Doctor Who: 8 News Stories That Never Die
6. Doctor Actor To Leave Doctor Who Moments After Arriving
Much as the initial reboot of 2005 continues to set the tone for Doctor Who on television, it also casts a shadow on how the press report it. Famously, news of Christopher Eccleston's departure from the role of the Doctor was leaked to the press two days after his triumphant debut. Since then, it's become almost traditional for "When are you leaving?" to be the very first question to be asked to an actor who takes on the role.
Peter Capaldi's first series was rumoured to be his only, while rumours of Jodie Whittaker's departure dogged the whole of the Chris Chibnall era. Including that bizarre moment where the two were rumoured to have stormed off set in a dispute about the involvement of Rose Tyler in Fugitive of the Judoon. It was dismissed as total nonsense, but it highlights the darker side of such rumours.
There's always an agenda, the current era has awakened something unpleasant in fandom but it's always been there. Rumours around a Doctor's departure are usually couched in the language of the incumbent being "less-than" their predecessor. Way back in 2010, there were rumours of discussions high up in the BBC about getting rid of Matt Smith. Again, total nonsense by those who weren't ready to move on from David Tennant. It's an effective way to sell papers though.