Talkin’ ’bout Regeneration …

Word’s come down confirming that David Tennant will leave Doctor Who after all the various 2009-2010 one-off specials.

The Guardian newspaper this evening broke the story prematurely, reporting on their website (in a report subsequently pulled down) that Tennant is “vacating the TARDIS and leaving the BBC’s Doctor Who series at the end of next year. Tennant’s decision brings to an end his popular four-year tenure as the time lord.” The article went on to say that the BBC had confirmed that the actor “would complete the filming of four special episodes to be screened this year and in early 2010, as well as 2009’s Christmas special.”

Tennant’s truly grown and grown into the role, but it’s not surprising he’s leaving, especially as the timing and direction (Russell Davies giving way to Steven Moffat) of the series evolves. I’ll confess I still prefer Chris Eccleston by a nose (so to speak), but I’ll look back on Tennant with great fondness.

No word on who the Eleventh Doctor might be, but there are some interesting rumors.