Freema Axed

[RitaLittlewood]

From the Sun:

Exterminate! Freema axed

By SARA NATHAN
TV Editor,
and ALLY ROSS
May 26, 2007

DOCTOR Who actress Freema Agyeman has been axed from the next series, The Sun can reveal.

Pretty Freema, 27, only joined the BBC1 sci-fi hit as the Timelord’s new companion Martha Jones at the beginning of the current series three.

We told how the struggling actress scooped the role after Billie Piper quit. But show chiefs think her performance is not as strong as in her earlier episodes.

And they are planning a storyline where the Doctor, played by David Tennant, will lose her and travel through the universe searching for her.

The decision to dump Freema comes as a bolt from the blue after her performance for the first couple of episodes was praised.

A source said: “Freema is very talented but we don’t think she is just right on Doctor Who. None of this is being done with any malice. Freema’s a lovely girl.”

Freema has previously admitted that she had a tough job to fill Billie’s boots. Billie, who played Rose Tyler, left at the end of the second series.

Christopher Eccleston stunned the BBC by quitting as the Timelord after the first series of the revamped drama in 2005.

Meanwhile current star Tennant is still believed to be making just part of series four, which starts filming in Wales this summer.

A spokeswoman for the show refused to comment.

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If this is true and she's not as strong as earlier eps whose fault's that? The writers and RTD's interference!!!! It's the stories which aren't as strong as series 1. All companions have ended up watered down from their first. Look at feminist Sarah Jane Smith. Now the same character by the time Tom Bater took over. Stories were better though so they got away with it.

Patsy

[Nick]

Well that is a sursprise I must admit...I wonder who his next comapnion will be ?..I think he should have more than one

[RitaLittlewood]

Yeah and what's the betting they all love him.

Patsy

[Nick]

More than likely Pats......I also read David tennant is only doing half the next series

[Lane Kent]

I've only seen 2 episodes of this series so far (have all of them on the Sky+ box so really must get them watched), however I've liked her.

If they do get rid of her then I agree with Nick it would be nice for them to have more than one companion.

Someone was telling me at the weekend that they were getting sick of DW now because they said in every episode of Season 3 so far Martha has had to save the Doctor from death. I couldn't comment as I hadn't seen enough but the two I have seen were a bit like that I had to admit.

[RitaLittlewood]

Bit like when it was The Rose Show so nothing's changed.

They're running out of Doctors and with RTD stupidly killing off the Time Lords he cannot be given a new regeneration cycle if they decided to.

Patsy

[madamesinclair]

Funny that... didn't the BBC axe Moira Stuart recently?

[Nick]

Aye aye racism rears its ugly head

[RitaLittlewood]

Moira Stewart was sacked over her age not colour. They're too yoof orientated these days and copying America except when it comes to respected older women presenters.

Patsy

[gingercat]

If true I think its a shame..I think she is an asset to Dr Who.

[Deleted]

If true I think its a shame..I think she is an asset to Dr Who

I quite agree - I think she's picked up the mantle brilliantly from Billie Piper, who I thought was very good, but not really worthy of all the excessive hype that surrounded her.

And it's certainly not Freema's fault that I've lost interest in DW.

I know lots of people have their favourite Doctor, and many rave about David Tennant, but I'm afraid that, for me, DW has lost a lot since Christopher Eccleston bowed out - I thought he was superb, and my favourite DW.

[madamesinclair]

David Tennant doesn't act. He overacts and mugs it too much for the camera, always completely aware that it is on him. His best performance came in Doomsday when he lost Rose and he and her were up against the walls separating them. It needed no dialogue or David pulling any faces.

[RitaLittlewood]

Needed none of that gushy padded 10 mins afterwards either. Companions come and go. That's part of being a Time Lord travelling through space and time. He knows he'll always pick up another along the way. Tom Baker used to pull faces, as did Patrick Troughton, but they were superb. Tennant reminds me of Peter Davison - hasn't got the strong personality for the role. Eccleston was good. Only ruined by all the lurve crap and they made Rose the heroine. But then he was also like Tom Baker in certain aspects. He was right for the part because of his strong commanding presence and I was sorry to see him go.

Patsy