BBC Considered Cancelling Doctor Who in 2008

[Allyn Gibson]

According to a recent Q&A, the BBC considered pulling the plug on Doctor Who when David Tennant left.

He also disclosed that the BBC had considered pulling the plug on Doctor Who after David Tennant left, fearing that nobody else could fill his shoes.

"David owned that role in a spectacular way, gave it an all-new cheeky sexy performance and became a national treasure. And he didn't do it instantly, he did it over time. So the idea that Doctor Who could go on at all in the absence of David was a huge question," Moffat said.

"I didn't realise how many people thought it wouldn't succeed at all. That was quite terrifying when I found out about it later.

I think there were plans maybe to consider ending it. It was Russell saying, you are not allowed to end it." Source

This was rumored at the time, and I always thought it was a silly rumor. But no, it appears that cancelling Doctor Who was in fact discussed in the halls of the BBC. They might have questioned the viability of replacing Tennant, and on top of that replacing RTD. Add those together, and the BBC would essentially find themselves launching a new series if they decided to continue Doctor Who.

Thankfully, saner voices prevailed.

 

[Tom]

Ironically, in hindsight, is was more of an issue replacing RTD with Moffat then it was replacing Tennant with Smith. Moffat's stories and plot arcs had much more failing then Smith ever had playing the Doctor. Smith was a great replacement for Tennant.

 

[Relayer1]

Ironically, in hindsight, is was more of an issue replacing RTD with Moffat then it was replacing Tennant with Smith. Moffat's stories and plot arcs had much more failing then Smith ever had playing the Doctor. Smith was a great replacement for Tennant.

I'd take Moffat over RTD any day of the week...

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I remember the rumors about this and it doesn't surprise me it all. I may not like many of the episodes Davies wrote or how he handled Rose (and post-Rose), but he helped Doctor Who come back and stay, and for that I'm eternally greateful.

 

[Mr Awe]

It does surprise me! DW has survived many changes in the Doctor, even for the many cases where the previous Doctor owned the role! Man, the BBC just isn't that bright.

Mr Awe

 

[MacLeod]

So that begs the question did they consider cancelling DW when Tom Baker left?

 

[Stevil2001]

Well, we don't really know what "considered" means, do we? It only takes one guy at one meeting to spitball, "Say we just dump the whole show?" and then the BBC "considered" it.

 

[Sindatur]

Wow, shocking.

If I had heard the rumor at the time, I would've called Bullshit, and pointed out it's always been business as usual to change Doctor and/or Producer/Showrunner every few years. And probably would've made some comment in the nature of "Stop telling lies"

 

[Allyn Gibson]

If I had heard the rumor at the time, I would've called Bullshit, and pointed out it's always been business as usual to change Doctor and/or Producer/Showrunner every few years. And probably would've made some comment in the nature of "Stop telling lies"

I dismissed the rumor at the time because of the source of the rumor -- a certain Mr. Ian Levine.

Levine's claim was that he received a secret e-mail that revealed the BBC intended to end Doctor Who with the departures of RTD, Julie Gardner, and Tennant. He went public with this, and then claimed that he had embarrassed the BBC into not ending the series.

Frankly, I chalked this up to Levine's paranoid, delusional narcissism. It pains me to learn that this was, at least, discussed, even if only a spitball idea.

 

[Mr Awe]

Even Moffat isn't really that sure whether they were strongly considering cancelling DW. He says:

"I think there were plans maybe to consider ending it."

Very far from definitive! There might have been plans to consider ending it. He thinks!

Mr Awe

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Ironically, in hindsight, is was more of an issue replacing RTD with Moffat then it was replacing Tennant with Smith. Moffat's stories and plot arcs had much more failing then Smith ever had playing the Doctor. Smith was a great replacement for Tennant.

Couldn't agree more. Moffat's strengths are in self-contained stories, or two-parters, at best. RTD's best when plotting out the story arcs, as his superb arcs for seasons 1, 2 and 4 and 4B proved.

 

[Candlelight]

Levine's paranoid, delusional narcissism.

Well this is news to me. Next you'll be telling me the 10 hoax episodes found in Taiwan were generated by Levine in order to throw Phil Morris a curve ball...

 

[Mudd]

Makes some sense.

 

[Cutter John]

Didn't this happen pretty much every time it was time to replace the Doctor?

 

[davejames]

Well given that most BBC shows tend to have a pretty limited run, I can see them thinking that 3 or 4 years of a new DW would be more than enough.

I doubt they set out to relaunch the show with the intention of it going another 26 years like last time. They were probably just looking for another short-term hit, and figured a new version of DW might be something worth trying.

 

[Candlelight]

Well given that most BBC shows tend to have a pretty limited run, I can see them thinking that 3 or 4 years of a new DW would be more than enough.

I doubt they set out to relaunch the show with the intention of it going another 26 years like last time. They were probably just looking for another short-term hit, and figured a new version of DW might be something worth trying.

On the flipside if it generates them revenue then they'll continue to make it. The Day of the Doctor made them around 15 million quid when you combine movie sales, DVD sales and iTunes purchases.

 

[chelly]

Ironically, in hindsight, is was more of an issue replacing RTD with Moffat then it was replacing Tennant with Smith. Moffat's stories and plot arcs had much more failing then Smith ever had playing the Doctor. Smith was a great replacement for Tennant.

Couldn't agree more. Moffat's strengths are in self-contained stories, or two-parters, at best. RTD's best when plotting out the story arcs, as his superb arcs for seasons 1, 2 and 4 and 4B proved.

I like Moffat's story arcs much more then I liked RTD's. Frankly I also like Moffat's companions much more then I liked RTD's. The only companion of RTD's era I can say I really loved was Donna. I did like a lot of Martha's stories but a lot weren't really memorable. To me Rose was only likeable in season 1, didn't care for her really in season 2.

 

[intrinsical]

There was a huge public outcry the last time they actually cancelled the old ailing Doctor Who. It might have been discussed in 08, but I doubt they would dare to actually cancel Doctor Who at the height of its popularity.

 

[Starkers]

Ironically, in hindsight, is was more of an issue replacing RTD with Moffat then it was replacing Tennant with Smith. Moffat's stories and plot arcs had much more failing then Smith ever had playing the Doctor. Smith was a great replacement for Tennant.

Couldn't agree more. Moffat's strengths are in self-contained stories, or two-parters, at best. RTD's best when plotting out the story arcs, as his superb arcs for seasons 1, 2 and 4 and 4B proved.

I like Moffat's story arcs much more then I liked RTD's. Frankly I also like Moffat's companions much more then I liked RTD's. The only companion of RTD's era I can say I really loved was Donna. I did like a lot of Martha's stories but a lot weren't really memorable. To me Rose was only likeable in season 1, didn't care for her really in season 2.

That pretty much sums me up too!

 

[Mr Awe]

Makes some sense.

No, not when it's one of their very top programs! Fortunately, saner minds prevailed!

Mr Awe