On 20 March 2004, it was announced that Christopher Eccleston was to play the ninth incarnation of the Doctor in the revival of the legendary BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, which began transmission on 26 March 2005. He was considered by many fans to be well suited to the role and praised for his ability to switch seamlessly between being humorous and playful to deadly serious.
On 30 March 2005, the BBC released a statement, ostensibly from Eccleston, saying that he had decided to leave the role after just one series, because he feared becoming typecast. On 4 April, the BBC revealed that Eccleston's "statement" was falsely attributed and released without his consent. The BBC admitted that they had broken an agreement made in January not to disclose publicly that he only intended to do one series. The statement had been made after journalists made queries to the press office.[8]
On 11 June 2005, during a BBC radio interview, when asked if he had enjoyed working on Doctor Who, Eccleston responded by saying, "Mixed, but that's a long story." Eccleston's reasons for leaving the role continue to be debated in Britain's newspapers: on 4 October 2005 Alan Davies told The Daily Telegraph that Eccleston had been "overworked" by the BBC, and had left the role because he was "exhausted".[9] Ten days later, Eccleston told The Daily Mirror this was not true, and expressed some irritation at Davies for his comments.[10]
On 7 November 2008, at the National Theatre to promote his book The Writer's Tale, Russell T Davies said that Eccleston's contract was for a single year because it was uncertain whether the show would continue beyond a single revival series. In retrospect, he says, it has been an enormous success, but at the time there were doubts within the BBC.
Eccleston was voted "Most Popular Actor" at the 2005 National Television Awards for his portrayal of the Doctor.
Eccleston was very touched by the response he received from children for his role as the Ninth Doctor. He said "In all the 20 years I've been acting, I've never enjoyed a response so much as the one I've had from children and I'm carrying that in my heart forever..."
"Wikipidea"
WHERE TO FIND HIM:
DWA What I did on my Christmas Holidays by Sally Sparrow Short Story 157 Rose 1 episode 158 The End of the World 1 episode 159 The Unquiet Dead 1 episode A2005 Doctor VS Doctor Short Story 160 Aliens of London / World War Three 2 episodes DWM The Love Invasion Comic A2005 Mr. Nobody Comic BBCN01 The Clockwise Man Novel BBCN02 The Monsters Inside Novel BBCN03 Winner Takes All Novel A2005 The Masks of Makassar Short Story A2005 Pitter-Patter Short Story DWM Art Attack! Comic DWM The Cruel Sea Comic 161 Dalek 1 episode 162 The Long Game 1 episode 163 Father's Day 1 episode DWM A Groatsworth of Wit Comic 164 The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances 2 episodes BBCN04 The Deviant Strain Novel BBCN05 Only Human Novel 165 Boom Town 1 episode BBCN06 The Stealers of Dreams Novel 166 Bad Wolf / The Parting of the Ways 2 episodes
Doctor Who Guide.com
