BBC renews 'Dr. Who'; Eccleston quits
Posted Thursday, March 31, 2005, 11:44AM CST by Franklin Harris
The BBC has renewed the new "Doctor Who" series produced by Russell T. Davies for a second 13-episode season. But the second season will proceed without leading man Christopher Eccleston, who cites the series' "grueling" production schedule as the reason for his departure.

According to the BBC, Eccleston's final "Doctor Who" episode will be a Christmas special. (Note: In BBC terms, a "Christmas special" doesn't necessarily have anything to do with Christmas. It simply airs on Christmas.)

London bookies are already placing odds on Eccleston's replacement, who will be the 10th actor to play The Doctor on television (not counting spoofs). The front-runner is David Tennant, star of another Davies-produced TV series, "Casanova."

Source: BBC News