Hayley Atwell: "I'd like to BE Doctor Who"

 

The debate about whether the Docetor should regenerate into a woman has been ongoing since the original series. The question is; is  the time right to cast a woman in the lead role of the Doctor in the long running science fiction show? And if so, is the star of Marvel's Agent Carter, Hayley Atwell that woman?

 The Agent Carter star threw her name into the ring during an impromptu Twitter Q&A with fans, saying that she wouldn't just want to be in Doctor Who, she wants to be Doctor Who. 

 

 

 But is the show ready for such a change? Asked recently by Salon why he didn't cast a woman as the Twelfth Doctor, showrunner Steven Moffat said:

"Because I wanted to cast Peter Capaldi. If there is any other player on the board other than the person who excited you the most in the role, Doctor Who would go off the air, so that’s what you have to do.

"Was the time right? I don’t know. I think it would have been a disaster if we’d cast a female Doctor when David [Tennant] left. I believe. Disaster. Possible, this time. I think I should get a little more credit for being the only person who’s made it possible. It wasn’t part of the fiction of the show until I wrote it [with gender-swapped Master, Missy]. And I keep establishing it. But I think when that day comes – whatever showrunner that is – then the BBC will say, 'Tell me how this is definitely going to work.' Because, I tell you, there are two venomous packs here. A lot of people in the middle, sensible enough to say, 'If it’s good, I’ll like it; if it’s not good, I won’t like it.'

Back in 1999, current showrunner Steven Moffat, wrote a Doctor Who sketch for Comic Relief - Doctor Who And The Curse Of Fatal Death; whereby the Doctor regenerated into a woman. The role of the Doctor (ninth) was played by comedy actor Rowan Atkinson. During the sketch, the Doctor regenerated from Rowan to Richard E Grant (quite handsome Doctor) to Jim Broadbent (the shy Doctor) to Hugh Grant (the handsome Doctor) and finally into Joanna Lumley (the female Doctor).

At the time, I was still a teeneager and the idea that the Doctor could regenerate into a woman intrigued my young mind. I grew up in a time where Joanna Lumley was a huge name and face on television (she still is), and I was ready to accept her as the Doctor albeit, in a Comic Relief sketch. 

However, since Doctor Who returned to our screens back in 2005 - Ten fantastic years and four wonderful incarnations, I have toiled with the concept again and again. How do I feel about our greatest anti-hero The Doctor regenerating into a woman? I feel that Steven Moffat has made it work with Missy - formerly the Master and is marvellously portayed by the equally cookie and mad Michelle Gomez; so why not the Doctor? 

I've always maintained that the Doctor should remain male but I am coming around to the idea of a female Doctor. Maybe it is because I am now middle aged and there is an increased demand for more high profile female roles on our television screens. I have become to think that with the right woman in the role, our beloved Doctor can regenerate into a strong, witty, mad, intelligent Time Lord. 

Will the 14th incarnation be a woman? Wait and see but I doubt it.

Doctor Who Rumours: What is going on in Cardiff?

Last week, the world of Doctor Who was submerged in rumours that past Doctors would be appearing in the new series. The rumour is that there is a degeneration story following the sightings of Eighth Doctor Paul McGann and Tenth Doctor David Tennant and former showrunner Russell T Davies in Cardiff. 

Georgia Moffett has been photographed on the TARDIS set with Peter Capaldi, although it is unclear when the photo was taken.

 

Georgia Moffett appeared in the episode ‘The Doctor’s Daughter’ in 2008 as Jenny, the artificially created daughter of the Tenth Doctor, when a sample of his DNA was forcibly sampled with a progenation machine. Jenny survived at the end of the episode, reportedly at the request of current showrunner Steven Moffat, although we have heard nothng in relation to the character since. Could we be closer to seeing the return of Georgia as Jenny? 

Source

Doctor Who Rumours: new report says "no full series in 2016"

Private Eye is reporting that Steven Moffat's Sherlock commitments mean we won't get a full Doctor Who series 10 in 2016.

 

The new issue (which is on sale now), in its Media News section, is now reporting that BBC staff "have recently been informed that showrunner Steven Moffat's commitments to his other hit show Sherlock mean that there will be no full series of Doctor Who in 2016". The magazine does not say who has done the actual informing, though.

 Den Of Geek reached out to the BBC for an official word on this. A spokeperson confirmed that "it's too early to confirm the schedule for future series at this point. We're all excited for the new series that starts on the 19th of September".

It's known that a full fourth series of Sherlock is going into production in 2016, but Moffat has juggled his two shows before. That said, it's not without precedent that Doctor Who has a lighter year, with a few specials rather than a full 12 or 13 episode series.

Private Eye's website is here.

Peter Capaldi seriously hints that Clara Oswald is going to be KILLED OFF!

According to an article in The Daily Mirror, Peter Capaldi has hinted that his co-star's character Clara Oswald (played by Jenna Coleman), will be killed off in the new series.

Peter revealed to Doctor Who News: "The thing that is tricky about the Doctor and his relationship with companions. You know, Christopher Eccleston said in his first episode, 'I can see… everything. All there has ever been and all there ever will be. And that drives me mad'.

"So in a way, the Doctor knows the fate of all of his companions. That makes it… difficult. But [with Clara] he is deliberately enjoying the relationship and this great toy box of time and space that they can explore together. But of course, as it’s Doctor Who, there is an ever deepening shadow pursuing them.”

Twitter was sent into a frenzy by the comments, with Doctor Who fans desperately speculating over whether the actor was suggesting Clara will be killed off.

Jenna, who plays Clara, wanted to leave the show last year but decided to stay saying "Clara had unfinished business with the Doctor".

For me, I have enjoyed Jenna's portrayal of Clara Oswald and I will miss the character when she finally does leave, which will most likely will be this new series. In fact, Clara has been my favourite companion to the Doctor since the series returned in March 2005.