(On acting at the National Youth Theatre): As a young actor, there is no better place to learn your ...
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(On acting at the National Youth Theatre): As a young actor, there is no better place to learn your craft.
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If I could film, we'd film every episode of Doctor Who (2005), in New York. I have an affinity with ...
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If I could film, we'd film every episode of Doctor Who (2005), in New York. I have an affinity with the city. It has some wonderful locations and it is devastatingly vast and huge. Central Park looks amazing on camera.
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[on Doctor Who (2005)] There was a backlash when I was cast. I was 26 and I was unknown. And people ...
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[on Doctor Who (2005)] There was a backlash when I was cast. I was 26 and I was unknown. And people went "That is not Doctor Who". I always knew I wanted it to be quite physical and I wanted the comedy to be quite physical and I knew I wanted him to feel very clever but at the same time to not quite understand the human race.
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There are great disciplines from being a sportsman that you can transfer into being an artist. The p...
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There are great disciplines from being a sportsman that you can transfer into being an artist. The preparation, the sacrifice, the constant desire to improve.
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(On his acting choices): I quite like the transitions of being an actor, because you get to explore ...
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(On his acting choices): I quite like the transitions of being an actor, because you get to explore these little pockets of life. So if you're playing a builder you get to know about building, if you're playing a scientist or a physician or something you get to know about physics. And similarly with this world I like exploring their culture, that very sort of upper middle class, addictive... that's part of the reason I love it.
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(On being cast as The Doctor) I'm just so excited about the journey that is in front of me. It's a w...
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(On being cast as The Doctor) I'm just so excited about the journey that is in front of me. It's a wonderful privilege and challenge that I hope I will thrive on.
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I used to love ninja movies. That was my thing.
I used to love ninja movies. That was my thing.
I think that, if the world was a bit more like Comic-Con, we'd all be a little happier.
I think that, if the world was a bit more like Comic-Con, we'd all be a little happier.
I am a fan of a bright sock. They're bold.
I am a fan of a bright sock. They're bold.
If I see a spider in the flat, I try to get a cup and a piece of paper and throw it out of the windo...
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If I see a spider in the flat, I try to get a cup and a piece of paper and throw it out of the window. I can't kill them because they're good for catching flies.
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Spiders - the way they move freaks me out. It's so malevolent.
Spiders - the way they move freaks me out. It's so malevolent.
I thought Skyfall (2012) was a sumptuous film.
I thought Skyfall (2012) was a sumptuous film.
There is a history of footballers in my family; my granddad played for Notts County and my dad playe...
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There is a history of footballers in my family; my granddad played for Notts County and my dad played at county level.
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If you want to give it a good go, you've got to make some sacrifices and be as dedicated as you can ...
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If you want to give it a good go, you've got to make some sacrifices and be as dedicated as you can be. Particularly with 'Doctor Who.' It's two or three hours of line-learning a night.
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[on why he had no intention to become the longest serving Doctor Who] Tom Baker did it for seven yea...
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[on why he had no intention to become the longest serving Doctor Who] Tom Baker did it for seven years but he did it in different circumstances. I couldn't do this for seven years. I'd be run into the ground.
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Even now, I'm very superstitious, in silly ways. I always put my left boot on first. Or on set, I al...
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Even now, I'm very superstitious, in silly ways. I always put my left boot on first. Or on set, I always tie my bow tie from right to left.
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As a character, the Doctor is excited and fascinated by the tiniest of things. By everything. By eve...
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As a character, the Doctor is excited and fascinated by the tiniest of things. By everything. By every single thing. That's what's wonderful about him as a character. It's why children like him, I think. Because he doesn't dismiss anything. He's not cynical. He's open to every single facet of the universe.
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Every two weeks on Doctor Who (2005), the set is completely different, the world is different and th...
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Every two weeks on Doctor Who (2005), the set is completely different, the world is different and there are new actors coming in. So, it's constantly surprising, and it's a pressure that you relish, actually.
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(on working with Lindsay Duncan in That Face): I completely admire her. She's a constant source of i...
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(on working with Lindsay Duncan in That Face): I completely admire her. She's a constant source of information - not only about acting but about life and love. She's a cool cat. There's something very rock 'n' roll about her.
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I've always loved dinosaurs.
I've always loved dinosaurs.
It's hard work, Doctor Who (2005), but let's be frank about it, I'm fortunate to be rewarded in the ...
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It's hard work, Doctor Who (2005), but let's be frank about it, I'm fortunate to be rewarded in the ways that I am. I don't just mean financially, I mean the nature of the part and everything that comes with it.
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Troughton (Patrick Troughton) is my favorite. The Tomb of the Cybermen (Doctor Who: The Tomb of the ...
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Troughton (Patrick Troughton) is my favorite. The Tomb of the Cybermen (Doctor Who: The Tomb of the Cybermen: Episode 1 (1967)) is one of my favorites. The Cybermen are so creepy in it. What's wonderful about Troughton is that he is weird and peculiar. It's a wonderful performance. I think the Cybermen were the scariest they've ever been in that.
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No, I'm not religious. At all. I'm an atheist.
No, I'm not religious. At all. I'm an atheist.
I am a fancy dress grump, to be honest.
I am a fancy dress grump, to be honest.
What struck me about Lis [Elisabeth Sladen] was her grace. She welcomed me, educated me, and delight...
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What struck me about Lis [Elisabeth Sladen] was her grace. She welcomed me, educated me, and delighted me with her tales and adventures on Doctor Who. And she also seemed to have a quality of youth that not many people retain as they go through life. Her grace and kindness will stay with me because she had such qualities in abundance and shared them freely... I will miss her, as will the world of Doctor Who and all the Doctors that had the good pleasure to work with Lis Sladen and travel the universe with Sarah Jane.
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I'd like to do a play in New York.
I'd like to do a play in New York.
Kids should feel afraid of Doctor Who (2005). All the adults I've talked to remember fondly being af...
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Kids should feel afraid of Doctor Who (2005). All the adults I've talked to remember fondly being afraid when they were kids. That's part of the reason they remember it and love it. And if you're afraid in a controlled way, you sort of appreciate fear in some respect.
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If I was making a tea advert, I would want to communicate about tea is that it can console you, it c...
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If I was making a tea advert, I would want to communicate about tea is that it can console you, it can start your day, there is the warmth and the ritual, and you can share it; you make someone a cup of tea and you offer it to them.
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I constantly watch The Simpsons (1989) and an English cartoon called The Raccoons (1985) and Adventu...
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I constantly watch The Simpsons (1989) and an English cartoon called The Raccoons (1985) and Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985). I was obsessed with ninja films, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987), I used to love that as well.
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(On working with Christian Slater in the play, "Swimming with Sharks"): He's cool, Christian, I like...
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(On working with Christian Slater in the play, "Swimming with Sharks"): He's cool, Christian, I liked him. He's a good guy but I had a tough time, for a variety of reasons. I'd never done that length of run before. It was quite a learning curve.
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I quite like the idea of family. That's probably the greatest achievement in the world. I've got a l...
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I quite like the idea of family. That's probably the greatest achievement in the world. I've got a lot to achieve workwise - I'd love to direct - but family would be good.
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I think Jennifer Saunders would be great in Doctor Who (2005).
I think Jennifer Saunders would be great in Doctor Who (2005).
As we get older - perhaps I'm just speaking for myself - we can get too cynical.
As we get older - perhaps I'm just speaking for myself - we can get too cynical.
[on his knowledge of past Doctor Who (2005)):] I'm very aware of the rich history of Chris [Christop...
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[on his knowledge of past Doctor Who (2005)):] I'm very aware of the rich history of Chris [Christopher Eccleston] and David [David Tennant], and I've gone back and watched a lot of those episodes. And the previous history? I have to be honest, I can't claim to have watched the show in its entirety or have been a follower as avidly as some people are - and that's what I'm realising, that people love this show, people are avid, avid fans of it, and know it, and know its history and are part of it. I can't claim to know it as well as that, but I'm going to make it my business to do so, and fall into it in as much depth as I possibly can. [February 2009]
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I just love vampires.
I just love vampires.
So many more people recognise you and want to take up a moment of your time for a photo or a hello. ...
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So many more people recognise you and want to take up a moment of your time for a photo or a hello. You try to deal with it with grace and a degree of humour, because what's the alternative?
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I am a terrible sleeper.
I am a terrible sleeper.
Apparently, as a kid, I used to eat spiders. Maybe there's some Freudian significance behind that.
Apparently, as a kid, I used to eat spiders. Maybe there's some Freudian significance behind that.
Sometimes when you lose your mobile phone, even though it's frustrating, it's sort of rewarding in m...
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Sometimes when you lose your mobile phone, even though it's frustrating, it's sort of rewarding in many ways because, though we do rely on them a lot, we are not reliant on them. The world continues without.
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At university I had a big coloured scarf and people would often say, 'All right, Doctor Who (1963)?'...
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At university I had a big coloured scarf and people would often say, 'All right, Doctor Who (1963)?' And, I thought, I rather liked that notion.
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I was always aware of Doctor Who (1963), but I didn't grow up with it.
I was always aware of Doctor Who (1963), but I didn't grow up with it.
I'll miss playing a character that can bounce from A to Z like that and that is the cleverest in the...
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I'll miss playing a character that can bounce from A to Z like that and that is the cleverest in the room but also the silliest in the room. You know, just being the Doctor, he's the Doctor. What a character. Of course there's always a part of you that goes "I never want to go". There are no parts like this. I think it's a good time for me to move on and we've got the 50th anniversary. It's the biggest year in the show's history and I'm playing the part and I pass it on with a smile to the next guy and say "Good luck, buddy. You're going to have to work hard".
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As a kid, I knew all of the dinosaurs. It's one of those tragedies that I've forgotten what dinosaur...
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As a kid, I knew all of the dinosaurs. It's one of those tragedies that I've forgotten what dinosaurs are cool.
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I think that every artistic venture is a risk, and it has to be that way, so you do as much preparat...
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I think that every artistic venture is a risk, and it has to be that way, so you do as much preparation as you can and make that as thorough as you can possibly make it, until you turn up on set. It's about taking risks, and some might work and some might not, but that's what makes it interesting.
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I think expectations of Doctor Who (2005) should always be high, because it's a show that must alway...
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I think expectations of Doctor Who (2005) should always be high, because it's a show that must always progress and get better and better.
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I think there's an interesting contradiction of having a young face and an old soul. There's somethi...
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I think there's an interesting contradiction of having a young face and an old soul. There's something funny about it, and it also allows you to reinvent being old.
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I'm not hugely technical with things, but I guess that the thing I use most is my iPhone, on a pract...
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I'm not hugely technical with things, but I guess that the thing I use most is my iPhone, on a practical level.
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I always steal a pair of socks on every photo shoot I do. It's my thing.
I always steal a pair of socks on every photo shoot I do. It's my thing.
I got injured when I was a kid, and it prevented me from becoming a footballer.
I got injured when I was a kid, and it prevented me from becoming a footballer.
Any actor worth his salt has a responsibility to reinvent himself from part to part.
Any actor worth his salt has a responsibility to reinvent himself from part to part.
I asked for a piano in the TARDIS, but it hasn't happened. I'd love to see The Doctor rock up and pl...
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I asked for a piano in the TARDIS, but it hasn't happened. I'd love to see The Doctor rock up and play, but it'd have to be done in an inventive and silly way.
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Police boxes, tweed blazers and bow ties feel quite English, but I think that is one of his virtues,...
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Police boxes, tweed blazers and bow ties feel quite English, but I think that is one of his virtues, one of the strengths of Doctor Who (2005).
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(On getting the role as The Doctor): When I got the role I paced around the room for about three day...
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(On getting the role as The Doctor): When I got the role I paced around the room for about three days because I didn't know what to do. I was just smiling and thought 'I'm the Doctor!' It's weird!
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(On being cast as the Eleventh Doctor): I'm flabbergasted. I haven't slept really to be honest. Trut...
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(On being cast as the Eleventh Doctor): I'm flabbergasted. I haven't slept really to be honest. Truthfully, I haven't. I probably look a bit 'bags under the eyes' now because it's sort of an iconic part of our culture. My granddad knows about it, my Dad knows about it, it's been around since 1963 and I think it has the iconic kind of status that Robin Hood or Sherlock Holmes have and I'm sort of taking that on.
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I used to read Gore Vidal books and think I was cool.
I used to read Gore Vidal books and think I was cool.
(on his Brazilian girlfriend): It's a bloody nightmare because she's 6,000 miles away. But what can ...
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(on his Brazilian girlfriend): It's a bloody nightmare because she's 6,000 miles away. But what can you do when you're in love?
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I'm awful at karaoke, but if I did have to sing, I'd go for my favourite Frank Sinatra song 'I've Go...
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I'm awful at karaoke, but if I did have to sing, I'd go for my favourite Frank Sinatra song 'I've Got You Under My Skin.' The fact I love Frank is my grandfather's doing: he drummed it into me from a very early age that Frank Sinatra is God.
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David Tennant has made the role his own, brilliantly, with grace, talent and persistent dedication. ...
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David Tennant has made the role his own, brilliantly, with grace, talent and persistent dedication. I hope to learn from the standards set by him.
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I would be sitting in my flat watching TV, and Doctor Who (2005) would be on with my flatmate there....
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I would be sitting in my flat watching TV, and Doctor Who (2005) would be on with my flatmate there. I would have loved to share the fact that I was the new Doctor, but I couldn't. I was going mad. My dad was rather flabbergasted. When I told him, he laughed. He was excited, elated and very proud.
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Some people don't need to work hard because they are so talented.
Some people don't need to work hard because they are so talented.
For clothes, I like Dover Street Market and Acne. For vintage, I go to Mint just off Seven Dials. Fo...
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For clothes, I like Dover Street Market and Acne. For vintage, I go to Mint just off Seven Dials. For shoes, it's Church's and Russell & Bromley.
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It seems like there's a real appetite for science fiction in the States.
It seems like there's a real appetite for science fiction in the States.
I just want to try and make brave choices and not get too het up about ladders. Look at the careers ...
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I just want to try and make brave choices and not get too het up about ladders. Look at the careers of people like Michael Gambon and Ian McKellen. Learn your craft. I'm still rough around the edges and I want to keep on improving.
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Overnight ratings are dead. It's just not the way TV is sold any more.
Overnight ratings are dead. It's just not the way TV is sold any more.
I am terribly clumsy, so there is a plethora of walking into lamp-posts, falling over, dropping thin...
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I am terribly clumsy, so there is a plethora of walking into lamp-posts, falling over, dropping things, and ruining sofas.
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(on getting into acting): What sealed the deal for me was joining the National Youth Theatre, going ...
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(on getting into acting): What sealed the deal for me was joining the National Youth Theatre, going up to London and spending the summer doing plays with them. I did Murder in the Cathedral in 2003, playing Thomas a Becket, and the next year I was in The Master and Margarita.
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Actors, movie stars, rock stars, I can meet them with no worries - but with footballers I go weak at...
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Actors, movie stars, rock stars, I can meet them with no worries - but with footballers I go weak at the knees. All of them.
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[on Peter Capaldi] If I had to pick someone, I'd pick him. Cos I think he's great. And weirdly enoug...
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[on Peter Capaldi] If I had to pick someone, I'd pick him. Cos I think he's great. And weirdly enough, after The Eleventh Hour, he came up to me in the street and said "Ah, mate, well done, I watched your episode last night, it was brilliant, I think you're really good". And I really needed that. I needed a sort of boost and I never forgot it.
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[on being the youngest actor to play The Doctor] I think the whole issue of me being the youngest ha...
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[on being the youngest actor to play The Doctor] I think the whole issue of me being the youngest has worked in my favour. I think there's an interesting contradiction of having a young face and an old soul. There's something funny about it, and it also allows you to reinvent being old. It's interesting because, when I first took the part on, obviously there was a bone of contention for some of the diehard fans.
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The storytelling in Doctor Who (2005) is quite universal.
The storytelling in Doctor Who (2005) is quite universal.
Time travel is such a magic concept.
Time travel is such a magic concept.
[on Trevor Eve's criticism of the BBC for spending so much money on a "children's programme" such as...
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[on Trevor Eve's criticism of the BBC for spending so much money on a "children's programme" such as Doctor Who (2005)] If we all listen to Trevor Eve, then we're in trouble. Thank you very much, Trevor, we appreciate your opinion, but that's ridiculous. Doctor Who (2005) is brilliant. That's why it attracts some of the best writers in the country, and some of the best actors. Trevor, try telling that to Sir Michael Gambon. Show me any other series that can tackle this many big issues, appeal to this broad a range of people, and still have a laugh along the way and I will say, 'You can't.' That's what I'd say to Trevor Eve. At least we're never predictable. At least we're inventive. This whole show is testament to Steven Moffat, and his ambition and his scope, and that's a privilege to be part of. It's as simple as that.
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I'm not handsome enough to be James Bond. Maybe a villain, though.
I'm not handsome enough to be James Bond. Maybe a villain, though.
(On the Eleventh Doctor and his companion, Amy Pond): He's a lot less tolerant than a lot of Doctors...
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(On the Eleventh Doctor and his companion, Amy Pond): He's a lot less tolerant than a lot of Doctors and she's got a fire in her soul, in her belly, and so they combust together ... but there's a great affection and love there.
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