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David Tennant > Facts > Biography > Fan Address > Reviews > Quotes > Interviews

The sources in which the fact has come from if known is in (brackets) like so. I do like to use sources published for information as there is often truth from news worthy sources such as Doctor Who Magazine and the BBC.

  • David's real name is David John McDonald. David changed his name to Tennant after the Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant because there was another actor with his name.
  • His grandfather, Archie McLeod was a professional footballer for the Scottish juniors before moving to Northern Ireland. (Who Do You Think You Are?)
  • The first single David bought was 'Like a virgin' by Madonna.
  • Loves The West Wing.
  • Claims that Madonna was his sexual awakening, when he was 13/14.
  • Nominated for a 2003 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actor of 2002 for his performance in "Lobby Hero" performed at the Donmar Warehouse and the New Ambassador's Theatres.
  • When David was at Paisley Grammar School, he wrote an essay on how his greatest desire was to play Doctor Who on TV.
  • Graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
  • Has one older brother Blair and one older sister Karen.
  • David is always reluctant to talk about his private life especially his love life in interviews.
  • David dated Sophia Myles. They acted together in 'Foyle's War - Lesson in murder' and in the Doctor Who episode 'The Girl in the Fireplace'.
  • Was announced as the tenth Doctor in 2005.
  • Doctor Who is writen by Russell T Davies - famous for writing Casanova, which David played the part of Casanova for the BBC remake.
  • Friends with Arabella Weir (The Fast show) David used to lodge with her and is godfather to her youngest child. They recorded Excile (Doctor Who's unbound audio plays). Arabella plays the female version of the Doctor.
  • He started filming as the Doctor in July 2005.
  • Heralded as the sexiest Doctor.
  • Voted 20th in the sexiest men poll by the girls and came first with the guys.
  • Dislikes moths as they freak him out.
  • Billie Piper's nickname for him is David Ten-inch.
  • Never appeared in Taggart, the only famous scottish actor not to. He auditioned 6 times. Got a part once but the Taggart casting did not ring his agent back and his agent rang them to find out what happened and the part went to a James Tennant because they had wrongly rang David's agent saying he had got the part. (Mentioned at 'Chain Reactions' Radio 4 recording)
  • David is a patron of Headway a brain injury association. David visited them for research for his part in 'Recovery'.
  • David likes to listen to the Kaiser Chiefs, The Fratellis, U2, The Proclaimers and Madonna.
  • David has worked with Sarah Parish on Blackpool, The Runaway Bride and Recovery.
  • Used to drive an old Skoda.
  • Hates astrology. He finds it irritating that Catherine Tate and Freema Agyeman believe in horoscopesl! (Mentioned at 'Chain Reactions' Radio 4 recording)
  • Hates interactive news feeds. (Mentioned at 'Chain Reactions' Radio 4 recording)
  • Loves the original Star Wars films, dislikes the prequels Star Wars films. (Mentioned at 'Chain Reactions' Radio 4 recording)
  • David met George Lucas in a posh restaurant. (Mentioned at 'Chain Reactions' Radio 4 recording)
  • Voices the 'Argos' catalogue July/August 2007 advert.
  • David's favourite film of all time is 'Twelve Angry Men'. (Mentioned in Academy Magazine)
  • When asked what legendary actor he would have liked to have worked with David said Audrey Hepburn. (Mentioned in Academy Magazine)
  • David's favourite Doctor Who monster is the Zygons and his favourite Doctor Who story is Genesis of the Daleks. (Children In Need concert)
  • Directed the Doctor Who Confidential 'Do You Remember The First Time?' which was for the episode 'Blink'.
  • David is not allowed to attend any Doctor Who fan conventions while he is playing the Doctor. (Mentioned in Daily Mirror)
  • David's height is 6ft 1 (1.85m).
  • David's mother Helen McDonald died in July 2007 of cancer.
  • Appears in a boots advert made in 2002.
  • Likes film director Alfred Hitchcock, known for his films such as 'Psycho', The Birds' and 'Rear Window'.
  • David was the second Doctor Who actor to turn on the Blackpool Illuminations on 31st August 2007.
  • David has acted along side Christopher Eccleston in the 1996 film 'Jude'. There characters meet in a bar. David plays a drunk undergraduate. Of course they both went on to play the Doctor.
  • Named best Actor for Doctor Who at the TV Choice and TV Quick Awards 2007.
  • David interviewed Richard Wilson for the Radio 4 'Chain Reaction' show. They have acted together in the TV series 'Duck Patrol' and they have both been in Doctor Who.
  • David won best actor at the National Television Awards on October 31st 2007.
  • David has a minus 5 prescription for glasses. He claims that he "can't see a thing without my glasses". (Radio Times) (David wears contacts when not wearing glasses)
  • It took David three times to pass his driving test and claims that parallel parking is his weakest area. (Inside Soap)
  • Billie Piper claims that David has Kylie's mobile number on his phone. (icWales)
  • David is a patron of Scotland-based Association for International Cancer Research (AICR).
  • On Top Gear, David was timed at 1.48.8 doing the lap in the reasonably priced car. Billie Piper was faster at 1.48.3.
  • Wears boxers and briefs (DWM, 391)
  • Reads 'The Guardian' newspaper (Derren Brown: Trick or Treat).
  • Would like to visit Australia (Derren Brown: Trick or Treat).
  • David's father appeared in the Doctor Who episode - The Unicorn and the Wasp (4.07).
  • David said if he could be a famous fictional detective he would be Columbo as he loves him so much (The Big Questions, episode 7).
  • Now drives a Toyota Prius (Virgin Radio).
  • David is a member of the Derry City Exiles supporters club. He was invited for honoury membership and he excepted (Derry City FC).
  • Voices the Learn Direct adverts (May/June/July 2008).
  • David and David Morrissey have acted together in Blackpool and in The Doctor Who Christmas special 'The Next Doctor'.
  • David had to cancel appearing in some of the London Hamlet shows in December 2008 due to back problems, which resulted in having to have surgery to fix the problem. The surgery went well.
  • David will be leaving Doctor Who in the Christmas 2009 special and will be taken over by Matt Smith.
  • Voices the Tesco Mobile adverts (February 2009).
  • Presented the first hour of Comic Relief 2009 with Davina McCall.
  • Uses an electric toothbrush.
  • Been dating Georgia Moffett for two years, daughter of fifth Doctor Peter Davison.
  • Sold his bed for the charity Children in Need for £5000 (Absolute Radio 2009).
  • Supports the Labour party and has appeared or has been heard in party political broadcasts ie. 'The Road Ahead' with Sean Pertwee in 2010.
  • Voiced Spitelout the viking in 'How to train your Dragon' movie, but was not credited for the role. He has previously done audio work for the books.
  • Began filming BBC's 'Single Father' in May 2010.
  • Designed a 'doodle' for Headway Essex to print on to tee shirts and pillow cases to raise money for the charity.

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