.....Catherine Tate

Taken from Digital Spy.

Oh.

I wasn't that into her, ok for one episode but not on a weekly basis.

That would be awful. I hope it is a false rumour :ermm:

Confirmed on the BBC site.

I have to say, I didn't find her that bad in TRB. :unsure:

Oh dear.

The "Bring Back Sally Sparrow" campaign starts here.

Donna wasn't too bad in the Runaway Bride, but I get the feeling that if she is to become a long term companion, she will grate big time. :ermm:

Terrible idea. :no:

To be fair though, most people thought Billie Piper would be terrible as well. Nothing in TRB convinces me that she'll be a liability. RTD obviously feels that there's enough to work with in CT. He's not often been wrong so far.

Fingers crossed! :lol:

I agree, I have faith in Russell, however they'll have to tone down the character a bit from the Christmas Special for it to work for me, Donna was a bit OTT, which is fine for a Christmas Special but for a whole 13 episode run.....

It could go either way for me but I'm sure if they can write good stories and incorporate her character well it could work, it also might keep it fresh. Also I have never really been a fan of 2 females in the TARDIS and 1 Doctor. I'm not being sexist but its always worked well with 1 Doctor, 1 Male Companion and 1 Female Companion.

Examples are The Doctor, Jamie and Victoria (Patrick Troughton years)

The Doctor, Liz Shaw and The Brigadier (Jon Pertwee Years)

The Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan (Tom Baker years)

And The Doctor, Tegan and Turlough (Peter Davison years)

and more recently The Doctor, Rose/Martha and Captain Jack (Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant).

And thinking about it I would think that most of my favourite Who episodes have had this combination or just the single female companion.

The only times theres been more than 1 female companion that I can remember were when the series began and with Nyssa and Tegan (add in Adric) and that was a very crammed TARDIS and even when they bumped of Adric wasn't much of a fan of the few stories with just Nyssa and Tegan, but when Turlough came along it became a much better dynamic.

To be honest this is probably where TORCHWOOD has ruined Doctor Who, Captain Jack would serve as a fantastic permanent companion on the TARDIS but he can't be on both shows at once. And I'm pretty sure if Torchwood wasn't around John Barrowman would have played Captain Jack on Doctor Who permanently. And in this respect the sooner they cancel that show and spin him back into Doctor Who permanently the better there is no doubt in my mind that if they wanted an extra companion he'd be first choice and I'd even go as far to say that just him and The Doctor for a few episodes of the next series probably would have worked.

I also agree with Steve here as well, Sally Sparrow would have made an excellent companion....who knows I think after Martha they should give her a chance.

Anyway I didn't see this leaked into the tabloids (perhaps this seemed to silly to be true!) but how long will it take for them to say Tennants quit this year, I'm betting when they publish the story on this, it will be definately slipped in somewhere.

They started doing that in TRB though. The character in the second half of the episode was very different to the 'loud' one of the first half. I can see it working, and I think a lot of people will be surprised.

Yep. Kind of how Angel ruined Buffy.

























:ph43r:

You're probably right. I think the only reason I'm so disappointed is because I really, really wanted to see the return of Sally Sparrow. I think it would have been a cracking idea, and I hope they take that option in the future :)

Although, given this development, I guess we can expect Kylie to be the companion in season 5. Fine by me, so long as she wears those gold hotpants :naughty:

Maybe ruined was too harsh a word, but its definately set back Doctor Who a bit as the character is adored and liked by adults and children alike and in terms of the quality of the episodes any episode he's been in has been excellent for me.

One things for sure I'd choose Captain Jack over Donna Noble anyday, but agreed by the end of the episode the character had changed, although the problem partly for me is the 'comedic baggage' that Catherine Tate brings with her. Yes a laugh here and there in an episode is fine, but I don't want the show to become too comedic.

:ermm: yeah but will donna have calm down because 1) she is gonna complain about the big bad plan 2) she is gonna complain about the doctor's way of dealing with the big bad (too harsh, too deadly, too ... something)

fun in one episode but in half a season <_< :ponder:

You mean a WHOLE season even when Martha returns Donna will still travel for the whole 13 episode run.

I think we'd be doing RTD a massive disservice if we assume that he'll suddenly look to change the whole nature of the show and base it around CT's apparent comedic genius. It won't happen. It's like saying that he signed Billie Piper up so that he could have her break out in song and dance in every episode. I expect a few references and opportunities for CT to crack a few one-liners but I certainly wouldn't expect her 'normal' routine to suddenly become the cornerstone of the show.

:ermm: oh the fireworks there will be when donna and martha will met then work together (rose and sarah jane smith meeting will be nothing next to that) :lol:

First thoughts : Meh. <_<

Hmmmm not exactly what I was expecting. :shrug: When I heard it on the radio I thought it was just more tabloid speculation. Very strange. :blink:

I've read alot of comments elsewhere with people outraged by the casting which I think is a bit strong, I'm sure as has happened in other shows where a guest star or a character that was only meant to be in a show a few episodes becomes a regular they will round out the character a bit more and as has been said she became much more likeable towards the end of TRB.

Still can't quite see her sprinting down all those endless corridors that seem to be such an important part of being a companion. ;) And I have to admit I did have my heart set on Sally Sparrow. :tear:

I think maybe part of the problem people have with the casting is that maybe the first thing that comes to mind is her comedy show, as that is what she is usually associated with, then they try to imagine that in Doctor Who (on a permanent basis). Its hard for Billie Piper to sing if the script doesn't allow for it, but Catherine Tate could choose to say something in a funny way, look at the camera, or just be Catherine Tate. Its to some degree like John Cleese, you could never take him seriously in a serious role, and I don't think I can take Catherine Tate seriously on a weekly basis. I agree that Russell wouldn't change the whole dynamic, and I do trust him but maybe I'm just paranoid because the show has lost its way before in my view especially from Colin Baker to Sylvester McCoy - Kandy Man anyone?

:no: I've spent today kinda hoping it's a piss-take on the beeb's part. I did let out an "oh no" when I read the news at work (apparently loud enough to have my manager look at me oddly :lol:). I didn't really like her in TRB, I'll give her a chance but I can't say I'm looking forward to it :(

I was having a conflab with my dad about this and he tells me Martha is only going to be in the last three episodes of next season, he said he read it in the paper, I can't remember which one. Do you we know how many epiosdes of Torchwood she is going to be in?

He isn't that excited about CT becoming the new companion and is with a few here that Sally Sparrow should return!

Martha is to be in three episodes of Torchwood, nobody knows which ones, it could be the first three or last three or somehwere in between.

My favourite post, from another board:

:lol:

:lmao: Hilarious. I Saw something similar to that post on the topic on the 'Your Comments' Section on BBC News on the topic, it seems that the people who dislike her casting outnumber the people who do 5 to 1. However people who are happy with it wouldn't have to complain.

Reading through it theres alot of negativity towards her acting skills, and the thought of her comedy persona impacting on the show. Also Steve will be interested in alot of posts indicating that Sally Sparrow would have been a better choice.

:blink: it's the first BBC poll i see with so much voter (for quite a while) :lol:

-> Noel Clarke, who played Mickey Smith on the first two seasons of the BBC's Doctor Who, hinted to SCI FI Wire that he may be returning to the show in the upcoming fourth season, even though his character was left stranded in an alternate dimension. :unsure: :whistling:

Filming is underway for Series Four of Doctor Who, with Catherine Tate reprising her role as Donna, the runaway bride featured in last year's Christmas Special

article (good and/or bad encounter spoiler warning)

:unsure:

I saw an article from one of the tabliods about this......best bit was they had a picture with Bowie's head on Davros......with the caption 'Here am I sitting in a tin-can' :rolleyes: :lol:

I have obviously been away for the Doctor Who board for far too Catherine Tate Doctor's new companion :o Am seeing things someone please tell me this is a joke and or a crazy rumour that beeb have not confirmed.

What the hell are they thinking? It took me a little while to get into Doctor Who last season was the best yet I really enjoyed. The beeb just broken up a fantasic team in David and Freema has been treated really badly by the beeb I can honestly I don't wether I will contiune to watch from now I will just stick with Torchwood.

Joe, you missed the news ?! :o :blink:

Yep, it`s true. :shrug:

I'm very :blush: to be so out of touch with the news I will spent more time here to catch up

So I'm right in thinking that the BBC have yet to confirm this but it does seem very likely at this point?

I think it`s definite. :)

I saw that Xmas special again a few days ago and have come round a bit to the idea of her as a companion . :unsure:

It is very definite - there have already been publicity shots of the two together. But if you'd like a news report to confirm it, from 2 months ago we have this little beast....

Thank you Phillip and Sarah :) I just can't say CT working but I hope I'm wrong! I'm trying to keep an open mind Freema will be a big miss!

Well Freema will be back halfway through season 4, so just hold out for the Catherine Tate only episodes and she'll be back soon enough.

bbc

Overseas filming for ambitious episode

article and photo (plot spoiler)

Casting Update (spoiler warning)

BBC