Tennant: I'm quitting the Tardis

Published on Wednesday 29 October 2008 23:37

DAVID Tennant won a prestigious trophy at the National Television Awards last night – just as he announced he was quitting the Tardis.

The Bathgate-born star was up against his Doctor Who sidekick Catherine Tate at the annual awards, in the Outstanding Drama Performance category for their respective roles as the Time Lord and his assistant Donna Noble.

Tennant, 37, won the award, just after announcing he was leaving the BBC sci-fi drama following his four-year tenure.

Doctor Who also won Most Popular Drama, beating Desperate Housewives, Shameless and The Bill.

Top Gear was named Most Popular Factual Programme, and the Paul O'Grady Show took the Entertainment Programme category. EastEnders got Most Popular Serial Drama, and Ant and Dec landed the award for Entertainment Presenter.

Tennant will complete the filming of four special episodes to be screened this year and in early 2010, as well as 2009's Christmas special.

The tenth incarnation of the immortal time-traveller, Tennant has starred in three series and three Christmas specials.

He has drawn praise for his reprisal of the role after Christopher Eccleston left in 2005.

Speaking of his decision to quit, he said: "I've had the most brilliant, bewildering and life-changing time working on Doctor Who.

"I have loved every day of it. It would be very easy to cling on to the Tardis console forever and I fear if I don't take a deep breath and make the decision to move on now, then I never will.

"You would be prising the Tardis key out of my cold dead hand. This show has been so special to me, I don't want to outstay my welcome.

"This is all a long way off, of course. I'm not quitting, I'm back in Cardiff in January to film four special episodes which will take Doctor Who all the way through 2009.

"I'm still The Doctor all next year but when the time comes, I'll be honoured to hand on the best job in the world to the next lucky git, whoever that may be.

"I feel very privileged to have been part of this incredible phenomenon and while I'm looking forward to new challenges, I know I'll always be very proud to be the tenth Doctor."

Russell T Davies, the show's executive producer, said: "I've been lucky and honoured to work with David, and it's not over yet – the tenth Doctor still has five spectacular hours left.

"We're planning the most enormous and spectacular ending, so keep watching."

Tennant did not attend the awards ceremony in London last night in person as he is playing Hamlet with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon.

He accepted the award live on television at the play's interval. "Thank-you so much for this," he said. "This is really very exciting. Thank-you to everybody who works on Doctor Who. It is the best bunch of people in the world."

Here is the list of the winners of tonight's National Television Awards:

Most Popular Entertainment Programme

The Paul O'Grady Show (CH 4)

Outstanding Serial Drama Performance

Matt Littler, Hollyoaks (CH 4)

Most Popular Factual Programme

Top Gear (BBC 2)

Most Popular Comedy Programme

Benidorm (ITV 1)

Most Popular Newcomer

Rita Simons, EastEnders (BBC 1)

Most Popular Drama

Doctor Who (BBC 1)

Most Popular Entertainment Presenter

Ant & Dec (ITV)

Outstanding Drama Performance

David Tennant, Doctor Who (BBC 1)

Most Popular Serial Drama

EastEnders (BBC 1)

Special Recognition Award

Simon Cowell

Most Popular Talent Show

Strictly Come Dancing (BBC 1)