It takes a remarkably skilled actor to pull off a convincing personality transplant.

I think "Agent Smith" in the Matrix (when he was taking the form of another character - and for the life of me, I can't remember which! - but doing an excellent job of being Agent Smith) did it brilliantly.

And I think Chris Ecclestone set a benchmark for Doctors when he took over the part of Doctor Who - and played Tom Baker to a T.

It would be my assessment that Tennant is playing the same part, and quite well... but not at the same level of accuracy. That may actually be because Tennant personally is a lot more like Baker. Ecclestone, however, is a true mimic, becoming the character he plays, and ceasing to be himself (I honestly didn't recognise him in "Heroes" for three episodes!).

So, will the producer/director team want the next Doctor to carry on "Being Tom Baker"? (without going through the portal on the 12 1/2th floor!) - or is it time to generate a new personality as well as a new body?

And will the next actor be up for it?

It's not necessarily a failure if he can't; some of the world's best actors never played the part of anybody but themselves. Alec Guinness, for example, was the same character in "The Horse's Mouth" and "Kind hearts" and "Star Wars" and "The Lady Killers" - and "Bridge over the River Kwai" - he just transcended himself by playing the part as if it were written for him.

I think Tom Baker did that, originally. No attempt to pretend he was the same character as William Hartnell. He made the Doctor become Tom Baker. Some say Baker himself ceased to be anybody except the Doctor, even going to the pub in his Who coat and Who scarf.

A new Hartnell would probably be pointless, as so few of us actually remember him in the role. Just as well, too! I think the "Hartnellisms" - possibly caused by his deteriorating brain function? - might be seen as bad taste if someone attempted to imitate them... "I'm not sure of my lines, I can't remember what to do with my hands, and I'm sure I'm supposed to be somewhere else on the set. Who am I talking to?"



But why can't I find the person who played "Agent Smith" when he took over them? Am I thinking of the actor who played the Oracle?