A New Man For All Seasons

The wait is nearly over. After the flawed climax to David Tennant's reign as Doctor Who 3 months ago, a growing sense of anticipation is sweeping the who-niverse. In two weeks time, Doctor number 11, Matt Smith picks up the keys to his burning TARDIS and will take die hard fans both young and old on a 13-week adventure through time and space, which I am hoping will stand as the beginning of a new golden age of Doctor Who.

As a long term fan who found the programme as a seven year old slap bang in the middle of the show's hiatus in then nineties, I have grown used to the frequently changing nature of Doctor Who, which regenerates itself every few years so it remains fresh and exciting for the viewing public.

Many a fan, both old and new, have expressed their view that Tennant was and is the best Doctor to hold a sonic screwdriver and that Matt Smith doesn't stand a chance in hell of winning over those fans of David's who may even be baying for blood. This is a load of complete nonsense, as any long term fan of the show will tell you. To paraphrase the brilliant Second Doctor, the show depends on renewal, without it it would not survive.

Before Tennant exploded onto our TV screens in 2005, the Time Lord's shortest incarnation, Christopher Eccleston, had been hailed to take Tom Baker's crown as Top Time Lord. Each new Doctor has brought a new dimension to the role and Smith will make the part his own for however long he travels in time in space.

Another grumble from alot of fans is Smith's age. But people forget that back in 1981, when Peter Davison picked up the baton from Tom Baker, he brought a youthful and naive portrayal and he went on to be one of the very best Doctors (okay I admit there are alot of them). So give Matt Smith a few episodes to settle in and I'm sure you will forget all about David what's his name, you know, the one from Casanova?

Another great sign that the show is in safe hands is the head writer is Steven Moffatt. He has been by far the best writer for the show since Robert Holmes. And I know this may sound blasphamous to many Russell T Davies fans out there, but Moffatt's stories so far have been original, terrifying, full of humour and sentiment. Throw in some memorable monsters and you have the integral ingredients to Doctor Who, the character and the TV show. And I'm not the only person who thinks tihs too, as the statistics prove.

In October 2009, Doctor Who Magazine released the results of the 'Mighty 200' poll, a fan based project to see which story/episode was the best in the show's five decade history. It is unsuprising to me that all four of Moffatt's contributions so far (The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, The Girl In The Fireplace, Blink and Silence In The Libary/Forest of The Dead) were in the top 25, as apposed to RTD who could only claim three and he was the head writer for five years! The problem with RTD is that he relied on an over dependence on old adversaries, tear jerkers and camp shananagans.

So the stability of the countries favourite sci-fi/family show is safe as the show rides gallantly towards 50th anniversary in 2013. Rumour has it that Matt Smith has signed up until then, so if you do decide you don't like him, tough, your stuck with him or take up watching something alot less imaginative like any british soap opera.

I sincerely hope he can turn even those who wear David 'thing-magige' pyjamas (yes I'm looking at you adults too who probably wear such romance-killing doctor who pyjamas). He will be as difficult to ignore as Colin Baker's costume and even in the last 20 seconds of The End of Time, he excelled, leaving many a viewer begging for more, but good things cone to those who wait.

And now, after spoiler campaigns to wet the appetite and pictures we shouldn't have been allowed to see (Daleks, Weeping Angels, new TARDIS and the Doctor playing sunday league football!) we are nearly there.

See you April 3rd for my review of the Eleventh Doctor's debut 'The Eleventh Hour'.

Heres a tribute to the show, sorry for the shit music i didn't make it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AymEpaPsyyw