Don't actors sign contracts in the UK?

[petkusj@theAfterNet.net]

I thought it's pretty common for US actors to sign multi-year contracts, but with Eccleston and now Piper departing Doctor Who, I just wonder why the producers don't sign the actors to contracts.

I'm not saying I endorse the practice, I just worry about that 12 regenerations limit for the Doctor.

Jennifer

[sickness]

This could be a trend here in the US finally crossing the pond.

Actors have long been signed to multi-year deals even for new, untested shows with the idea that they don't want to be paying out the nose for at least 3-4 years because of unexpected popularity. However, in the last 5 years or so (and particularly in the last couple), it's more and more often the case that actors are signed to longer term deals even with no intent to keep them so that there's some shock value left when a character departs a show. Actors on The Sopranos were routinely signed to five year deals right off the bat (they're on season 6 now, I think) so that it was a shock when they did things like knock off Big P*ssy or Ralphie in the second or third season.

[petkusj@theAfterNet.net]

I wonder if David Tennant has a contract.

Jennifer