New appointment delights Dr Who fans
Published Date: 07 January 2009
ONE of Scarborough's biggest Doctor Who fans has given his reaction to the appointment of a brand new Time Lord.
Relatively unknown actor Matt Smith was named as the next face of TV’s most famous time traveller.
Scarborough man John Harper, who has never missed an episode, says the choice of 26-year-old Smith is “wonderful”.
He said: “I think he’ll be just as good as David Tennant and the show will be wonderful as always.
“With the last few doctors a new character has emerged and the special effects in recent years have been fantastic.”
Mr Harper founded the Scarborough and Ryedale Astronomical Society 33 years ago and is fascinated by the show’s take on space and time.
He said: “I think people enjoy the fact that the programme is very thought-provoking from an astronomical point of view.
“When we look at the skies we are looking into the past – for example, the light we see from the sun set off about eight minutes ago.”
David Tennant has announced he will be stepping down as the Doctor at the end of this year.
Smith, 26, who will be the 11th Doctor, is the youngest actor ever to take on the role. He was cast during the Christmas period and will begin filming the fifth series of Doctor Who – which is due to be shown next year – during the summer.
Smith’s biggest television role so far has been in BBC Two’s political drama Party Animals in 2007, in which he played parliamentary researcher Danny Foster.
Outgoing doctor David Tennant will film four special editions throughout 2009.
Mr Harper, whose favourite doctor was Patrick Troughton, says he is glad to see a new, young actor take on the role. He said: “I’m in my 60s now, so I would love to regenerate and go back to that age – I think a lot of us would!”
Youngsters at Friarage School have also been giving their opinions on the new Doctor.
Teacher Sarah Wright found out what her class of 10 and 11 year olds thought about the changes.
She said: “They’ve all been talking about it and most of them are not happy with the change. They really like David Tennant because he’s funny and they’re used to him now.
“The children say they love Doctor Who because it’s adventurous and he can travel through time. They also like the sci-fi language he uses and the costumes.”
Scarborough’s MP Robert Goodwill is also a big Doctor Who fan. He said: “People are saying he’s too young, but he’s 800 years old as I understand it!
“David Tennant will be a very hard act to follow, but I’m optimistic that the new Doctor will be just as good. There was talk of Jack Dee taking on the role and I think he would have been fantastic.
“I also hope they keep up the phenomenal special effects of the recent era – the Christmas edition was brilliant.”
Mr Goodwill added that his favourite Doctor was Jon Pertwee.
The full article contains 525 words and appears in Scarborough Evening News newspaper.
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TARDIS Actor Matt Smith will be the next to portray the Doctor on the BBC television program ''Doctor Who''.  Smith will be the eleventh incarnation of the Doctor, taking over from actor David Tennant who will end his time with the series after filming four editions of the program through 2009.  The Doctor comes from a race of Timelords, and has the ability to "regenerate" and change appearance when his health is failing.  William Hartnell was the first actor to play the Doctor, from 1963–1966.  Smith will become the new occupant of the Doctor's time machine and spacecraft the "TARDIS" in 2010.  


John Harper, founder of the Scarborough and Ryedale Astronomical Society and a fan of the series, called the decision to cast 26-year-old Smith in the role "wonderful". MP for Scarborough Robert Goodwill, also a fan of the program, told the ''Scarborough Evening News'': "David Tennant will be a very hard act to follow, but I’m optimistic that the new Doctor will be just as good."


Matt Smith, 26, portrayed researcher Danny Foster on the political drama ''Party Animals'', which aired on BBC Two in 2007.  Fellow actor Andrew Buchan from ''Party Animals'' told ''The Guardian'': "It's a sublime bit of casting.  He's got that huge hair, a twinkle in his eye — Matt's the king of geek chic.  He is possibly going to be one of the best Doctors we've ever had." 

After a back injury got in the way of Smith's goal of becoming a footballer, his drama teacher Jerry Hardingham at Northampton School for Boys encouraged him to pursue acting. Though Smith did not audition, Hardingham cast him in a school production of the play ''Twelve Angry Men''. Hardingham later convinced Smith to join the National Youth Theatre, and he landed the lead role in the play ''Murder in the Cathedral'', performing before members of the British Royal Family and other VIPs at the Westminster Cathedral.

David Tennant 
David Tennant, 37, has portrayed the Doctor on ''Doctor Who'' since taking over for Christopher Eccleston in 2005. A major feature of his character's stories involved a romantic interest in his companion in the TARDIS, Rose, played by actress Billie Piper. 

Tennant announced his exit from the program on October 29, 2008, at the National Television Awards in the United Kingdom, during his speech accepting the outstanding drama performance award at the program. ''Doctor Who'' was recognized with the award for most popular drama program. 


"I love this part, and I love this show so much that if I don't take a deep breath and move on now I never will, and you'll be wheeling me out of the Tardis in my bath chair," said Tennant in his address to the audience in attendance at the Royal Albert Hall. He was previously recognized at the National Television Awards for his role in ''Doctor Who'' with the award for most popular actor, in 2006 and 2007.

Tennant is currently performing the lead role in ''Hamlet'' with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and his engagement at the Novello Theatre in Westminster, London is set to end on January 10. He portrayed Hamlet 60 times with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon prior to the production's move to London.