DAVID Tennant is a huge draw for fans. So much so that he even starred in the American version of Broadchurch, Gracepoint.
Unfortunately the US remake wasn’t as big a hit, with critics noting Tennant’s rather questionable American accent.
But we, like millions of others, are tennantively (!) awaiting his return to our screens tonight.
And to celebrate, here’s our countdown of his top five roles to date.
5. Jimmy Murphy in United: Also written by Broachchurch creator Chris Chibnall, United is based on the true story of Manchester United’s ‘Busby Babes’ and the aftermath of the 1958 Munich air disaster.
4. The Politician’s Husband: Tennant played Senior Cabinet minister Aiden Hoynes in the TV mini-series about a high-flying golden political couple, with Emily Watson playing his wife.
3. Hamlet: Tennant appeared in the critically acclaimed stage play by the Royal Shakespeare Company together with Patrick Stewart. He later returned to join the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2013, playing the lead in Richard the Second.
2. The Doctor in Doctor Who: Tennant played the tenth doctor in the long-running sci-fi franchise from 2005-2010, winning over legions of fans, both old and young.
As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the series, Tennant’s Doctor was named ‘The UK’s favourite Doctor’.
1. It has to be (obviously) his starring role in Broadchurch: Tennant plays Detective Inspector Alec Hardy, an experienced detective who moved from the city looking for a quiet life. However this was not to be and the critically acclaimed, award-winning show was a smash hit, attracting nine million viewers a week, all eager to find out ‘whodunnit’.
DAVID John McDonald was born on April 18, 1971 in Bathgate, West Lothian in Scotland.
He knew from a young age that he wanted to be an actor and – funnily enough – he says he used to tell people he’d be Doctor Who one day.
He was discovered by Scottish TV at a youth theatre group and joined the actor’s union at 16.
But there was a rule that no two actors could have the same name and there was already a David McDonald.
So our David decided to change his surname. And apparently he found his new one by looking through a copy of Smash Hits magazine and taking inspiration from Neil Tennant. After graduation from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Arts with a BA in Dramatic Studies, David embarked on the career of his dreams.
His first work was in touring theatre productions, but he got his TV break in BBC’s Takin’ Over The Asylum.
He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and won critical acclaim for his performances.
Soon he was staring in television shows like Casanova and eventually landed the role of Doctor Who.
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