Are we stuck with young Doctors from now on?

[Flyboy]

I raised this point with a friend of mine earlier today.

Whilst DT and CE are very different doctors, they are both largely similar in that they are young and very energetic and easily excitable. They also have a sibling/best friend relationship with their companion...

I have no problem with this what so ever, and I'm looking forward to DT's main performance.

However...

With the relaunch of this show, and the fact its trying to attract a younger audiance (just compare the new novels to the 8th doctor ones for verification on this) are we going to be having a young and energeticic "matey" doctor from now on?

During the classic series, there were many doctors who took on a more light hearted and sibling esque role, Patrick Troughton arguably (though not so much), Tom Baker and possibly Peter Davison, though Im not too familiar with him. There were also doctors that were more paternal, resembling an uncle or God-father. These had a very different dynamic on screen and were much more of an authority figure.

Do you think it's possible the Who series might return to having an authority figure as a doctor? Another middle aged, yet fantastic actor? Anyone from Richard E Grant to Bill Nighy (who were both considered for 10th doctor, for those who don't know, Nighy played the Stepdad in "Shaun of the Dead" and the aging rockstar in "love actually").

[Metarock Sam]

Wow Bill Nighy as the Doctor !!! hes such a fantastic actor he rules. He even played Slartibartfast in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy so if he was the next DOctor that would rock too.

[creed462]

Aren't the two now older then Peter Davidisons?

[Flyboy]

I don't know if they're older than Davidson, but the point is, young doctors are ok, as long as that's not all. I'd like to see the patriarchal type of Doctor return with no.11.

[Rowana]

It's true we haven't seen any older paternal Doctors in a while. I would personally like the variety. It adds more to the show and more to the various characters of the Doctor without being repetative. I'm still looking forward to Tennant, but I hope we may see a very different Doctor for the 11th (hopefully a long time coming). After all, the show did start out successfully with a very old and sometimes crotchety man by William Hartnell. He certainly had a great personality and presence on the screen.

[ShadowMaat]

I think we're stuck with young Doctors, at least for now. Once the base builds up enough (although this is Who, you should think the base would already be huge), they might try experimenting with more mature, paternal-type Docs, but I think that'll be a ways down the road.

*waits for this to come back to haunt her*

[Flyboy]

Well, DT IS a huge fan, so I reckon we can get 3/4 series outta him. By that time maybe the new fandom will be ready for a paternal doctor.

[Metarock Sam]

LEtshope we get an older more hartnellish doctor next now that would be great !!

[Flyboy]

I'm not sure... I'd prefer a more Pertwee type Doctor.

[iluuuuuvjack]

I don't try to pretend that I'm not new to the whole Doctor Who scene, because I am... but personally as long as the character is someone who is interesting to watch and has depth then I would be happy. I like DT at the moment because he seems to make it more lighthearted, but I also liked CE when he portrayed a more serious character, so I don't think it would bother me too much if they went for someone older, as long as they were interesting to watch.

[Metarock Sam]

I don't try to pretend that I'm not new to the whole Doctor Who scene, because I am... but personally as long as the character is someone who is interesting to watch and has depth then I would be happy. I like DT at the moment because he seems to make it more lighthearted, but I also liked CE when he portrayed a more serious character, so I don't think it would bother me too much if they went for someone older, as long as they were interesting to watch.

I agree. Taking the words right out of my brain.

[Reefgirl]

Peter Davidson was indeed younger than the new Doctor, Davidson was 30 (I think) when he became Dr Who

[creed462]

So I don't really see us getting that young of doctors.

[Metarock Sam]

I think the next doctor will not be too young and at the same time not too old also. Age range 30-50.

[Deputy-Assistant-Second-Prime]

If they want to connect with the younger viewers, I think they'll keep him young.

It makes sense in two ways:
1.) What's the point of regenerating if you start out over the hill (like me)?

Okay, that wasn't such a great point, but it still has some validity within the logic of the Doctor Who universe. You'd think a new body would look somewhat...newish.

2.) In the event the actor decides to stay on and gets popular, he has the potential to keep running down those corridors for many years to come.

[Metarock Sam]

Basically its one of those 'we'll see what the future brings' awnsers.

[Easter Lily]

Logically speaking I've always thought the Doctors should get younger... I mean if he's supposed to be "regenerating"... wouldn't the idea be to start from a younger state of being? From Hartnell to Davison that notion was certainly there unless of course that was purely coincidental. It was true of the Master.
It's not a big leap for me either way... as long the actor's decent.

[creed462]

Logically speaking I've always thought the Doctors should get younger... I mean if he's supposed to be "regenerating"... wouldn't the idea be to start from a younger state of being? From Hartnell to Davison that notion was certainly there unless of course that was purely coincidental. It was true of the Master.
It's not a big leap for me either way... as long the actor's decent.

agreed

[Madeleine]

I think the way to keep the 'young' crowd interested is probably to ensure that at least one of the regulars is young; but that needn't be the Doctor. I hope they don't rule out oldies next time the main part's up for grabs.

[Willow'sCat]

Do you think it's possible the Who series might return to having an authority figure as a doctor? Another middle aged, yet fantastic actor? Anyone from Richard E Grant to Bill Nighy (who were both considered for 10th doctor, for those who don't know, Nighy played the Stepdad in "Shaun of the Dead" and the aging rockstar in "love actually").

Bill Nighy is just flavour of the month, I am not that interested in thinking of him as a likely doctor just because he finally has some publicity working for him, just like I don't have any time for Richard E Grant as the doctor.

Anyway I am all set to lobby for David Hewlett when the time comes. Oh yeah! (lots of planets have a Canada!!)

I don't think we need assume because the body is old the mind is, that to me smacks of ageism, and I see nothing in canon to say the doctor needs to be getting younger, just look at the actors ages that have played him.