The Changing Of The Guard...
Perhaps the announcement that Matt Smith was hanging up his sonic screwdriver and embarking on all new things new was inevitable. As soon as we heard he had a role in Ryan Gosling's Hollywood blockbuster I think we all began to doubt that he was going to try and have a go at beating Tom Baker's seven-year run. But you know, maybe tying with Jon Pertwee's five series that would have been nice. Still, when the announcement came in June that the Eleventh Doctor was due to regenerate at Christmas, I think we were all a little gutted I certainly was. I wrote an article about it, discussing
why his departure was loss to the show. Don't get me wrong. Replacing the entire cast every few years is a grand tradition for Doctor Who. It's what has kept the show fresh and enduring 50 years later. I think what I found the biggest shame was that with all those mid-series breaks, we could have easily had four series with Matt Smith's Doctor before the 50th anniversary reached us, rather than just three. Right now, I think we know the show us in safe hands with Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor. I think he's a magnificent choice for the titular role. Like many writers at Whatculture I too wrote an
article voicing my positive thoughts on his casting. How could anyone not be well maybe the teen crowd who want the Doctor to have a love affair with his companions each series. Knowing what was to come immediately made this loss of Matt Smith all the more palatable. Of course, for two months the Internet was rife with speculation over who was going to take on the mantle and fly the Tardis in series 8. From the sensible (Rory Kinner, Ben Daniels), to the downright bizarre. Yet again I got in on the Internet buzz, not to contribute to the frenzied discussions (I was far from convinced we'd all know the actor who bagsied the role - imagine my surprise with Capaldi), but to show just how silly some of those rumours are. In case you've forgotten, take a look at my article from June,
five ridiculous casting rumours that won't happen. Ask yourself Billie Piper or David Tennant back in the show as the Twelfth Doctor? What about Michael Jackson's daughter Paris Jackson? Yes, sometimes you've got to wander what people are thinking when they come up with these suggestions...