong'un yet.

I still wish the Beeb had commissioned an original concept instead of cashing in on Dr Who nostalgia, but if this has a knock-on effect for British cult TV, I'll be properly chuffed. Cult TV have proved a consistent ratings hit -- Ultraviolet never left Channel 4's top ten, and SkyOne pretty much owes its continued existance to Buffy the Vampire Slayer -- but executives seem to take great pleasure in leaving a prime market to US imports. The BBC appear to be giving the new Who the star treatment -- literally in casting Eccleston -- but I have my suspicions this is about easy ratings and nothing more. The (dire) 1996 Dr Who movie still notched up 9 million viewers. Time will tell.

Still, having the Doctor and Jesus on your resume, not many actors who are able to say that!

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by Byron
and SkyOne pretty much owes its continued existance to Buffy the Vampire Slayer

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...along with Star Trek and Stargate.

I think Chistopher Eccleston is a fantastic choice for the Doctor, he's an amazing actor and we know that he works well with Russel T. Davis (The Second Coming was a great piece of TV) so I'm really looking forward to this now

I heard one woman on the TV last night saying "ooo he's all wrong, his hair isn't long enough and Doctor Who has to be like an aging hippy" Where the hell did she get that from?! *rolleyes*

Re the hair, McGann didnt exaclty have long hair till they stuck a wig on him. We really dont have a clue what look they will give him, not that the majority of Doctor have had the big hair look anyway!

It's also been announced that 'Billie Piper' will be the sidekick.

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by Vinnie
It's also been announced that 'Billie Piper' will be the sidekick.

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why the ? She's a pretty good actress and certainly looks the part of a companion.

Actress? Since when? What's she been in?

Thought she was just a standard pop singer who gave up to marry a millionaire.

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by Vinnie
Actress? Since when? What's she been in?

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Since she got really good reviews for BBC drama last year.

She was in The Millers Tale the first of the Canterbury Tales adaptations, she was in a one off drama called Bella and the Boys that was part of a BBC season highlighting the problems faced by children in care. She's just been in The Calcium Kid with a little known actor by the name of Orlando Bloom and she's one of the leads in a Brit film thats not been released yet called Things to do before you're 30

I've not seen the Calcium Kid, but i have seen the Millers tale and Bella and the Boys and she was good in both of those.

She's certainly not going to be worse than Bonnie Langford

(Edited by Sydney 25/05/2004 16:28)