Howling:Regeneration spoiling

Why is it whenever the actor who plays the doctor is leaving the show, everybody finds out well before it. WHat I mean is when the doctor regenerates, why isn't it a surprise anymore. All the actors who have played the doctor in the revived series have all had their departures made public long before they actually leave. Christopher ecclestons departure was spoiled by the bbc when the unquiet dead aired. The bbc for gods sake. David tennant told everyone I think at the end of 2008 or start of 2009, about a year before his doctor regenerated. Matt smith's departure was known from at least may to the public. I remember seeing the ninth doctors regeneration back in parting of the ways and being as gobsmacked and confused as rose was in that scene from when he started telling about it to david tennant appearing and then the cliffhanger. I was utterly shocked. I miss that surprise. Why is it when the actor who plays the doctor is leaving, the actor (i.e. christopher, david, matt etc.), the head writer (i.e. steven moffat, Russell t davies etc.) and everyone else involved in the making of the programme and their respective families cannot keep their mouths shut until the episode has aired. It would have been nice to have seen matt and jenna in the Christmas special with all the usual danger their lives have and then out of the blue something happens that injures the doctor so much he has to regenerate. Of course most people would then see by how he is reacting and what he says that he will probably regenerate but at least it would be a surprise as you would only find out in probably the last 10 or 15 minutes of the episode. Whereas like I said with the other three there was weeks, a year and six months notice prior to the switchover. Its not right. --Coop3 ☎  17:07, July 14, 2013 (UTC)


 * Yeah, they could try and keep that stuff more under wraps, like how they did with Jenna's first surprise appearance in Asylum of the Daleks (or so I'm told). But I suppose it provides a buffer period so there isn't a major backlash from us fans. Imagine if they tried pulling something like the One-to-Two or Five-to-Six changes and have the regeneration mid-season. —BioniclesaurKing4t2 - "Hello, I'm the Doctor. Basically, . . . run." 21:37, July 14, 2013 (UTC)

Part way through a season without announcement would be the best way to do it. Firstly, there is the element of surprise leading to a more emotionally charged moment (people like having "all the feels"). Secondly, it then means that the audience is more wary of any future danger the Doctor is in, because they won't know when he will regenerate again, since the previous regen wouldn't have been announced and wouldn't come at the most logical time (the end of the series) meaning the next one won't have to be either. This increases the sense of danger the Doctor faces, meaning the stakes are higher, meaning the episode is more powerful. And finally, having a regen part way through a series would mean the new actor would have a chance to show off what they can do before a big, end of series break, minimising the backlash from the community as they are familiarised with the new actor immediately. But I guess, at least with Matt, it was kinda hard to keep the regen under wraps considering his new hairdo for that movie he's doing! Imamadmad (Contact me) 13:14, July 15, 2013 (UTC)


 * If there's a mid-season regeneration, everyone will probably complain that "their favorite Doctor" or something didn't get a big finale to go out on, thereby increasing the backlash regarding the departing Doctor, meaning that everyone would be too busy complaining to notice what the new Doctor was even doing. Plus, the BBC would probably "accidentally" send everyone the entire series on crystal-clear Blu-Ray before it even began airing (sorry, just had to). Or, they could have the Doctor fully regenerate into a new body just prior to a summer-long mid-season break (no "To Be Continued" while still during the golden explosion), but in a Part 2 episode after the break he could collapse and thereby undo the timeline that caused the regeneration, thereby making it entirely null and void (maybe he liked that old body better; or, it could possibly be used as an excuse to give the Doctor a female regeneration?). —BioniclesaurKing4t2 - "Hello, I'm the Doctor. Basically, . . . run." 01:03, July 16, 2013 (UTC)

Mostly, I think it's because of ratings. I've always had this idea that the three episodes the public will watch more than others are Daleks, Christmas, and regenerations. A new Doctor is a very big event (like how "The Eleventh Hour" was iPlayer's most requested episode.) If it happens by surprise, they'll have missed the chance to let everyone know to increase ratings. The reason Matt Smith's was announced is because of a leak, as was Eccleston's. I do think Tennant announcing it wasn't necessarily the best idea, though. In fact, if the media didn't love jumping the gun all the time, we might have actually be surprised this year. That is, unless the BBC announced it for extra ratings, which they probably would. Gallifrey102 ☎  11:52, July 16, 2013 (UTC)

But if its the bbcs fault then they should be punished. Did this ever happen in the classic series? If not that means the current bbc bosses are at fault and so should been reprimanded for it. Or maybe the head writer could then lie to the bosses about the change (he he he) and so even they cant ruin it. --Coop3 ☎  20:38, July 16, 2013 (UTC)


 * It happened with Tom Baker. On The Tom Baker Years double VHS there's a clip of a news broadcast announcing his forthcoming departure. That may have had more to do with him being the longest Doctor Who on record, but it did happen.DCT ☎  12:39, July 17, 2013 (UTC)

Now apologise to the nice man for calling him doctor who when he is actually called the doctor. --Coop3 ☎  16:39, September 8, 2013 (UTC)


 * Coop3, I've already asked you once to read Tardis:No personal attacks. If you meant it as a joke, keep in mind that jokes don't always translate well in print, and what seems funny to you when you write it might seem mean-spirited when someone else reads it. Shambala108 ☎  17:26, September 12, 2013 (UTC)

Wow, you come on to the thread two months after the original comment just to say that? I somewhat see your point and would agree that it is correct in most contexts, as we are usually discussing elements of the story. Here we are discussion announcements of casting in the real world. The character is the Doctor, the role is Doctor Who?. Anyway it is hardly the first time the error is made it will likely not be the last. In 1974 a 15 year old fan wrote a letter to the Radio Times praising the show where he did, in fact, refer to the character as "Doctor Who". This letter was republished recently because that boy grew up to be a rather famous actor who will be appearing on Doctor Who quite soon. His name is Peter Capaldi, I imagine you've heard of him. See, that's how easily the mistake is made.DCT ☎  12:36, September 12, 2013 (UTC)


 * There's also the little fact that for years the character of "the Doctor" was listed as "Dr. Who" or "Doctor Who" in the credits. Shambala108 ☎  17:26, September 12, 2013 (UTC)
 * Yeah, at the same time there's the "legend" that there was a fan uproar from the moment WOTAN said "Doctor Who is required" or some such.DCT ☎  15:01, September 13, 2013 (UTC)

It's because acting is a job. The actor needs to make sure that his availability is known because otherwise where is his next project going to come from? Being known to be available as early as possible could mean all the difference between getting or missing the next significant role of his career.

This means the actor's agency needs to start promoting his availability, which means that eagle-eyed and determined spoiler-hounds will inevitably find out on the grapevine and put 2+2 together. We would always have found out early, the BBC usually accepts the fact, and preempts the inevitable news story with a reveal of their own to control how the story itself is broken. Darren.pobatti ☎  16:52, November 16, 2013 (UTC)