David Tennant quits Doctor Who. I'm depressed.

David Tennant sensationally announced that he was quitting Doctor Who at the end of filming the current specials here in Cardiff.

Tennant made this shock announcement as he was given Actor of the Year Award a the National Television Awards on Wednesday evening, during which Doctor Who got the award for best TV Drama - for the fourth year running.

By far the best Doctor Who ever, the Scottish actor who plays the tenth Time Lord confirmed that he was to remain in place for all of the four specials, to be aired at Christmas, and thru'out 2009. Tennant, who addressed the awards ceremony during the interval at his stage show, where he is playing in Hamlet, then dramatically announced he'd not be appearing in the fifth series.

Tennant was reputedly offered £3 million ($4.5 million) to play the Time Lord for two more series, yet he disappointed millions of adoring fans, including myself, using that age old cherry - that he felt it was time to move on, and that he didn't want to end up "being wheeled out of the Tardis in his carpet slippers". Maybe it's just greed - with gargantuan offers allegedly having been made for lucrative projects in the US.

But, who'll be holding the Tardis keys in 2010?

Cold Feet star James Nesbitt has often been mentioned as the actor in the frame to become the 11th timelord, but bookmakers Paddy Power favour Paterson Joseph as the favourite to take over the role, offering odds of 3-1 on him becoming the first black doctor. He is so wrong for the role. Unlike Tennant, there's no humor, no sex appeal, no mystery - just a steely stereotype of.. himself.

Nesbitt appeared in two earlier episodes of the show playing Roderick alongside previous doctor, Christopher Eccleston.

Joseph, 44, trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and is probably most familiar to television viewers as Mark Grace in Casualty, and he also starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Hollywood film The Beach. Talent? Yes. Sex appeal? For me, not really.

Life on Mars star John Simm and his co-star David Morrisey (who looks like a jacket potato) in political drama State of Play are also given odds of 8-1 and 5-1 respectively to pick up the keys to the Tardis. He'd be a disaster - and for me at least, a total turn-off.

All of these, with the exception perhaps of the enigmatic John Simm (who previously played the Master) are dull and uninspiring. More shocking - and for me, a killer, is the rumor that the BBC Wales' producers are even considering a woman for the role. No issues with women - but definitely NOT as Doctor Who!

Watch this space - I have my ear to the ground!

Disappointed - and a depressing time in my life has now become unbearable. I really, really really do need a new life.

Chris@Torchwood, CF