Leaked British Front Pages Reveal The Need for a New 'Dr. Who'
Dr. Who fans were startled when the Sunday front pages of U.K. newspapers started to leak out Saturday evening. There were surprising headlines announcing Matt Smith, the man currently playing Dr. Who on the wildly popular BBC series, was leaving the show.
RELATED: Damascus, Mormon Boy Scouts, and Perez Hilton
Usually a major casting change like Smith's departure would be protected under an embargo with the studio. But because Dr. Who is such a wildly popular institution in the U.K. -- the show is approaching its 50th anniversary -- Smith's decision to leave prompted front page coverage. See:
Providing this hasn't been photoshopped! @jonclack1 Matt Smith leaving #DoctorWho Daily Mail front page reveals this twitter.com/JonClack1/stat…
— Lara (@LovelyLara33) June 1, 2013
Sunday Express front page: Council bullies kill grantwitpic.com/cutr24
— cf (@cfmcfc) June 1, 2013
The Sunday Times was smart enough to tease it a little without leaking the story completely:
A Dr Who mystery on the front page tomorrow @thesundaytimes
— Sian Griffiths (@SianGriffiths6) June 1, 2013
Imagine all of the judges of The Voice left the show in one swoop and the news leaked in a tweeted newspaper front page. That's the best domestic comparison available, probably. Or if Jeff Probst left Survivor.
RELATED: The BBC's Not Sure How to Deal with the Sudden Popularity of 'Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead'
So, sensing that the news was out, the Telegraph became the first to report the need for a new doctor. Smith, the show's 11th doctor, joined the show in 2010. ""Doctor Who has been the most brilliant experience for me as an actor and a bloke, and that largely is down to the cast, crew and fans of the show," Smith said. The BBC confirmed the casting change in a press release shortly after the Telegraph put their report up. Smith was the youngest doctor ever, and he was well-received by both critics and fans alike.
RELATED: The Trader Cheering the Recession Is Real, but Not Very Good
It's odd that newspapers reporting something is news, but this is a strange new frontier. No one released the story early for their own gain. The Mail's front page came out and broke the news, but it was the Telegraph that pushed their story out ahead of the embargo. The rest followed suit. So newspapers broke the news, which isn't unusual, but they did it in a convoluted way.
RELATED: The BBC, Tully's Coffee, and Dumplings
Dr. Who fans are a notoriously passionate bunch. (Community's "Inspector Spacetime," Abed's favorite British sci-fi show, is a parody of Who.) So it's no surprise they are going through that awful, swirling emotional combination of grief and denial and hope that comes with world-shaking casting changes:
Aww. Matt Smith was my favorite Doctor. Curious to see Who's next. Fingers crossed for a lady Doctor. Would be perfectly timed for the 50th.
— Infinite Ammo (@infinite_ammo) June 1, 2013
It makes me sad because I do love Matt Smith but on the other hand I want a new doctor, Idek
— DavidJohnMcDonald♥ (@davidrwho13) June 1, 2013
A bit gutted (who am I kidding, COMPLETELY gutted..) that Matt Smith is leaving Doctor Who.. :'( #MattSmith #DoctorWho :'( :'(
— Kim O'Shea (@kim_lizanne) June 1, 2013
i feel so old now how has matt smith been doctor for 4 years already
— WHY IS THE RUM GONE (@wolCMves) June 1, 2013
Dear BBC. I'm still recovering from the Tenth Doctor regeneration, can you not with the whole Matt Smith leaving thing?
— - (@MoodySpark) June 1, 2013
It'll be OK, everyone. These doctors seems like a replaceable bunch. There are eleven of them, after all.
