Will Billie be exterminated by the Beeb?
- Publication: Sunday Express
- Date: 2006-05-07
- Author: David Stephenson
- Page: 17
- Language: English
EXTERMINATION could be the fate of the much-loved Tyler family in the next series of Doctor Who.
This would mean axing two of the show's favourite characters —Rose and her mother Jackie, played by Billie Piper and Camille Coduri— at the end of the current season.
The BBC refused to say what would happen to the two stars, after Camille revealed that it would be another month at least before she learned whether she was to stay in the hit series.
She will soon star in the ITV drama Pickles: The Dog That Won The World Cup, and is to appear in BBC3's Sinchronicity, in which she plays the boss of a lingerie empire.
Billie has an ITV project in production and has completed her autobiography, for which she has been paid a six-figure sum. She also has her eye on a Hollywood career.
Show insiders, at the launch of the much-awaited episodes in which the Cybermen make their comeback, said that if the character of Jackie Tyler was axed, the fate of her daughter Rose —the Doctor's current companion —would also be in question.
Doctor Who is proving as popular as ever on Saturday evenings, bringing an average audience of about eight million to BBC1.
This is in spite of aggressive scheduling by ITV1, which is screening blockbuster family films such as Harry Potter.
But the BBC, and Doctor Who's driving force, chief writer Russell T Davies, are not resting on their laurels. He is known to be keen to refresh the characters — and cast —at regular intervals.
The character of Micky, Rose's largely Earth-bound boyfriend, played by Noel Clarke, is to be axed at the end of the Cybermen episodes. Noel, who announced recently that he is going to write scripts for the Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood, told the Sunday Express: "People are going to watch the show regardless of who is in it — with the exception of Christopher Biggins!"
When pressed on the line-up for series three, Mr Davies refused to end the speculation. "Anyone could die," he said. The show's executive producer Julie Gardner said he had a "grand plan" for series three. She added: "You will love it."
Asked whether it was unfair to keep all the cast on tenterhooks until the end of the series, she replied: "They're all actors. They understand the process. You will all find out in June, at the end of the series."
Tellingly for some characters, the final episode, starring comedian Peter Kay, is called Doomsday. A Christmas special is also planned.
A BBC spokeswoman, pressed on the future line-up, replied: "I can't confirm or deny anything about series three, or who is in it. It's too early to talk about it."
Doctor Who already has a reputation for failing to hold on to its stars. Christopher Eccleston, who played the Time Lord in the first series, decided to leave the show despite indicating otherwise. Commenting on his departure, Camille said: "He was quickly forgotten on the set. David Tennant just seemed to fit in immediately."
Asked if her own career was on hold while her fate was decided, Camille said: "It is all in the air at the moment, so we don't know. But I'm getting on with other things and I'm quite busy.
"I would love to come back. It's a hit show. I feel so motherly towards Billie Piper. I've been told I will hear any time between now and the end of June."
Caption: WHO'S FOR THE CHOP: Billie and Camille are left in limbo. Right, David Tennant
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- APA 6th ed.: Stephenson, David (2006-05-07). Will Billie be exterminated by the Beeb?. Sunday Express p. 17.
- MLA 7th ed.: Stephenson, David. "Will Billie be exterminated by the Beeb?." Sunday Express [add city] 2006-05-07, 17. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Stephenson, David. "Will Billie be exterminated by the Beeb?." Sunday Express, edition, sec., 2006-05-07
- Turabian: Stephenson, David. "Will Billie be exterminated by the Beeb?." Sunday Express, 2006-05-07, section, 17 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Will Billie be exterminated by the Beeb? | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Will_Billie_be_exterminated_by_the_Beeb%3F | work=Sunday Express | pages=17 | date=2006-05-07 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=31 March 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Will Billie be exterminated by the Beeb? | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Will_Billie_be_exterminated_by_the_Beeb%3F | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=31 March 2025}}</ref>
