When it comes to taking over one of the most iconic roles in modern entertainment history, most actors stepping into the shoes as the Doctor will tell you that it’s not the first story or season that has them the most nervous. It’s their first moments on the show in their post regeneration scene that put butterflies in their stomachs.
Actor Colin Baker said that he was most nervous about coming in and taking over for Peter Davison in the closing moments of “The Caves of Androzani,” saying that it was a long day of waiting in the studio to deliver three lines. Baker stated in an interview that if he could redo one scene in his time as the Doctor, it would be that first one.
Those nerves also extended to actor Matt Smith when he took over the role of the Doctor from David Tennant earlier this year in the final moments of “The End of Time, Part 2.”
“It was really mad, because we shot that in May, and we didn’t start shooting [the next season] until the end of July,” said Smith. “I was doing a film at the time in Berlin and had to fly back to do this one scene.”
“I’ve never seen the studio that busy, because everyone from every other set came out and was like, ‘I want to check out this new Doctor and see what’s up with him,'” he said. “I remember David [Tennant] saying, ‘One in, one out,’ because he was coming out of filming the scene and I went on to film on the old TARDIS. It was quite a mad afternoon, but exciting.
“It was the regeneration scene,” he continued, “[when] the doctor regenerates and becomes someone else, and it’s quite a seismic moment in British television.”
Smith said that the outgoing Doctor, David Tennant, helped ease the transition for him and offered Smith a few words of wisdom as he stepped away from the iconic role.
“He’s a very graceful man, and I couldn’t wish to inherit the mantle from anyone nicer,” said Smith. “I only hope when I give it on to someone else I do it with as much courtesy and kindness.”
“We talked about it briefly,” he said of their exchange. “[Tennant] said, ‘Have a great time — it’s a great ride.'”
Matt Smith’s first season as the Doctor continues its run on Saturday evenings in the UK on BBC 1 and in the U.S. on BBC America.
