David Tennant Almost Turned Down Doctor Who Role

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As a devoted fan, it’s challenging to deny that David Tennant stands out among the actors who graced the screen as Doctor Who. Whether in the new or classic era of ‘Who’, Tennant’s portrayal of the Tenth Doctor from 2005 to 2010 left an indelible mark on viewers. Even after his regeneration and departure, he captivated us again in the 50th-anniversary special ‘The Day of the Doctor’ in 2013 and later reprised his role as the Fourteenth Doctor for a series of specials in 2023. Despite a thriving career that followed, Tennant might never have had the opportunity to embody the character that catapulted him to stardom if he had heeded the advice of a former agent.

In a recent installment of “David Tennant Chats on a Podcast…“, Georgia Tennant took over as host and interviewed her husband. They discussed David’s decision to take on the role of The Doctor, which he contemplated for more time than he initially admitted. He also talked about the internal struggle he faced when offered the part, including advice from his previous agent against accepting it. In his own words:

Initially, I wasn’t planning to do it, but later on, about 40 hours after being asked, I began to consider the implications. At the time, I had an agent who suggested I should avoid it because it wouldn’t succeed. However, my current agent, not the one who gave that advice, was incorrect in their assessment, as it eventually did work out. They said it hadn’t been tried before and would fail, but it didn’t turn out that way.

David Tennant Almost Said an Early Allons-y To ‘Doctor Who’

Though it may appear illogical to suggest David Tennant should turn down the main role in Doctor Who, it’s crucial to remember the state of the series in 2005. The revival hadn’t premiered yet, and its reputation had dwindled over time. It wasn’t perceived as high-end television and the kind of part that could pigeonhole Tennant in a specific niche fanbase. However, 2005 marked the beginning of geek culture’s mainstream explosion, and when Doctor Who returned, it was more popular than ever before, eventually breaking into America and becoming a global phenomenon.

Over an extended period, Tom Baker was widely recognized as the quintessential portrayal of The Doctor. Despite Baker maintaining popularity, and the long, vibrant scarf his character wore remaining a memorable symbol linked to the show, when fans hear “Doctor Who“, it’s more often Tennant’s Doctor that springs to mind first. This is because they invited him back not once, but twice, suggesting his affection for the role. Moreover, Tennant’s deep connection with Doctor Who has been instrumental in both his successful career and the fact that he met his spouse, Georgia, on set during the filming of Series 4’s ‘The Doctor’s Daughter.’

Since Tennant left “Doctor Who” in 2010, his career has been nothing short of remarkable. In 2013, he shone in the critically praised series “Broadchurch.” His portrayal of Kilgrave in the Marvel Television show “Jessica Jones” is widely regarded as one of the best and most menacing villains in the franchise. Additionally, Tennant has lent his voice to characters such as Scrooge McDuck in the revamped “DuckTales” and the droid Huyang in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.” He reprised this role in “Ahsoka” and “Young Jedi Adventures.” Currently, Tennant plays Crowley in the Amazon Prime Video series “Good Omens,” which will conclude with a final special episode. However, no matter what else he achieves, Tennant will undoubtedly be forever remembered as The Doctor by millions around the world.

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2025-04-12 15:32