To be Doctor Who or not to be..? That is the question David Tennant needs to ask himself.. Tennant is to take a break from the Tardis to deliver his Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company.. So is it time for the Doctor to ‘ Regenate?’

Doctor Who fans will be forced to go for almost two years without a series fix from the Tardis - travelling Timelord, because actor David Tennant will take time off to do stagework.. The fourth season of the latest iteration of the sci - fi action drama will air in the spring of 2008, but season five will be delayed until 2010..

Producers have allowed Tennant, 36, to fulfil his Shakespeare ambitions.. He will play the Danish prince in a Stratford - Upon-Avon production, due to run from for about 9 months next year.. It will rule him out of filming a 2009 series of Doctor Who..

While now best known to TV fans for his adventures in the Tardis, Tennant launched his career on stage in his native Scotland.. His early career also included two seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company, where his Shakespearean roles included Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Touchstone in As You Like It ( For which he won an Ian Charleson Award commendation ) and Antipholus of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors..

His last London stage appearance was at the National in the 2003 premiere of Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman, while his last full stage production was a revival of Look Back in Anger, which ran in Edinburgh and Bath in 2005.. Tennant also took part in 50th anniversary rehearsed reading of John Osborne’s modern classic at the Royal Court last year.

The BBC feared Tennant would leave Doctor Who altogether after next year’s series, which is currently being shot.. Tennant wishes to pursue further stage and screen projects..

Under a compromise agreement, Tennant is expected to return to the role for the sci - fi show’s fifth series since its revival, in 2010.. He has agreed to film three one - off specials during 2009 and a Christmas special in 2008 to keep fans happy..

However such long - term planning is rare in the fickle world of television and both the BBC and Tennant may have different plans come 2010..

Season Four of Doctor Who, which began production in July, will air in the UK in Spring 2008 for a 13 - episode run, with a Christmas special ( Starring David Tennant and Kylie Minogue ) slated for December 2008.. It stars David Tennant, new companion Catherine Tate ( Reprising her role as Donna from the 2006 Christmas Special ” The Runaway Bride ” ), and Freema Agyeman, who will return halfway through the fourth season as Dr. Martha Jones..

Rumors over the past several months have suggested that the show would be going on a sort of ‘ temporary hiatus ‘ after the fourth series, though the BBC has emphasized the series’ return for a full fifth year.. It is not known whether Davies will continue in the helm of the series when it does return on a weekly basis, however..

The press release included the following quotes:

Jane Tranter, Controller, BBC Fiction, says: “Doctor Who is one of the BBC’s best loved and most successful dramas. Its journey over the past three series has been one of the most ambitious and exciting that we have had, and I’m delighted to be able to confirm not only three exciting specials for 2009, but a fifth series in 2010.”

Menna Richards, Controller, BBC Wales, says: “The success of Doctor Who is a fantastic tribute to the dedication and expertise of the production team at BBC Wales who have worked on the project from the outset. This announcement is marvellous news for all involved, and more importantly for the programme’s amazing fan base and audience. BBC Wales is looking forward to producing the fifth series.”

A spokesman for Doctor Who said it was too early to say whether the Tennant would be returning for any future series, but many believe he is ambitious to expand his stage and screen projects..

” Tomorrow’s Entertainment ” has been in contact with the BBC, but the spokesperson declined comment on Tennant’s status for the fifth season..

Tennant took over as Doctor Who from Christopher Eccleston who quit the hugely successful revival of the show after one series.. Eccleston has also played Hamlet, taking on the role at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2002..

In a further sci - fi twist, Patrick Stewart, the former Star Trek star, will play Hamlet’s uncle Claudius, alongside the screen Time Lord at Stratford..