The Sun and The Guardian both report that James Nesbitt, star of Cold Feet and Jekyll, may become the next Doctor Who when David Tennant leaves at the end of Doctor Who's fifth season. The 42 year old would be the first Irish Doctor Who.
Apparently James Nesbitt is a good friend of Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat, who may replace Head Writer Russell T. Davies. Like Tennant, Davies also leaves the show at the end of Season 5. Steven Moffat created both Cold Feet and Jekyll.
It's only a rumour at this stage, but it's a good choice if true. While I like David Tennant, lately the episodes have become more and more flippant. If his past acting work is anything to go by, Nesbitt would give the show a darker, more eccentric edge.
"I know nothing about that," he told Graham. "I wouldn't put a lot of money on it."
He also added "I would find it very hard to follow David Tennant [but] my daughters would worship me forever because they're obsessed by it".
According to the BBC's official website, Doctor Who will return with three specials starring David Tennant in 2009. The full length fifth series will be transmitted in 2010.
UPDATE!
The new Doctor Who is 26-year-old Matt Smith
If you're going to replace David Tennant with anyone atleast make it someone who could follow him up.
And Lia, Moffat wrote the Episode "Blink", which was written brilliantly, if a whole series can be taken like that I'd watch it if a midget with one leg and 3 eyes played The Doctor :D
Naaaaaaaaa, you can't replace the Doctor with someone like that. I don't know why, but I don't like him. David Tennant is really good in this and funny (and looks a lot better). Come on people! Any way, Season 5 is not even out till 2010!
Don't replace David Tennant. He is ace! I think you will lose a lot of viewers if you replace him. Most people watch doctor who to watch him in a suit zap stuff. So anyway, don't replace him. I think eveyone would agree with me about this.
Good. David Tennant over plays the Doctor, Chris (9th doctor) was far far better. James Nesbitt would be great for the doctor's final reincarnation or the first reincarnation after that. However, by then he would be too old. Once again they need a young actor (30 - 37) like Tennant was when he started. Until they can find a new doctor we will have to deal with Tennant.
Tennant is all right. He plays the character with a childish yet unnerving attitude.
I saw Nesbitt in Jekyll, and ever since that I have been a great fan. I think he would play the role brilliantly. He is one hell of an actor, and deserves a great deal of credit.
I have watched Dr Who ever since Eccleston and could see that Nesbitt would fill the role very well.
Adding his darkish nature to the role of the fun loving doctor could be the overhaul that the series needs. A genuinely fearsome doctor incarnation.
Nothing lasts forever....not even the doctor.
I would hate to see David replaced by ANYONE, but maybe he's over it and I could completely understand if he is looking for change.
Nesbitt would take some getting used to but he is a very good actor and would probably make a pretty good doctor...
However, David Tennant will always be my favourite doctor, he has brought so much to Doctor Who and I wish him the very best in his future roles.
NNOO WWAAYY!!!
There is absolutely no way in hell that I would ever want James Nesbitt to be the new Doctor Who. It would be such a let down after we have had such a great Doctor. I did not like the season of Doctor Who before David Tennant came into it. He made everything good again - and actually even BETTER! There is no way I would watch Doctor Who if someone else who was not as hot or as funny or as awesome. I hope that David Tennant stays for a lot more seasons and when he leaves, I hope that we will have a new doctor who is JUST AS GOOD!
Hell no
TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT! TENNANT will stay!
As much as I love Tennant, I don't think there's any way that the fans can make him stay when it was his choice to leave.
I was a fan of James Nesbitt after Jekyll, but if he was cast as the Doctor, the dynamic of the show would shift, becoming darker and less about the relationships between the characters (not that I'm complaining- everybody being infatuated with the Doctor is getting silly).
Nesbitt wont be emulating David Tennant's doctor. The person cast in Tennant's place will be taking the character and making him their own, like David Tennant, Chris Eccleston, and the actors that came before them.
I've been watching Dr Who since Jon Pertwee was the Doctor (3rd).
Its funny every time there is a change everyone isn't too impressed with the new one (even when David Tennant took on the role). I really like David's version of the Doctor and he seemed to bring a bit of the old characteristics to the role. I grew up watching Tom Baker and thought no one would replace him but David was as good if not better.
Eccelston's version was far to melodramatic.
I like James Nesbitt in what I've seen and I think it could be interesting.
I think John Simm would be the perfect replacement for the role of the doctor. He did a great job as the master and what a great side story of him regenerating into some one who was evil. BUT long live David Tennant. I thought he would have at least given Tom Baker's reign a shake.
I love Doctor Who and I want David to stay. WE WANT TENNANT, WE WANT TENNANT, WE WANT TENNANT!! It was a sad day when I found out. I have been shut in my room ever since. I have been trying to grow a second heart since my heart is failing. Oh the pain ...THE PAIN! The pain of the doctor leaving. Doctor Who, remember your fans.
I think James Nesbitt would be great as the Doctor...and I am a huge fan of David Tennant. He brought something funky and flippant to the doctor but James would be darker, which needs to happen because David Tennant has hinted at that through the series. Watch Jekyll and you will realise how awesome James is. Not sexy...but scary and innocent at the same time, which I think the Doctor should be...not all sugar and spice. :)
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOo
I Love David Tennant Please Make Him Stay. James will probably be good but David is awsome and no one can replace him :'(.
But after ive said that i remember back to when Christopher Eccleston
was the doctow and regenrated and i thought David was bad. so maybe we will grow to like James. Me and my friend are both huge fans and think that John Simm would have been good because he was really good at being the master and it would be good to see what his character would be like.
One last protest!
TENNANT TENNANT TENNANT TENNANT TENNANT TENNANT TENNANT TENNANT TENNANT TENNANT TENNANT TENNANT TENNANT TENNANT TENNANT TENNANT TENNANT TENNANT !
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
WE LOVE DAVID TENNANT
He is the only Doctor we like and we only started watching Doctor Who since he arrived.
David PLEASE don't leave you have made Doctor Who SOOOOOOOOOO much better we absolutely LOVE you and we would be so upset if you left.
you are so charismatic and funny.
PLEASE DON'T GO.
I have to say I'm going to miss David soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much. And I'm a little bit worried about James Nesbitt bringing a dark edge to the role of the doctor... I love the doctor for his boy-ish attitude and charm. I don't want him to be well... scary.
And I agree with Emma however. When I saw David for the first time I was basically like EEEEEEEK WEASEL MAN! (he did look a bit like a weasel after he first regenerated haha) But now I love love love LOVE him.
-sigh-
Guess we just have to wait and see.
I LOVE YOU DAVID TENNANT!!
you can replace David but your never gonna get a better guy to play the doctor than him.... he is awesome and everyones gonna miss him....
i am CRYING at the moment because the thought of David being replaced is horrible =(
The thought of watching Dr Who and no seeing David on the t.v. is gonna kill me... XD
plus this new guy looks more like a guy to play the master than the Doctor.
once again I LOVE YOU DAVID AND PLEASE PLEASE NEVER LEAVE!!!
ILY ILY ILY ILY ILY ILY ILY
i would dump my boyfriend any day for you!!!
Our 
