In amongst the characters David Tennant has played since he left the TARDIS are: a lawyer with stage fright, a Viking, Man United’s Coach/Assistant Manager, a soon-to-be-wed writer, a Las Vegas entertainer with a side line in vampire killing, a husband with wandering eyes, Charles Darwin, the side-kick to a tiny but magical super hero, a World War Two hero drawn into the world of espionage, a new teacher hoping to win the ‘Songs for Christmas’ competition, and Postman Pat.

None of these have been able to travel through time.

Yes, it’s fair to say that Doctor Who has had no effect on the variety of roles that David Tennant has been offered since he made his tear-jerking departure.

Speaking to the Radio Times Tennant believes that his time on the show has been nothing but a blessing:

“Doctor Who opened more doors than it closed. I was never bored, but I wanted to make sure I left before it became [just] a job…Mercifully, I haven’t been typecast.”

Admittedly there have been some questionable choices amongst those roles and there’s that nagging feeling that what ever attracted him to a project has been lost in translation (The Decoy Bride must have sounded like fun) - but he’s often been the best thing about these flops and is still delivering challenging, thought-provoking turns when the material is strong – such as Single Father and last Sunday’s episode of True Love.

If that means we have to put up with him being Greedales most valuable postman then I’ll forgive him his indulgences.

You can see more of the interview in the new Radio Times, out now.