Catherine Tate - new Who companion

[Pamela Barnes]

Catherine Tate is the new Who companion for the entire series run of season 4.

She is reprising her role from the Christmas special.

Good or bad idea ?

[James from London]

Great, I loved that character, and I'd like to see La Tate do something other than broad comedy. I mean, I'm sure she'll be funny, but she won't just be funny. Be interesting to see her and Martha come face to face.

[garry]

Bad move. Sure Tate can act but with her character at the hands of R T Davis, the show will be even more sci-fi/soap for the chav generation.

I'm surprised Tate agreed to this. Must have been a lot of money involved. But Davis is a smart man. He knew hiring Tate would make headlines, good or bad. Just what the Doctor ordered!

[Laustsen]

David Tannant and Catherine Tate, it is very funny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9uugVWW_XE

[Ome]

David Tannant and Catherine Tate, it is very funny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9uugVWW_XE


Excellent clip, thanks for sharing :D

[Laustsen]

Your are welcome Omebull, I love the sceen wher Catherine become a doll.

[Pammy P]

Catherine Tate is the new Who companion for the entire series run of season 4.

She is reprising her role from the Christmas special.

Good or bad idea ?

'How very very dare she';)

[James from London]

I'm surprised Tate agreed to this.

Well she always used to say "I don't wanna write. Why can't I just be in COLD FEET or ER?"

[J. R.'s Piece]

I'm surprised Tate agreed to this.

She enjoyed making it and working with David Tennant. She's appeared with him since.

According to this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2007/07/04/46831.shtml

"When Catherine was asked if she would like to become The Doctor's new companion at the press screening of The Runaway Bride, she replied, "I would love to, but no one has asked!" Well, now they have."

[Ome]

I'm surprised Tate agreed to this.


Well she always used to say "I don't wanna write. Why can't I just be in COLD FEET or ER?"


Plus there may be the attraction of earning some more fans.

So many stars seem to wanna be part of this show right now too.

I think she's a good choice and will bring another angle to the show :)

[Pamela Barnes]

Who fans are unhappy with Catherine Tate, but they are unhappy a great deal of the time apparently lol Some thing its selling out, headline grabbing.

But I think the show needs to do this perhaps to keep fresh and high profile.

Catherine Tate is a fantastic actress and I think it could work. I hope they make her more serious. Should be interesting.

Then I want Joanna Lumley to play Romana. (ok I know the time war etc etc) :)

[James from London]

I think her character made a terrific contrast to Rose, whereas Martha was somewhere in the middle. I mean, Martha was sympathetic and very nice, but not that dynamic.

[garry]

I think her character made a terrific contrast to Rose, whereas Martha was somewhere in the middle. I mean, Martha was sympathetic and very nice, but not that dynamic.

I found her unbearable for most of the episode. But I did enjoy seeing her slap David Tennant.

[Pamela Barnes]

I found her irritating at first but by the end of the episode I quite liked her. I thought it was quite cool and the Doctor genuinely liked her.

I agree James that Martha was this kind of bridge character. It made sense to me that Martha would take on this role, like the rebound girlfriend.

I do think its important that Martha has a presence in the next series and I hope into the future. Kind of like the Brigadeer from old Who :) I quite liked he played this constant in the ever changeing world of the Doctor.

I do think there is a danger though of making the show a little sterile, a little too camp.

[J. R.'s Piece]

I found her irritating at first but by the end of the episode I quite liked her. I thought it was quite cool and the Doctor genuinely liked her.

I agree James that Martha was this kind of bridge character. It made sense to me that Martha would take on this role, like the rebound girlfriend.

I do think its important that Martha has a presence in the next series and I hope into the future. Kind of like the Brigadeer from old Who :) I quite liked he played this constant in the ever changeing world of the Doctor.

I do think there is a danger though of making the show a little sterile, a little too camp.



I found myself slowly liking Donna throughout 'The Runaway Bride' and yes, I liked both times when she slapped the Doctor. Interesting contrast with Martha...wonder how they'll get along?

The Brigadier first popped up in two Patrick Troughton stories in 1968 in Seasons Five and Six. From seasons 7 to the beginning of season 12 (Jon Pertwee's first story to Tom Baker's first story), he was a regular. Then he was back a year later for 'Terror of the Zygons' and not seen again for over seven years...then another two stories and a five year gap before his last tv story. Actually, Nicholas Courtney has reprised the role of the Brigadier for Doctor Who audio dramas with Colin Baker, Paul McGann and David Warner...and also for the UNIT audio series. Twice, he has encountered his UNIT successor, played by David Tennant.

The Brigadier's character was somewhat softened during Pertwee's run.

At the 2005 launch, when a reporter asked if new Who is camp, Russell used the F-word at him.

As for Romana, she stayed behind in exo-Space with K-9 Mark Two and may not be dead....although she has featured in several audio adventures set on Gallifrey, including her own spin-off series with Leela.

[J. R.'s Piece]

Who fans are unhappy with Catherine Tate, but they are unhappy a great deal of the time apparently lol Some thing its selling out, headline grabbing.

But I think the show needs to do this perhaps to keep fresh and high profile.

Catherine Tate is a fantastic actress and I think it could work. I hope they make her more serious. Should be interesting.

:)

I don't know whether you can say that about Doctor Who fans generally. Often on some Who forums, you find that fans with more negative viewpoints are the ones who more readily post. Several of the votes often go the opposite way, however...a silent majority. The Who fans that I know, including the person who rekindled my interest in the show are probably the most curious, optimistic and cheerful people I've ever met and enjoy the different versions of the show. Most of these have the widest range of interests of all the people I've met (that I know about). I've also met some of the more shouty, 'super-fans', who aren't that pleasant to be around. Some were negatively speculating about Catherine Tate before she did 'The Runaway Bride'. Others found themselves liking her and many didn't.

Besides, eighties producer, John-Nathan-Turner, never shied away from publicity for the show (apart from revelations about personal lives, obviously).....Colin Baker and Bonnie Langford on Kirby wires...getting Tom Baker to wish his successor well, adding the words, "whoever he or she may be" etc. People like comedians Ken Dodd and Hale & Pace appeared during Sylv's time as the Doctor. John's trick was to point his finger at whoever was the subject of the photo session, so that he would have to be included in the photo, too. He also said that if he managed to upset Mary Whitehouse, it guaranteed higher audiences.

Keep it fresh and high profile and grabbing the headlines! I always thought of it as being one of the best shows I'd seen and it's gratifying to see it grabbing awards now....and the people who work on it: RTD, David Tennant, Phil Collinson, Steven Moffat, Paul Cornell, Mark Gatiss, Gareth Roberts...they are all huge fans of the original show. The format has always been adaptable because it's a show about a man able to travel anywhere, any time in a box.

I liked Donna's more serious bits, too. These worked well for me.

[Mike]

Bad idea, she was awful in 'The Runaway Bride' all she did was shout and sounded like her Lauren character. This is a very weird choice of casting, RTD what are you thinking ????

[J. R.'s Piece]

Why 'weird' ?

[Mayor Gregory]

... Dire, Russell T further ruins the good Doc.

[mztx71]

Bovvered?

[Mike]

Why 'weird' ?

Kinda weird in the fact that Catherine Tate is around the same age as David Tennant (poss even older). The assistants have always been younger than The Doctor, just feels kinda strange to me !!!

[J. R.'s Piece]

That's interesting. Peter Davison was only a little older than his companions, although the age difference between characters is several hundred years! I think that now, with the Doctor/companion relationship being once again more equally balanced, the similarity of actor's ages is more of a plus. Martha's unrequited love for the Doctor may not have worked that well (and I'm not saying that it did work well) if the actor playing the Doctor was twenty years older than David Tennant (William Hartnell!), despite the fact that the Doctor would have been a few centuries younger!

With some of the audio dramas, they pair Colin Baker's Doctor with a middle-aged History lecturer, Evelyn Smythe and that pairing works a treat. His Doctor is softened by her presence and he's more likeable than he was ever allowed to be on screen. It's a warm, friendly relationship... mostly, and it brings out the best in him, a more mature relationship than his one with Peri. Similarly, in another audio adventure, 'Excelis Dawns', Peter Davison's Doctor benefits from his pairing with Katy Manning's Iris Wildthyme (who fancies the Doctor) from his very first, "Oh no!", upon meeting her again.

[Mike]

Martha's unrequited love for the Doctor may not have worked that well (and I'm not saying that it did work well) if the actor playing the Doctor was twenty years older than David Tennant (William Hartnell!), despite the fact that the Doctor would have been a few centuries younger!

In the original series there was never ever any question of any of the Doctors companions having any kind of romantic interest in him whatsoever (how many times can I say any in one sentence). His original assistant was his grand daughter, and every assistant since then (in the original series) has always seen him as a kind of Father figure. Can you imagine Jo Grant fancying Jon Pertwee's Dr, or even worse, Bonnie Langford fancying Sylvester McCoy's Dr :p
I think the reason I cant get to grips with Catherine Tate is that first and foremost I see her as a comedy actress, and I think David Tennant provides most of the comedic element anyway. Also I kinda liked Martha's character and feel that the actress has been dropped simply because Catherine Tate expressed a desire to become a full time assistant to David Tennant in the show.

[Mayor Gregory]

Martha was good, Catherine Tate is Bonnie Langford all over again !

[Daniel Avery]

I had never seen Catherine Tate in anything prior to seeing "Runaway Bride" Friday night (here in the USA, Sci-Fi Channel premiered Season 3 by showing RB and "Smith and Jones" back-to-back). I can see why she'd be a star in comedy, since Donna's reactions at times were hilarious, but I was more struck by her more quiet moments after the major action was over, especially how she surmised that the Doctor's life was always that way (and that she didn't think she could handle that sort of schedule). I think she could be a good mix of comedy and drama if they maintain her writing as they did in the RB episode, and she struck me as a good actress in both areas, so I'm okay with them bringing her back.

That said, I'm kind of glad they are going the "introduce her, then have someone else a while, then bring her back" route, because it gives people a chance to digest Tate in a non-comedic role.

Oh, and I really liked Martha! I'll never look at the MRI machine quite the same way again.

[mztx71]

Martha was good, Catherine Tate is Bonnie Langford all over again !

Aww Come on Greg, nothing or no one could ever be as bad as that unbearably annoying bint Langford!

[Pamela Barnes]

I think these are the worse ever assistants.

No wonder if was axed

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7G1Waw8L9KM"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7G1Waw8L9KM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

[James from London]

I like the idea of an older assistant. It'll make an interesting change. I agree with Daniel's assessment of Catherine Tate's performance as Donna. There's far more to her as an actress than what she's done on TV so far.

[J. R.'s Piece]

His original assistant was his grand daughter, and every assistant since then (in the original series) has always seen him as a kind of Father figure.

I think the reason I cant get to grips with Catherine Tate is that first and foremost I see her as a comedy actress, and I think David Tennant provides most of the comedic element anyway. Also I kinda liked Martha's character and feel that the actress has been dropped simply because Catherine Tate expressed a desire to become a full time assistant to David Tennant in the show.

I don't think Ian and Barbara saw him as a father figure. There was tension in their relationship with the Doctor in their first few stories. Much later though Ian said of him, "I've got a friend who specialises in trouble. He dives in and usually finds a way".

The relationship with The Second Doctor and Jamie seemed more like schoolboy pals. I think Doctor/Liz Shaw was more of an intellectual matching, rather than 'father figure', whereas Sarah Jane Smith was more of a best friend (to the Fourth Doctor).

Jon Pertwee was best known for his comedic performances and that was why Peter Bryant cast him as the Doctor. But he decided to play it straight!

Mel's much better in the audios, unlike Ace.

[J. R.'s Piece]

In the original series there was never ever any question of any of the Doctors companions having any kind of romantic interest in him whatsoever (how many times can I say any in one sentence). His original assistant was his grand daughter, and every assistant since then (in the original series) has always seen him as a kind of Father figure. Can you imagine Jo Grant fancying Jon Pertwee's Dr, or even worse, Bonnie Langford fancying Sylvester McCoy's Dr :p

I kinda liked Martha's character and feel that the actress has been dropped simply because Catherine Tate expressed a desire to become a full time assistant to David Tennant in the show.

I think the Doctor comes across as more of a dotty uncle than a father figure.
Come to think, Jo is attracted to Professor Jones, who reminds her of the Doctor. I don't think Romana or K9 could see the Doctor as a father figure.

Martha will still be around and we don't know how long Donna will stay. Besides, the plan for Martha's unrequited love for the Doctor was most likely mapped out before the season and before the press launch for The Runaway Bride.

In one of the audio dramas, 'Bang-Bang-A-Boom!' (written by Doctor Who Magazine editor, Clayton Hickman and 'Attack of the Graske'/'The Shakespeare Code' writer Gareth Roberts.) the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) asks Mel what's the one thing that he never does, before realising he's fallen in love ...he's been given a whiff of something that has affected his will.

[Doctor Evil]

Cool :cool:

Tate is gr8 and can more than match Tennant in the humour stakes and give us a more creative + savvy style in future seasons.

[J. R.'s Piece]

..... Catherine Tate is Bonnie Langford all over again !

At least, Catherine Tate got an introduction. Bonnie Langford's Mel was introduced to us sometime after she'd met the Doctor. Then, offscreen he had to return her before he met her, although he already had.

I need to lie down....

[J. R.'s Piece]

I think these are the worse ever assistants.

You never saw Adric?

[J. R.'s Piece]

In the original series there was never ever any question of any of the Doctors companions having any kind of romantic interest in him whatsoever

Not companions but sometimes the Doctor (particularly the Second Doctor) would work his persuasive charm in quite a playful way on the female guest characters. The First Doctor did so with Cameca in 'The Aztecs'. The Second Doctor did so with Astrid in 'The Enemy of the World', Gemma in 'The Wheel in Space'.....

[Mayor Gregory]

You never saw Adric?

Adric was a little dork alright, stank up Tom Baker's exit scenes :mad:

[J. R.'s Piece]

Matthew Waterhouse (who played Adric) says that when he went to introduce himself to Tom, Tom swore at him.

At least, Catherine Tate has a much better relationship on-screen and off-screen with her Doctor.

[Mayor Gregory]

Matthew Waterhouse (who played Adric) says that when he went
to introduce himself to Tom, Tom swore at him.


... proving Tom had taste and an instinct
as to what would stink up the TARDIS !! :D

[Barbara Fan]

Bad idea!! Catherine Tate is well and truly over rated in BFs book!
Agree with the Mayor!! and as irritating as Bonnie (i'll scream and scream til Im sick) Langford!

[J. R.'s Piece]

... proving Tom had taste and an instinct
as to what would stink up the TARDIS !! :D

Well, there are quite a few people who have recounted unfavourable stories about Matthew.

In the case of Bonnie Langford's Mel, it may be the writing that makes her irritating. In her audio appearances since 2000, Mel has a mature outlook, doesn't scream and doesn't extol healthy virtues and is transformed into a likeable soul. Good revamping....then again, we don't have to see her.

[J. R.'s Piece]

Adric was a little dork alright, stank up Tom Baker's exit scenes :mad:

Cheer up. Adric died horribly.;)

...and I don't just mean his performance....

[J. R.'s Piece]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6939302.stm