Russell T Davies: 'David Tennant chose to quit months ago'
The actor's announcement during Wednesday's National TV Awards stunned fans of the show when he revealed he will leave next year.
And the Post caught up with Russell T Davies after the bash.
The screenwriter gave us the inside story on David's decision and revealed he'd love to work with him again.
In an exclusive chat, he told the Post: "We all knew he was going to announce it at the awards — we planned it months and months ago.
"We thought we could issue a press release or we could send a live transmission on ITV to eight million viewers.
"And it worked. We thought it would get leaked, but it didn't, which was brilliant."
The annual awards bash, at London's Royal Albert Hall, saw David address the audience via video link from Stratford-upon-Avon.
Russell said: "They timed the whole event to coincide with the interval at Hamlet, so it was really live.
"The planning that had gone into it was amazing.
"It wasn't hard to keep quiet about it because I didn't want to spoil it for anyone. Everyone's been asking when David might leave, but we've lied through our teeth all this time. We always knew."
David was picking up the Outstanding Drama Performance award for the third time.
But he revealed he won't be returning to play the Doctor after next year's four specials.
And Russell — who announced earlier this year he will also be leaving after the specials — told how he felt about David quitting.
He said: "I'll be sad to see him go, but I'm off as well. I'd like to think he's going because I'm leaving.
"But it does feel like good timing for us both to leave at the same time."
And Russell confessed he doesn't want next year's episodes to be his last time working alongside David.
He added: "I'd love to work with David again on another drama, absolutely, any day. There's no plans for that but I would definitely do it."
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