The Doctor (Christopher Eccleston)

[Dave]

Christopher Eccleston is the new Doctor

In case you didn't catch this the BBC made a surprise announcement yesterday and it has been all over UK TV and Radio since.

Christopher Eccleston is new "Dr Who", BBC says

LONDON (Reuters)

Actor Christopher Eccleston has been named by the BBC as the new "Doctor Who" to front the cult science-fiction television series when it returns next year.

Eccleston, who starred alongside Nicole Kidman in the horror movie "The Others", will be the ninth TV Time Lord to control the Tardis in a 13-part series.

"It signals our intention to take Doctor Who into the 21st century, as well as retaining its core traditional values - to be surprising, edgy and eccentric," executive producer and writer Russell T Davies said late on Friday.

British-born Eccleston, 40, shot to fame with "Let Him Have It" for his portrayal of Derek Bentley, a mentally retarded British man who was hanged in the 1950s for a murder he did not commit.

Eccleston was snapped up by Hollywood for "Shallow Grave" and has starred in British TV series such as "The Second Coming".

His page at imdb is http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0001172/

from imdb

Born in Salford, Lancashire. He often returns there to fight for local issues and is a patron of the arts for the area.

Trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Is a supporter of Manchester United soccer club.

He has done quite a bit of 'SciFi' work. As well as 'The Others', frequently mentioned in these reports, he was also in 'eXistenZ' (1997) and the excellent '28 Days Later' (2002).

 

[Tabitha]

MMMmm, good choice. I don't think I have seen anyone suggest Eccleston anywhere before, so I'm glad that it came out of left field. He certainly is a very good actor, so should bring some gravitas to the role (I'm sorry, I don't think your Eddie Izzards or Alan Davies could have done that).

Looking forward to seeing what they do with it, and hearing who else is going to be cast.

 

[ray gower]

Well they have managed to live upto form and pick somebody relatively unknown again.

As most of his history appears to be quite heavy, I wonder if they are going to push Doctor Who towards that e.g. Colin Baker without the giggles?

Waiting with some interest

 

[Dave]

I'm sure that Eddie Izzard was never seriously in contention, and I didn't really want Alan Davies, his name just seemed to be at the top of all the rumours. I said Bill Nighy, but that was before he won an Oscar, so I guess he is out of reach now. I think Christopher Eccleston is a good choice.

Actually, Russell T Davies has worked with Eccleston before, and was quoted as saying that he was always his first choice. If so, then he kept the secret well hidden.

I didn't realise Eccleston was so old though. He's been on British TV for a long time, in things such as 'Inspector Morse', 'Casualty' and 'Cracker' but I thought he looked younger.

 

[Dave]

Christopher Eccleston has been on BBC Breakfast TV. He says that he agreed to the part because he likes working with Russell T Davies and knows that the writing will be good.

He will not be a foppish Doctor. No hats and scarves. he will have a 'thing' but it's a secret. An assistant called Rose Tyler (not cast yet) who will have an emotional journey about why she is with the Doctor. He will address social issues and current world situations in a science fiction setting. They will revisit old enemies and Eccleston has a fairly good knowledge of Dr Who's history himself watching it from Patrick Troughton's time.

 

[ray gower]

The more I hear, the better things are starting to sound. Writers and actors that know and appear to appreciate what the show is and was, stories that are intended to take on real issues etc. What will they think of next?

Just as long as the remember that the Doctor is eccentric and leave something of that there.

Don't all of the Doctor's companions go through severe emotional journeys, except possibly Langford?

 

[obcooke]

I spotted Peter Davison this weekend! I mean, I know he was at the DRAGONCON convention in Atlanta, GA, USA, but I spotted him in the Food Court of the connected mall as he was leaving the convention area.

As he was walking towards us, for some reason, I just started watching him. As he passed me, I realized who it was. I turned and watched him leave, which is how I know for certain that it was him. Later at a panel I noticed he had the same thinning spot on the crown of his head.

I don't have much to report in the way of details about the new series, I just didn't have as much time at the 'CON as I wanted this year.

I did hear a lively discussion about how The Doctor's transition.. shall we say.. into a new actor will be handled. Out of an abundence of caution I am spoiler-marking it, but it's more of a philosophical point about the new series. It's also more about what doesn't happen on the show, than what happens.

Spoiler

At a discussion with one of the reps from the new series, the rep said that no final decision had been made on rather a regeneration would be done.

Fans interrupted with shouts of "Yes, it has. The Producer has already said that he is the ninth Doctor."

No, the rep insisted. That had, at one time, been the decision, but right now they were going with deciding not to decide. They have not filmed a "regeneration scene" and do not at this time intend to do so.

They want fans to accept Christopher Eccleston's Doctor as being Paul McGann's Doctor. They are taking the conventional approach and replacing the actor without changing the character.

Ironic, considering that the regeneration was invented to explain why actors changed.

The rep said that if fans just wouldn't accept the idea then they might be willing to go back and film a regeneration scene to be shown as a flashback, but they were not planning on it.

He also commented that they were taking advantage of the "incredible resemblence" of the two actors.

Interesting, eh?

 

[Dave]

I read that and I'm not sure if it is a spoiler or not, more what they aren't going to do, but there is a precedent for it....

Spoiler

The first Doctor was played by William Hartnell, but Peter Cushing in the films, and by Richard Hurndall in the 'Five Doctors'.

 

[Dave]

Who on Earth is Christopher Eccleston?

from Ananova

Tom Baker's blast at new Dr Who

Actor Tom Baker says he's never heard of the show's new star - Christopher Eccleston.

He also criticised Eccleston for taking the role too seriously, adding: "Get your head out of your fat bottom."

Baker played the time travelling doctor from 1974 to 1981, says The Sun.

He added: "I was rather disappointed to hear this Doctor was going to be more serious. It always sounds very hollow in the mouth of an actor.

"When actors use words like 'challenge' and 'serious' you think to yourself 'Oh just shut up'."

Eccleston said of the role: "I plan to give weight and ambiguity to it. I don't think he's going to be as eccentric and foppish as some incarnations."

Baker was speaking to the Radio Times and also said he'd like to play the doctor's other arch-rival The Master.

I find it hard to believe Tom Baker has never heard of Christopher Eccleston. I think I read once that Tom Baker doesn't have a TV set, but he must visit the cinema occasionally. I expect that he's seen him but he doesn't recognise the name. Of course, I would never believe anything written in 'The Sun', but I agree about actors taking themselves too seriously.

 

[little smaug]

I'd never heard of Christopher Eccleston before this.

And being 'eccentric and foppish' is what makes the Doctor so likeable!

 

[ray gower]

As an observation, nobody had heard of Tom Baker before he became the Doctor either!

As Little Smaug observes, the most defining and endearing characteristic of the Doctor is the fact that he is an eccentric.

While from the recent Who documentaries, all of the Doctors had great fun playing the role. How that ranks with comments of 'Serious' and 'Challenging', I don't know?

 

[Dave]

You've never met anyone like the Doctor. He loves travel, history and saving the world.

More here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/characters/doctor/index.shtml

The BBC has described the new Doctor as "wise and funny, cheeky and brave... his detached logic gives him a vital edge when the world's in danger". Initial images of Eccleston's Doctor depict him wearing an old long, brown leather coat and a dark shirt and trousers.

Russell T Davies has said: "Christopher Eccleston's Doctor is wise, funny and brave; an adventurer who travels through time and space. His detached logic gives him a vital edge when the world is in danger, but when it comes to relationships, he can be found wanting. That's why he needs Rose."

He also has said: "A lot of people have told me they think Christopher, superb though he is, is a fairly dry and dour actor. They are in for a bit of a surprise. There's a lot of humour and comedy in that man and the new series will prove what a light touch he has." Whilst one of the complaints about the old series was that there was too much emphasis on the light touch, Russell was quick to dispel any fears that the new series will make the same mistake. "At the same time as being funny he brings tremendous weight."

 

[Yoda]

There will be another season of Doctor Who but the BBC announced this morning that Cristopher Eccleston is leaving because he doesn't wish to be type-cast.

 

[ray gower]

Think I would offer a certain sympathy for Ecclestone in his fears.

Most of the actors playing the Doctor almost disappeared after they finished. Having said that, most of them appeared from obscurity too

 

[FeedMeTV]

I think this is a terrible idea. One series and then you're out? Not a very considerate move if you ask me. Everyone gets used to the Doctor being back on our screens and then all of a sudden we have a brand new one. Billie Piper will stay on as his assistant though. I suppose I do understand his worry about typecasting but surely one more series wouldn't harm him? Just to get Doctor Who on its feet again?

Very damaging to the merchandise sales as well...

 

[ray gower]

It would be nice if he had managed two years. But the show depends heavily on the character of the Doctor, if he doesn't want to be there, then it will be very evident, very quickly. So better overall if he jumps quicker than lumber on.

He is a young chap who has designs on being a famous actor not a famous Doctor

 

[Dave]

It is easy with hindsight to say he should have realised what he was getting into; that he need only to ask any former Doctor about the fans and the cult status that would be thrust upon him; but after the last Doctor Who outing with Paul McGann, maybe Christopher Eccleston never expected it to last more than one series. To tell you the truth, I'm quite surprised at the number of people watching it myself!

There is a fan petition to bring back Paul McGann. Since there was no regeneration sequence shown, and Eccleston/McGann are possibly the same Doctor, this sounds like a good idea to me.

 

[Dave]

Originally posted by Yoda
the BBC announced this morning that Cristopher Eccleston is leaving because he doesn't wish to be type-cast.

Eccleston only ever agreed to film one series, and not only that, but the BBC broke an agreement with him not to reveal that fact...

BBC Head of Drama and Commissioning Jane Tranter: "The BBC regrets not speaking to Christopher before it responded to the press questions on Wednesday 30 March. The BBC further regrets that it falsely attributed a statement to Christopher and apologises to him. Contrary to press statements Christopher did not leave for fear of being typecast or because of the gruelling filming schedule."

 

[FeedMeTV]

David Tennant from BBC's "Casanova" is apparently lined up to replace Eccleston.

 

[little smaug]

I like David Tennant, I think he'd make a good Doctor.