'Dr Who' boss hopeful of Tennant recovery

Russell T. Davies believes that David Tennant will be fit enough to film the next Doctor Who special in January despite recent back surgery.

Davies told BBC News that he is "hopeful" that Tennant will make the January 19 start date for filming, although he admitted: "We'll have to be very careful - I don't think we'll be swinging him on a wire on his first day back."

The Doctor Who showrunner also stated that Tennant's injury hasn't resulted in rewrites to lessen the physical nature of the role. "No, there's been none of that," he said, "and I think David would have told us by now because he's read the first script."

Tennant recently withdrew from his lead role in an acclaimed stage production of Hamlet due to the injury, and doubts were cast upon whether he would recover in time to reprise his role as the heroic Time Lord.