TV review: Doctor Who, BBC1 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

TV review: Doctor Who, BBC1

7:00pm Monday 17th April 2006 in Reviews By John Anson, Features editor

I'M not sure you will agree, but I think the Doctor is in need of a bit of a tonic.

Clearly all that rejuvenating has left the Time Lord feeling a little lacklustre or at least that was the indication after the first episode of the new series of Doctor Who.

After all the hype, where was the substance?

Sure we had some typically hiding-behind-the-sofa moments when some plague ridden, zombie-like humans wandered around looking to be loved, but this wasn't a classic by any manner of means.

David Tennant was all wild-eyed stares and ill-fitting suit. Given time one thing which Doctor Who always has the lad shows promise, to slip into footballing parlance but he's not totally convincing.

For the writers, they are under the same pressure as a band trying to follow up a hugely successful debut album.

A few cats dressed as nurses and Billie Piper getting raunchy won't be sufficient although dads across the nation are no doubt hoping that she does indeed stay raunchy for the next few weeks.

Don't get me wrong, Doctor Who is still several galaxies ahead of the majority of fare being served up and the effects are getting better and better.

But without a decent plot it will all be in vain.

So come on Doc, pull yourself together and get to work saving the planet.