To be Doctor Who or not to be...? David Tennant is to take a break from the Tardis to deliver his Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

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 July to November next year. It will rule him out of filming a 2009 series of Doctor Who.

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 extended bank holiday specials to keep fan’s happy during 2009.

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.

BBC One is seeking new “family drama” hits for Saturday night. Merlin, a revival of the King Arthur legend, is already in production. A new series of Robin Hoodis set to challenge the dominance of ITV1’s The X Factorthis Autumn.

The award-winning Tennant, installed after Christopher Eccleston left after one series, is now firmly established as the Doctor. He recently completed an HBO film, Einstein And Eddington, in which he plays the British scientist, Sir Arthur Eddington.

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.

Catherine Tate returns to the Tardis as the Doctor’s assistant in the Spring series, reprising her role as Donna from last year's Christmas special. Kylie Minogue guest stars in this year’s Titanic-set festive episode.

Jane Tranter, Controller, BBC Fiction, said: “Doctor Who is one of the BBC’s best loved and most successful dramas. I’m delighted to be able to confirm not only three exciting specials for 2009, but a fifth series in 2010.”

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