It’s hard to imagine Doctor Who without David Tennant, but according to the actor himself, his now-iconic role as the Tenth Doctor almost didn’t happen.
On the latest episode of David Tennant Does a Podcast With…, Tennant opened up about nearly passing on the role that made him a household name. Joined by his wife, actress Georgia Tennant, he revealed that his representation at the time strongly advised against taking on the role.
I had an agent at the time who was like, ‘Don’t touch it. It’s not going to work.
Tennant said.
While the idea of him skipping out on the opportunity seems unthinkable now, the actor explained that the circumstances surrounding the show’s return made the decision feel risky. After Christopher Eccleston stepped down following just one season as the Ninth Doctor, showrunner Russell T. Davies essentially had to reboot the reboot.
Well, maybe I was clearly going to do it. But there was definitely a moment where I wasn’t.
Tennant reflected
Fortunately, he said yes and the rest is Doctor Who history.
Tennant didn’t just play the Doctor once he made an epic return in 2023 for the show’s 60th Anniversary Specials, this time as the Fourteenth Doctor. The special episodes explored why his face had returned and helped transition the series into the next era with Ncuti Gatwa taking on the mantle as the Fifteenth Doctor.
Fans of the long-running sci-fi phenomenon will remember this idea of “revisiting old faces” isn’t entirely new. In the 50th Anniversary Special, Tom Baker, the Fourth Doctor, made a surprise cameo as The Curator, hinting that the Doctor sometimes circles back to familiar versions of himself.
With over 60 years of storytelling, Tennant remains one of the most beloved faces of the franchise, alongside legends like Matt Smith and Tom Baker.
Doctor Who is currently streaming on Max for those looking to relive Tennant’s time in the TARDIS.
Source: Collider
