| There was always something a little risky in | | | | A year after its transmission in the UK, the |
| attempting to continue that venerable British | | | | Sci-Fi channel began airing season one - with |
| sci-fi franchise, Doctor Who. Reviving a | | | | the second season beginning at the end of |
| show that has run since the early sixties and | | | | September 2006. |
| gathered millions upon millions of loyal | | | | |
| followers can be a dangerous business. Done | | | | So what developments can we expect with the |
| correctly, though, it can be very profitable. | | | | second season? The first episode, a |
| | | | 60-minute special titled "The Christmas |
| So, when BBC Wales announced in 2003 that | | | | Invasion", was originally aired in the UK as |
| they intended to revive Doctor Who, fans met | | | | a Christmas special in 2005. Though not |
| the news with concern and excitement in equal | | | | technically part of the official second |
| measures. The Doctor had enjoyed only one | | | | season it will air on the Sci-Fi Channel as |
| full-length screen outing since the show was | | | | the first episode. "The Christmas Invasion" |
| cancelled in 1989 - the Fox Network's TV | | | | will contain a sub-plot focussed on |
| movie starring Paul McGann as the eighth | | | | introducing us to the new Doctor. |
| Doctor - and poor ratings left little doubt | | | | |
| that the franchise was truly dead and buried. | | | | The main story will focus on an invasion of |
| | | | the Earth by a violent alien race, the |
| So, it was with a sense of trepidation that | | | | Sycorax. But will the Doctor, weakened by his |
| the BBC aired the premiere of the first new | | | | regeneration, be strong enough to save the |
| TV series in 16 years. Salford-born actor | | | | world? |
| Christopher Eccleston (Gone in Sixty Seconds, | | | | |
| 28 Days Later) was the unlikely choice for | | | | The new season will show us a different side |
| the part of the ninth Doctor, along with the | | | | to Doctor Who. While Eccleston's Doctor was |
| even more unlikely choice of 90s songstress | | | | dark and melancholic - often displaying |
| Billie Piper to play his spunky sidekick, | | | | disdain for the human race - Tennant's |
| Rose Tyler. | | | | incarnation has a much more upbeat |
| | | | personality. Speaking with distinctive |
| While reviews of the new show were generally | | | | Estuary English, the tenth Doctor is a cheeky |
| positive, some hardcore Doctor Who followers | | | | scoundrel of the highest degree. Usually |
| were opposed to several changes. A new logo | | | | light-hearted and witty, Tennants' character |
| and a few minor changes to the TARDIS were | | | | will become much closer to the human |
| enough to generate hate mail and death | | | | characters in the show - especially his |
| threats to members of the production team - | | | | companion Rose. |
| but, then, cult sci-fi shows have always | | | | |
| acted as lightning rods for those slightly | | | | We can, however, expect fireworks during the |
| less balanced elements of society. | | | | second season of Doctor Who. Emotions run |
| | | | high as The Doctor becomes ever closer to his |
| In general, however, fans approved of the new | | | | companion Rose, and he must face up to the |
| show. Ratings for the first episode, titled | | | | fact that the near immortality of a Time Lord |
| "Rose", hit over ten million in the UK - the | | | | can be a curse as well as a blessing. Can he |
| per capita equivalent of almost 50 million in | | | | bring himself to love a mere mortal? |
| the US. These ratings were high enough to | | | | |
| spur the BBC to announce that a second season | | | | Meanwhile, The Doctor must face his eternal |
| would be produced - season 27 overall. | | | | foes the Daleks - along with another ancient |
| | | | enemies, the Cybermen. During these battles |
| Unfortunately, just hours after this | | | | he'll also find help in the form of a face |
| announcement came news that Eccleston would | | | | from the past - as well as his trusty robot |
| not return for a second spell as Doctor Who | | | | dog, K-9. |
| for fear of becoming typecast. His departure | | | | |
| had apparently been planned before filming | | | | The second season of Doctor Who promises all |
| ended on the first season, but was not meant | | | | the excitement of the first and more. |
| to be made public until after the shows had | | | | Travelling through time - and even between |
| aired. Following much speculation it was | | | | dimensions - The Doctor will continue to |
| announced in April 2005 that Scottish stage | | | | fight the good fight against the enemies of |
| actor David Tennant would fill Eccleston's | | | | the universe. Whether he'll be up to the |
| shoes for the second season. | | | | challenge we'll have to wait and see. |
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