Doctor Who: The New Series

Did you know part 3 of Hitchhickers Guide (Tertiary/Restarunt At The End Of The Universe) was based upon a disgarded Dr Who script.

It's all hitting the fan now!! BLAME THE BBC!!

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/050404/344/ffnwb.html

From the above source:



Just as I suspected...the original estimates of a transmission date were January- I don't think it's surprising that Eccleston chose to quit as he realised how over-schedule the filming was running. It must have felt like he'd signed his life away to this project.

Er, how is this leaving the BBC to blame for Ecclestone quitting? They simply fecked up with a press statement, that's all.

I was thinking about that.

In a way you're right, but it's just meant slightly more criticism coming his way because they made comments that weren't his. I just don't understand why he wasn't signed for longer, it's common practice in America. McGann had an option, written into his contract, to stay on longer if the series was a success.

The BBC will need to have a good luck at contracts in future, they were hoping the series would be a success, so to sign him just for one year is very stupid.

So would Eccleston.

An option works two ways though, and Eccleston has chosen not to exercise it (I'm sure the BBC would have wanted to).

You can't blame Eccleston for not signing away his life for 2-3 years without any idea whether the series was going to be a success or not.

But I thought the option would have kicked in only if the series was a success though?

As far as I know (and I may be wrong)- an option is just that. An option to do another series (probably at a set wage, conditions for promotions etc.).

Therefore the BBC wouldn't be allowed to do another series of Doctor Who without offering the part to Eccleston first.

And Eccleston wouldn't be able to demand a higher wage to do a second series just because it became a huge success and the BBC 'needed him'.

So you see- it works both ways....the BBC and Eccleston put in some comittment.

But it can be broken both ways- the BBC could have not commissioned a second series (breaking the option) or Eccleston could decide to pull out of the project (breaking the option- as has been done). Both parties have to agree to exercise the option for a second series for it to happen.

What people are arguing here about how the BBC should have "signed up Eccleston for 2-3 years" is utterly stupid.

You can't offer contracts (note- NOT options) for several years on a new drama...you just don't know if it's going to be a success or not. If the BBC had gone down this route and Doctor Who had flopped, the BBC would have to drop the series but still pay Eccleston several million pounds to honour the contract [note- this is why the BBC had to pay Noel Edmunds several million pounds after axing Noel's House Party]

You can only offer such contracts on returning dramas that will be commissioned for several years to come....the cast of Eastenders for example, or where a show has been given a guaranteed future of at least another two series. Doctor Who does not fall into that category.

Now tonight was really good!!

Tonight was very good, and next week looks to be brilliant.

Fabulous comment on Scotland after tonight's very good episode.

The new trailer for the Beechgrove Garden is a spoof of the Dr Who trailer and the anno into the next programme was "well at least we know who the new Doctor is"

I managed to miss last week's and was worried that I might not get back into it but thankfully I enjoyed this episode more then the first one.
It was very well done, each episode has a totally different vibe to the next thanks to the different writers.

Next week looks like very interesting too.