Former Agent Said ‘Don’t Touch’ ‘Doctor Who’

David Tennant, known for his iconic portrayal of the 10th Doctor in “Doctor Who,” almost didn’t take on the role, as revealed in the latest episode of his podcast with his wife, Georgia Tennant. The couple discussed how Tennant was initially hesitant about accepting the role after being approached by Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner following their collaboration on “Casanova.”

Georgia Tennant recalled the moment when Tennant was offered the role, saying, “They come to you, they sort of lure you to the house with, ‘Come watch a bit of an episode.’ You go along and then they go, ‘And guess what! Do you want to play it?’ And you pretend to think about it for like a day or something.”

Tennant admitted that there was a moment of doubt after receiving the offer, with his agent advising him against taking the role. He shared, “I sort of had to process everything that it meant, and I had an agent at the time that was like, ‘Don’t touch it, it’s not going to work.'”

Despite the initial hesitation, Tennant eventually accepted the role, which went on to catapult him to fame and critical acclaim. However, he did face challenges in adjusting to the sudden spotlight and the pressures that came with playing such an iconic character.

Reflecting on his experience, Tennant said, “It takes a bit of getting used to, for sure. Suddenly, you’ve got to establish what the rules are for yourself and there’s not really anyone to help you or teach you.”

Despite the challenges, Tennant has since become a mentor figure for other actors taking on the role of the Doctor, including Ncuti Gatwa, the current Doctor. Gatwa described Tennant as a “guiding therapist father figure” who offered valuable advice on how to navigate the pressures of the role.

The second season of Gatwa’s iteration of “Doctor Who” is set to premiere on April 12, marking another chapter in the iconic series.