Doctor Who on air until 2010

[eithne]

Some surprises below...

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Doctor Who will remain on air until at least 2010, the BBC has announced.

The fourth series - currently being filmed in Cardiff - will air in Spring 2008, following this year's Christmas special, which guest stars Kylie Minogue as a waitress on board the Titanic.

Another Christmas special is planned for 2008, but there will be no full series in 2009. Instead three specials are planned for broadcast throughout 2009, with both David Tennant and lead writer Russell T Davies confirmed for both. A full-length, fifth series will air in 2010.

"Doctor Who is one of the BBC's best loved and most successful dramas," said Jane Tranter, controller of BBC Fiction. "Its journey over the past three series has been one of the most ambitious and exciting that we have had, and I'm delighted to be able to confirm not only three exciting specials for 2009, but a fifth series in 2010."

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So DT will stay on for Series 4 and then the specials, before most likely leaving in 2009 before Series 5 begins in 2010. What does this mean? I hope it means RTD will be going then as well.

[RitaLittlewood]

I thought the arrogant one was going at the end of series 4. Mind you, he said after series 2 he would take a back seat and hasn't.

Patsy

[eithne]

He just doesn't know when to relenquish control, does he? Ideal time would have been 2004 before it came back!

[RitaLittlewood]

LOL! JNT always claimed the BBC wouldn't let him leave and did nothing to find his replacement. RTD seems to relish the attention.

Patsy

[Lane Kent]

Umm, when I saw this title I groaned. Not so bad there will be no full series in 2009 and just specials because most people I know offline, myself included, are getting bored.

All things considered I preferred Series 3 to Series 2 and I really do like DT in the role, however you can have too much of a good thing, and this was never that good to begin with. Series 4 will have to be something very special for this to remain appointment viewing for me. Last year's Christmas special I really really hated.

I guess we shall have to wait and see. Resting it in 2009, bar the specials, may well breath new life into it for 2010 and if RTD could go it might just stand a chance of lasting until 2015.

[Lane Kent]

eithne said:

He just doesn't know when to relenquish control, does he? Ideal time would have been 2004 before it came back!

Forgot to say in my previous post, good one, that just says it all and had me ROFLOL.

[eithne]

I wonder will the 2009 specials be 42 minutes, 1 hour or 90 minutes in length? I'm just curious to know really, as that'll have an impact as well.

And will the 5th series move from being aired in the spring to the autumn?

[RitaLittlewood]

Good question. An hour isn't long enough. Although last year's was rubbish so should have been much shorter like 5 mins. LOL! It really needs decent writing to be longer and if RTD's doing them then it won't be.

I can't see why they don't start in Jan like it used to be.

Patsy

[eithne]

They film for around 9 months a year, so if they started in January they might catch up as filming doesn't end until March I think.

[RitaLittlewood]

They could. They could also not blame the bad weather for the low ratings. LOL! Next year's it's Euro 2008 so could be interrupted.

Patsy