Matt Smith

When it was first rumoured that David Tennant might be leaving the show, all sorts of speculation started to appear about who would replace him. This phenomenon has happened with increasing volume throughout the show's latter existence... accepting that the early regenerations were mostly unexpected and that media over-coverage and tabloid rumouring is a relatively new development. There must have been a year of speculation this time though, even before Tennant's departure was announced. Finally, in January 2009, before the series 4.5 specials had even started, Matt Smith was announced as the new Doctor. However it would a whole year before we got to see him in action after Tennant's regeneration swansong and several more months before his full performance came to light in his own series. We did get a series preview though and here is my reaction at the time

Originally written 03/01/2010

As for the future... I probably feel the same about Matt Smith as I did when Tennant was due to take over, I'd grown to like Eccleston (who I was unsure about as well I guess) and had no idea about Tennant but he came good very quickly. The difference this time however is the change in production team as well and it will be no surprise to regular readers that I'm really excited about Moffat taking over so any concerns about Smith are more than soothed... A little surprised in Confidential to see that RTD hadn't met him before and that it was Moffat sitting in on the second half of the regeneration but I guess it makes sense.

The regeneration itself was fine, obviously in the well established form again unlike all the others that went before but there could have been a smoother transition by matching the facial actions like they did with The Master but hey-ho

I wanted to avoid the trailer but found myself watching it after Confidential... so...


OK, bear in mind that I have now watched it a couple of times pausing in various places...

"Geronimo" cried out at the end... OK, different. Hearing it again in the trailer gives me concerns though...

Also, seeing him punch someone and then firing a gun fills me with hope that they get explained very well when the time comes...!

And a little disappointed that the Daleks are back for his first series, he just couldn't resist it could he? Interested to see what it was wearing though! [camouflage green with canvas 'saddlebags'] Appeared to be a white variation too...

A little concerned that the weeping angels appeared as well because what we had in "Blink" was perfect... but I guess the Doctor never faced them himself... [and since Moffat created them, he knows what he's doing!]

And was that Tracy Ann-Oberman I saw holding a pistol? Seems unlikely and it was just a quick flash (having just seen the trailer again, the same woman appears at the end and it's not her) [indeed, it was Alex Kingston as River Song!]

Did anyone else notice the St John's Ambulance sticker on the front of the TARDIS? Something that was there in the very first Doctor Who Episode but was invariably painted over for future appearances and simply absent in the revived series.

With regards to the inside of the TARDIS, having crashed and broken one of the pillars can we expect a revamp? A sneaky peek at the end of the trailer is unclear but possible and I think we saw The Doctor working in a lower floor level below the console (rather than reaching through a floor panel.