Page 1 of Chistopher Eccleston is Doctor Who!

Actor Christopher Eccleston is to be the new Doctor Who when the cult sci-fi show returns to our screens next year, it was announced tonight.

Eccleston, star of Flesh and Blood and The Second Coming, will appear as the TV Time Lord in the 13-part BBC1 series to be shown in 2005.

The BBC said the Salford-born 40-year-old would take the famous doctor into the 21st century in a "fresh and modern approach" involving travelling through time and space and fighting monsters on all fronts.

Jane Tranter, BBC Controller of Drama Commissioning, said: "We are delighted to have cast an actor of such calibre in one of British television's most iconic roles.

"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.

"We have chosen one of Britain's finest actors to play what, in effect, will be an overtly modern hero."

Executive producer and writer Russell T Davies said: "We considered many great actors for this wonderful part, but Christopher was our first choice.

"This man can give the Doctor a wisdom, wit and emotional range as far-reaching as the Doctor's travels in time and space.

"His casting raises the bar for all of us. It's going to be a magnificent, epic, entertaining journey, and I can't wait to start."

The series will be filmed in Cardiff later this year.

From http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2673717

This item was edited on Saturday, 20th March 2004, 11:01

Don`t get me wrong, I like Eccleston.

But where will the humour come from?

The 42%er.

Your optimistic eyes seem like paradise to someone like me.

Now it`s really official: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3552087.stm :)

This item was edited on Saturday, 20th March 2004, 11:05

All that time to wait for Doc Who to come back and we get that PRATT.

Sorry about the edit, forgot to use caps on PRATT.

This item was edited on Saturday, 20th March 2004, 08:16

oi dont call someone a prat if you dont know that person. he is a good friend of my girlfriends family and hes a really nice guy!

although some of his films do leave a little to be desired.....

Was he any good in Second Coming - this must be like Prime Suspect part seven, only Second Coming part seven - wonder if Mr McGann will appear at the start.

What`s the chances we have the Four Doctors - must be possible as they have not used that title yet.

With the Daleks more likely than not to be released from the Nation estate, are there any words beginning with R for a Dalek Story. The series has liked to use common themes Remembrance, Resurrection etc. and even Evil has cropped up in a few stories across villains.

With Predator v Alien due soon, will Dr Who finally get a Cyberman v Dalek story of any note? Let`s get of Eccles back please and think forward. He is a a big name (must be at least 20 points in scrabble) and should stay for a customary 3 years like others.

:( Pity they didn`t pick Bill Nighy, but there you go, to each his own. Musn`t pre judge.

JohnF

I think the floating bearded sausage which can shoot lightning bolts from its eyes should be a new Dr Who monster

I think it`s a bit like casting De Niro as Ronald McDonald.
Eccleston`s a terrific actor and all that, but surely this role isn`t going to interest him for very long. He`ll have left to do some proper acting before anyone can get used to him as a Time Lord.

This item was edited on Saturday, 20th March 2004, 11:41

Quote:
Eccleston`s a terrific actor and all that, but surely this role isn`t going to interest him for very long.

Even if he only stays for two 13-episode series, his tenure as the Doctor (in actual airtime) will be longer than that of Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy or Paul McGann.