Davies: It's OK If David Tennant Leaves 'Doctor Who'

In what might be considered one of the best "Doctor Who" cliffhangers of all time, David Tennant's 10th Doctor is mortally wounded and the final seconds have fans seeing him go into regeneration mode.

But is this truly the end of Tennant's work in "Doctor Who"?

Outgoing executive producer Russell T. Davies won't say for sure, but he tells The Daily MIrror that "Doctor Who" will go on with or without the star.

"I love David, and he is brilliant, but I was a child when Jon Pertwee handed over to Tom Baker," he said. "I was 11 when Jon Pertwee left and it broke my heart. But then along came Tom and he was just spectacular in it, so I suspect that will happen again."

Head honchos at BBC, as well as some of the fans, were concerned when the series decided to hand things over from Christopher Eccleston to Tennant after the first season, but fans made the transition quite easily, Davies said.

"We change our cast every year, and our viewing figures go up," he said. "It just proves that 'Doctor Who' is bigger than any actor. I couldn't say David was the best Doctor every because you are talking to an old 'Doctor Who' fan, and I love them all."

Very few people have had a chance to see the fourth season finale, which airs in the United Kingdom Saturday night. Not even the Controller of BBC One or the network's head of drama. But Davies has seen it ... more than once.

"There are probably 10 of us who have watched it, including David ... and Catherine Tate. That's about it," Davies said. "I've seen it about 15 times. I'm busy at the moment, but I had an hour off yesterday at 3 p.m. and I watched it again because it is such an exciting episode. And I will be watching it on Saturday night at home in Manchester with my boyfriend.

"It is pure 'Doctor Who' and so mad. You are watching it thinking, 'Star Trek can't do this! Even Star Wars can't do this.' All those things have spaceships and monsters, but this has a temp from Chiswick played by Catherine Tate, and Billie Piper with a great big gun. We have got Freema [Agyeman], who gets a remarkable story, and some of her best material ever. It plays to 'Doctor Who's' strength."

Fans had a chance to see yet another regeneration at the end of the episode, but that is only the beginning of "Journey's End."

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