If the new trailer for series five wasn’t enough to get you excited about the Steven Moffat era of “Doctor Who,” then the incoming producer’s enthusiasm about taking over the reigns should do the trick.
Moffat says that getting to work on the show is the fulfillment of a life-long dream.
“I suppose I could say the reason I started working in TV is because I was such a huge fan of ‘Doctor Who’,” he said.
“I was absolutely fascinated and thrilled by the show. I wanted to know how the TARDIS disappeared, how all the special effects worked and why the Doctor changed. As a viewer you want to know why he looks different; it’s a show that compels you to look behind the scenes. In fact, over the years, I think I’ve bought every single issue of ‘Doctor Who Magazine’ since it launched.”
Moffat says that he feels the show works best when it makes the audience feel they are eight years old.
““I think it is centrally vital for ‘Doctor Who’ that at its heart and in its soul it is a children’s programme,” he said, “not one that excludes adults, but one that welcomes them in. But when ‘Doctor Who’ is really working, when it really delivers, the entire audience is eight years old–whatever age they started out!”
Moffat said that feeling was part of what led him to cast Matt Smith in the role of the eleventh Doctor.
“I had a clear idea, which actually turned out to be the absolute opposite of what we ended up doing–which always happens when you get the casting right,” said Moffat.
“I actually remember at the beginning of the process when I got a little bit cross whilst looking at the list of actors as it was full of people in their twenties. I said to everyone that we couldn’t have a Doctor who is 27. My idea was that the person was going to be between 30–40 years old, young enough to run but old enough to look wise. Then, of course, Matt Smith comes through the door and he’s odd, angular and strange looking. He doesn’t come across as being youthful at all, in the most wonderful way.”
And Moffat says he’s put his stamp on the new Doctor from the first time we see the character on screen. Moffat says that outgoing producer Russell T. Davies insisted that Moffat write the first scene for the new Doctor at the end of “The End of Time, Part Two.”
“It was Russell Davies‘ courtesy to allow me to write Matt’s first scene when the regeneration happened, and he was adamant about that. He’s a fan like I am, and he’ll always be motivated by that. He wouldn’t like to think as a member of the audience that the old writer had written the new Doctor. In our heads that’s where the new era begins, that’s what matters to us.”
And what can we expect of Matt Smith as the Doctor?
“He’s a thrill-seeker and addicted to time travel,” said Smith. “He is the mad buffoon genius who saves the world because he’s got a great heart, spirit and soul, but he also doesn’t suffer fools.”
“I hope all of these things come across, but I think I’ve also injected a bit of my own personality into the role,” he said.
The new series of “Doctor Who” begins airing in the UK on Saturday, April 3 and in the U.S. on Saturday, April 17.
Bob Singer says
“He doesn’t come across as being youthful at all, in the most wonderful way” Are you kidding me?? As a fan of Dr Who since his third incarnation, I was offended to see this kid Matt Smith as the Doctor. If you are planning to make him younger each incarnation, I guess the next one won’t be past puberty. Give us a Doctor who’s appearance will garner some respect, not this young kid. I can only hope for a regeneration REAL soon.
Tom says
What’s the point in making judgements on the new Doctor before you’ve seen an episode. Tennant was the best ever but Matt Smith has been excellent in previous roles so i’m excited to see what’s to come. Moffatt should bring new life to the series.
Michael Hickerson says
@Tom. Every Doctor is judged by a small but vocal minority fandom and found wanting before he takes on the role. If they’d just take the wait and see attitude that the majority of the fandom takes, they might be surprised or enjoy it.
Of course, I have this theory of how everyone who says that such and such a thing used to be better back in the day actually hated said golden age when it was actually occurring.
K9 says
As an avid Doctor Who fan for over 40+ years, each Doctor has their pros and cons and part of the enjoyment is seeing how you respond to each Doctor. While Tennant is definitley in the Top Ranking given the times, society etc to me Jon Pertwee is still up there as well as Tom Baker. Also don’t forget the companions can make or break the Doctor as well. There have been none I hated so much I wish them gone before they even started.
Michael Hickerson says
The thing when it comes to “rating”Doctors, I find, is that we need a longer view of things.
I recall during seasons 25 and 26, McCoy was the top Doctor, ousting Tom Baker from his slot as the favorite in several polls. Now McCoy has dropped to the middle of the pack.
I wonder if the same will happen for Tennant. He’s all that now but in five years where will his era rank in the minds of fans.
Arkle says
Michael: I’m of the opinion that as a general rule (there are exceptions of course, obviously) when you ask a Whovian who their favorite Doctor is, they’ll pick whoever the Doctor was when they started watching. So if you’re talking to a Who fan who only began with the new show , for whatever reason (perhaps too young to even remember the old show, like myself; the final episode of the original run aired when I was 7; sorry if that makes anyone feel old), they’ll probably say either Tennant or Eccleston. So that list of “Top Doctors” will always be in flux, as the series goes on, as people come to it via re-runs or DVD, etc.
shane says
You have a point Arkle. My fave doctors were Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker. Didn’t watch much of the other doctors after Tom but. Eccleston and Tennant will always rate highly though because I was already a fan of their work before they became the doctor.