Doctor Who WI: Rowan Atkinson As The Seventh Doctor?

theReturner

I've read elsewhere, and I'm not sure if it's true or not, but according to some, Rowan Atkinson, of Mr.Bean and Blackadder fame, was considerd to take on the role of the Seventh version of the Doctor on Doctor Who. The part actually went to Sylvester McCoy, but what if it hadn't?

What if Rowan Atkinson had been chosen for the part?
Would he have been able to keep the series alive into the 90's?
 
The Professor

The Professor

I'm not sure Rowan would have saved the series as the Doctor.
He's a rather physical comedian and his wit is more acerbic than endearing.

Still he'd have made a great Master ;)
 

Bernard Woolley

He did go on to play the Doctor in 'The Curse of the Fatal Death' (a perfect Doctor Who episode title, IMVHO :D). It was produced for Comic Relief, so it isn't strictly cannon.
 

The Vulture

Banned
I think he would've been great for the part and might have saved the series for a few years with his broad appeal.

Another to consider is Hugh Laurie.
 

Dan Reilly The Great

The Vulture said:
I think he would've been great for the part and might have saved the series for a few years with his broad appeal.

Another to consider is Hugh Laurie.
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That would be AWESOME, he could really make for a really douchey doctor.

I mean I know that he probably wouldn't play it like he does house, but still a man can dream can't he?:rolleyes:
 

Douglas

Dan Reilly The Great said:
That would be AWESOME, he could really make for a really douchey doctor.

I mean I know that he probably wouldn't play it like he does house, but still a man can dream can't he?:rolleyes:
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One of the things that makes House unbearable for me is that it has made every American associate Hugh Laurie with being a giant, unamusing douchefaced shit of a person, which, apparently, is what most Americans like.

I just think of Prince George or Bertie.
 
Fenrir_Angerboda

Fenrir_Angerboda

Douglas said:
One of the things that makes House unbearable for me is that it has made every American associate Hugh Laurie with being a giant, unamusing douchefaced shit of a person, which, apparently, is what most Americans like.
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well, most Americans haven't seen Blackadder or Bernie and Wooster or A little Bit of Fry and Laurie.

the First time most Americans would have seen him is in House, the Flight of the Phoenixs remake, the live action 101 Dalmations[i/] or the Stuart Little Films series.
 
Magniac

Magniac

I don't think Atkinson has the range. Dr Who is a strange, populist, character to master--Ecclestone is the best actor ever to do him, but he couldn't become him, and if he hadn't quit and allowed Tennant to take over the role I don't know if the rebooted series would even still be on the air.

Anyway, McCoy did a good job, but the show was finished in the eighties because it looked over the hill. Half-hour early evening genre programme, too grown up for childrens television, too cheap looking for adult viewing--I'm amazed it lasted so long into the era of VCRs and cable TV. The old format killed it. (I'm also amazed it took the Beeb so long to resurrect it in the aftermath of the 'X-Files' revolution of nineties genre television, though I suppose the telemovie starring Paul McGann was a bit of a misfire.)

Dan Reilly The Great said:
That would be AWESOME, he could really make for a really douchey doctor.

I mean I know that he probably wouldn't play it like he does house, but still a man can dream can't he?
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I read this as your 666th post, DR The Great. Perfect blasphemer subject.:D
 
Magniac

Magniac

Fenrir_Angerboda said:
well, most Americans haven't seen Blackadder or Bernie and Wooster or A little Bit of Fry and Laurie.

the First time most Americans would have seen him is in House, the Flight of the Phoenixs remake, the live action 101 Dalmations[i/] or the Stuart Little Films series.
Click to expand...


If Laurie hadn't reached the stratosphere with 'House', and if Russel T Davies was still producing Who, then Hugh would be a more likely new Doctor than the rugged young male model we're getting, IMHO.

Of course I'll give Matt Smith a chance to prove himself, but I'm a little disappointed they've decided to cast a hunkier version of Tennant. Davies would have gone with a somewhat edgier choice.
 
Cook

Cook

Banned
Never mind Dr Who, what if he'd been in Avatar?

Rowan Atkinson the Avatar!

pic16565.JPG
 

Geekhis Khan

Me thinks by this time the Tardis had flown past the shark too many times already, so I doubt RA is going to help. Unless there's something he's done that wasn't in Blackadder mode or Bean mode (neither will work for the Doctor, IMHO) then I think this might actually hurt RA with a stigma of "killing the doctor". Laurie could be a great Doctor, but is he enough by this point? Doubt it. McCoy's resemblance to the Riddler prolly didn't help matters, OTOH... ;)

@Lord B: Interesting article. Rehctaht...how subtle. :rolleyes:

@Magniac: love the sig! :D

@Cook: that's just terrifying. :eek:
 

Pseudo

For me David Dixon would have been an excellent Doctor, although it could be argued that he'd already played the Doctor as Ford Prefect in the BBC TV adaptation of 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'.
 

MacCaulay

Banned
Dan Reilly The Great said:
That would be AWESOME, he could really make for a really douchey doctor.

I mean I know that he probably wouldn't play it like he does house, but still a man can dream can't he?:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I figure he'd play it more like his character on MI5 or Spooks or whatever the hell you Brits call it on that side of the pond.
 
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