View source for Tennant's extra fun as Dr Who

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| publication = Daily Star
| file = 2005-12-07 Daily Star.jpg
| px = 650
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| date = 2005-12-07
| author = Phil Boucher
| pages = 4
| language = English 
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Festive peril for new Time Lord

Doctor Who — The Christmas Invasion, BBC1


NEW Doctor Who David Tennant faces something more frightening than Daleks —being the major star of Christmas TV.

BBC bosses have chosen the biggest television day of the year to showcase his hotly-awaited first adventure as the Time Lord in a 60-minute festive special.

And as David, 34, explains, it's going to present the biggest challenge of his career.

"It's a privilege to be a part of that history —but it's kind of daunting at the same time. "It's not really like any other acting job.

"I've done all sorts of different things and that's all been great fun.

"But suddenly I get cast as something and it's making the news. I was visiting my parents and it came up on a TV report!"

In the BBC special David picks up from his dramatic entrance in the last series where he regenerated from the body of trendy Doc, Christopher Eccleston, 41. 

It pits him against a deadly alien race called the Sycorax, who kidnap a British space probe on its way to Mars and threaten to destroy the human race. Sparks also fly as Billie Piper, who plays the Doctor's sidekick Rose, comes to terms with the loss of Eccleston and the new appearance of the Time Lord.

Although, luckily for David, the clash is only present onscreen.

"We've had dinner a couple of times," he explains. "She's very easy to get on with and a very lovely girl, so, hopefully, we'll work together quite well.

"She's also perfect for the role. She's funky and modern but still very, very sexy and sassy."

Rumour has it that Billie has also given the thumbs up to David's new geeky look for the Doctor, sporting a drab brown overcoat, brown pinstriped suit with tie — and a pair of dirty plimsolls.

David, the 10th Doctor, says: "I think we've come up with something distinctive that's both timeless and modern, with a bit of geek chic and, of course, a dash of Time Lord. "Most importantly Billie tells me she likes it. And after all, she's the one who has to see me in it!"

A second series of Dr Who will follow the Christmas special in the spring.

Along with an appearance by the silver-suited Cybermen it also features the return of faithful companion K-9.

Stars set to make an appearance include Little Britain and Buffy actor Anthony Head, 49, and Elisabeth Sladen, 57, who played the Doc's sidekick in the 1970s alongside Tom Baker and Jon Pertwee.

Stephen Fry, 47, has also been lined up to pen an episode of the series along with executive producer Russell T Davies, 41.

Davies is credited with drawing 10.5 million viewers to the show and soundly thrashing ITV1 in the Saturday night ratings war.

Davies reveals: "2006 is going to be scarier than ever!

"We can promise new thrills, new laughs, new heartbreak, and some terrifying new aliens.

"Fans can expect to see the Doctor and Rose meet Queen Victoria, an evil race of Cat Women and the dreaded Cybermen."

But for David, the show marks yet another high-water mark in his acting career. Since starring in the hit BBC series Casanova, the Lothian-born actor has appeared in ITV1 thriller Secret Smile, and graced movie screens in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire.

But while he admits that working on a Hollywood blockbuster is fun, he also thinks it's just as good to star as the UK's favourite science-fiction character.

"Harry Potter was fantastic —a great experience," says David.

"But at the same time it's fantastic to be involved with something that is loved and someone people get excited about.

"When I found out that I would get the part of the Doctor I just laughed.

"I found it hilarious and impossible."


GETTING TO KNOW WHO: The new Doctor, David Tennant, and his Rose, Billie Piper

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