Moderator's Note: This was moved from the 'Other Doctors' section


Moderator; Now that we know that Christopher Ecclestone is the new Ninth Doctor I think we need a category for his name.

Oops. That should be Christopher Eccleston, not Ecclestone.

Shouldn't we wait until we actually see him perform?

_I've_ seen him perform. In loads of things, as it happens. And there's plenty to discuss even before we have the joy of seeing him as the Doctor. (The NINTH DOCTOR. On TELEVISION!) What length we want his hair to be is the most vital question to start debating, in my opinion.

Okay, okay, I give. A new thread was just added for the Ninth Doctor.

How do we actually know he's the ninth? There could be an undefined number between McGann and Eccleston of whom we are not yet aware.

Because the BBC is telling us so.

That doesn't necessarily make it true!

The question is what will be the general character of EccleDoc? I suspect it will be initially shaped by the style of the first (of hopefully many) series. Most recent telefantasy series have been rather dark so following that style we could have a rather downbeat character. I would expect flashes of humour (and hopefully wit) but my thoughts are that we won't get anything approaching a season 17 Doctor. Slightly brooding, generally serious, sometimes sarcastic and occasionally impish is my guess. And never cruel or cowardly, of course.

Moderator's Note: This is Mike's original Eccleston summary:

Only one season, but what a season! Eccleston performed beyond anyone's expectations, and left both the Who fan and the newbie wanting more. Can Tennant keep up the pace? Let's see!


It's official - Christopher Eccleston has been cast in the role... check out the story and details at http://www.gallifreyone.com/newstv.php

Moderator's Note: This was moved from the 'Ask the Matrix' section:


Yay, we have a Doctor!!!!! WE HAVE A DOCTOR, EVERYONE! A REAL, LIVE DOCTOR!!!!

You know, up until now I would have sworn I regarded McGann as our real, live, current, ongoing hero, what with him running round blowing up Gallifrey, turning his Companion into a TARDIS, getting his heart ripped out, losing his memory, etc etc, but suddenly I feel this enormous relief, as if up until now I subconsciously hadn't felt the universe was really safe in his hands (what with only seeing him for 85 minutes and all, no reflection on his character although now you mention it the Eighth Doctor does LOSE a lot of things).

Of course, the relief's probably more due to the fact that our new series (NEW SERIES!!!!!!) is suddenly WAY closer and more real, and nozzing in the vorld will schtop it nowwwwwwww!!!!! (Even if Michael Grade gets to be head of the BBC which he's seriously in contention for, and all thanks to the bloody Government invading Iraq, I always SAID that was a bad idea.)

Anyway, I now know how all the Tibetan monks or lamas or whatever felt when, often after years of searching, they finally found the boy who was the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. I.e. pretty dammed happy.

I've seen whatshisname in The Second Coming (OK, I admit, I do know his name. Now. It is forever engraved on my heart. William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Christopher Eccleston. Sounds good, doesn't it? ) Anyway...I'd never heard of him when a friend of mine (a non-Who-loving philistine! Sooooo unfair that he heard it first!) casually broke the news, but now I realise that I've actually had the supreme honour of SEEING Christopher *rapturous sigh* Eccleston, in The Second Coming by Russell T Davies, where he played the Son of God. Now, I'm the last person to claim that if someone's good enough to play Christ they're good enough to play the Doctor, but in this case...he IS good enough. And he looks perfect, even with hardly any hair! (I always thought Doctors MUST have long hair, regardless of the fact that half of them haven't.) He looks insane, um, I mean intense, and he's got a big nose. He's gonna be perfect. So crack open the champagne, everyone. And how about a place for our new God in the Doctors section, Mike?

But it can't be Christopher Eccleston. The Daily Mail says it's Bill Nighy - and the Daily Mail is NEVER wrong!!!

McGann had extremely short hair when he was cast, so they gave him a wig to give him "Doctor-ish" long hair - they might do the same with Eccleston.

And apparently the Daily Mail's next edition fixed their faux pas over the announcement

Too late, tee hee.

I really hope they don't go for the wig option, somehow Eccleston (the Ninth Doctor, the NINTH DOCTOR!!!!! Well, at least that'll put that Richard E Grant webcast nonsense in its place) looks even more doctorish with hardly any hair.

I've never heard of this guy. Good.

I wonder if we'll get it here in the US? On the SciFi channel maybe?

Films you may have seen him in, Elizabeth, Gone in 60 seconds, and 28 Days Later.

I think it's a good choice, if they'd gone with Anthony Head everyone would have been looking for Rupert Giles, and Eddie Izzard would have had to combat his stand up persona.

Eccleston's filmography:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001172/

It'd be interesting to do a "The Nine Doctors" episode.

The problem is: Who would they get to play Doctors 1-3? (and probably # 4....seeing Tom Baker won't do Doctor Who anymore)

Can you imagine the convoluted plot strands? Difficult enough to write five Doctors, let alone 9?! I have to admit, though, John, if it could be done well, I'd like to see it.

The plot strand could relate to the Cybermen stories for each of the Doctors (with the exception of the Third), or, of course, the Daleks. The new actors could be placed into episode scenes from those stories via CGI, as they did for the Deep Space 9 episode 'Trials And Tribble-ations'. And hey, if they could write 6 and 7-part episodes back in the 70's, and stay mostly on track, then it could be done that way for a new 4-parter, having only a couple previous Doctors show up in each episode, instead of cramming everything into a 90-minute story. Had 'The Five Doctors' been a 4-parter I think everyone would have been happier.

That's actually a very clever idea. I can imagine McCoy in particular maneuvering behind the scenes to make something work right for another, earlier Doctor. I can't imagine any plot managing to properly employ nine Doctors though, even if it spanned a whole season.

Well, considering that three of the former actors are dead, their roles would have to be archival footage at best.

Or they could follow the pattern of Hartnell stories and have those characters invisible for most of the story

Um, back to Eccelston ...
I was familiar with him from the movie Elizabeth and that's about it. However, the more I learn about him, the more pleased I am that he'll be in the role. Some of the pictures on the official BBC site show him looking a little like the Master (!). He also reminds me (in looks at least) of one of my favorite actors, Ralph Fiennes.

Back to the multiple doctors, sorry Daroga .
I believe that Peter Davison has said that he'd do one if it happened, but with the deaths of William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker's personal preference to leave that part of his career behind, then the best way to do a multi-doctor storyline in my view would be a novel series (such as the series done for Star Trek like Gateways) - each doctor gets their own story, and they all come together at the end to resolve the series.

I think Eccleston is a great choice.

Uh oh.
Thought peple might be interested (and/or concerned). Apparently, Michael "I'm so proud I killed off Dr Who for Eldorado" Grade is to become the new chairman of the BBC.

Watch out for a massive renegociation of the contract to show the lottery draws, for a lot of filming to move to Shepperton and Pinewood (Grade's on the board of both Camelot and Shepperton Pinewood studios), and for Dr Who to only get it's come back next year and then be consigned to the wastes for another ten years minimum (assuming Grade even allows it to be done).

Me, cynical? Yes, absolutely!

Go to http://www.gallifreyone.com and read the news on the new series. Several members of Parliament have written a letter to Grade, basically telling him "don't screw with Who." Besides, in Grade's new position, he would not be involved with selecting or cancelling shows.

First, can I point out that Michael Grade had nothing to do with 'Eldorado'. He left the BBC over four years before it went into production and it was the brainchild of Jonathan Powell (his successor as Controller of BBC1 - and the man actually responsible for cancelling Doctor Who). Let's not get our bogeymen confused.

Second, Grade's appointment is as Chairman of the BBC's Board of Governors. This isn't a position with responsibility for programming but more of a public affairs role concerned with the general nature of the BBC and its relationship with government. As such, he's the right man in the right job at the right time.

The idea that he's going to use his position to get at Doctor Who is fan (and MP!) paranoia at its daftest.

But completely understandable, nevertheless

Apologies, I thought Grade was still in charge when Dr Who was pulled.
But, he's stated his dislike for it many times, he definitely wanted it gone when he was controller of BBC1, and if he'd had his way, we wouldn't even have had Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred or Bonnie Langford (so on that last count, it wouldn't have been all bad then )

As for having control of programs, he won't have direct control, but he can certainly make his influence and make hints about what types of programs he wants. But, I suppose if the new series gets good viewing figures and good overseas sales, he'll be more inclined to keep it going.

Going slightly off topic, does anyone else think Scooter in the Muppet Show was based on Michael Grade? His uncle, (Lord) Lew Grade owned the ATV studios at Elstree where the muppets were filmed, Scooter's the nephew of the theatre owner in the show, and from what I've heard about Lew Grade, it's extremely likely he got Michael a job somewhere in his organisation.

For the current situation I can only reiterate the fact that Grade's job is basically a public affairs one and nothing to do with programming. The idea that he's going to start leaning on people to lean on people to get Doctor Who cancelled is only plausible if you imagine that he spends his sleepless nights plotting to destroy Doctor Who and all that it stands for. Unless the new series does something that gets the BBC into serious political trouble then it'll be completely below his radar.

I've already talked about this in a recent DWM article, but I think its worth reiterating: I believe that Grade's public antipathy towards Doctor Who is down to the reaction that he got when the original season 23 was cancelled. Not only was he singled out for public abuse from fans but the furore was egged on by political opponents of the BBC at a time when its very future was in doubt. (Plus ca change.) We made Doctor Who a personal and political nuisance for Grade - if Crackerjack fans had done the same then it would have been Crackerjack to go into Room 101.

Why was season 23 of Doctor Who postponed? The most plausible straightforward explanation is that the BBC wanted to free up drama resources for the launch of EastEnders in that financial year. Grade had both the opportunity and the right to cancel Doctor Who if he wanted to - but he didn't. I'm not saying this to defend Grade but I fear from recent events that as fans we still have the terrible lack of perspective or grasp of the realities of BBC corporate life that we demonstrated in 1985.

Hmmm... and Colin Baker's ex-wife Liza Goddard stayed at Michael Grade's house after they split up... make of that what you will...

---
Grade had both the opportunity and the right to cancel Doctor Who if he wanted to - but he didn't.
---
Simply because the public and media reaction prevented him from doing so - did you see him on Room 101 a couple of years back? He was comparing Dr Who - a tv series costing a few thousand pounds an episode to make - to multi-milion dollar hollywood movies and saying that it just looked pathetic in comparison.

Yes, Grade's there to be the governments point of contact, but he's also there to give direction to the corporation.
And I agree, it's a worst case scenario (and possibly an unlikely one) that we're discussing, and if he does try, Lorraine Heegerty (controller of BBC1 atm) may fight him off - she's been trying to bring it back since she took over.

We shall see.

Considering the current political environment, and the reasons for the dismissal of Grade's predecessor, I'm sure Grade will not have the time to worry about Doctor Who.

I remain to be convinced that the 'public outcry' - or more accurately, the unholy alliance of John Nathan-Turner and Rupert Murdoch - did any good. The idea that Doctor Who was facing outright cancellation in 1985 has never been demonstrated. Certainly the instinctive response of any executive wanting to cancel a series at that point would have been to stick to their guns rather than lose face.

I don't believe the BBC handled the situation at all well or that it was the right thing to do at that point but the fan response probably contributed to the process of turning the series into a pariah and hastening its cancellation once Grade had left the BBC in 1987.

Sounds fine to me...though I'm getting slightly panic-stricken about his 'TWO hearts to be broken' comments. I'm also worried about the humour...has anyone actually seen Eccleston being funny? In anything? EVER? And can anyone remember a single joke from Damaged Goods? Who wouldn't be Who without humour. Moffat'll probably have loads in his episodes - he writes something called 'Coupling' which is supposed to be a comedy, apparently, plus his short story in (I think) Decalog 2 was very amusing indeed - but what about the rest of the series?

I'm always happy to take the BBC's word for something. Providing they are in agreement with MY views on a subject, which they certainly are in this case. Eccleston for Ninth Doctor!

Christopher Eccleston guest appeared as a cat-obsessed cinema manager in the final episode of 'The League of Gentlemen' season three, which was quite funny.

The only joke I can remember from 'Damaged Goods' was a misunderstanding over different meanings of the word 'clones'. Also a bit with one of Bernice's ancestors... still I seem to recall the book being shot through with a good deal of mordant humour.

Steve Moffatt's 'Continuity Errors' was in Decalog 3 btw.

I've spelt Moffat wrong as well. Oops.

PARANOID, are we, Daniel? •••• bloody right we're paranoid. The BBC are making a new series of Doctor Who. After FIFTEEN YEARS, fifteen long, barren, pointless years, our faith is rewarded, we are to be blessed at last, our lives are no longer empty of joy and meaning (what d'you MEAN, laying it on a bit thick?). And now the BBC is to be run by an abomination whose loathing of Who knows no bounds, who boasts of his desire to destroy our Doctor and everything he stands for.

Yes, we can rely on the God Lorraine Heggasy to defend our programme with her very life. Yes, the evil scumbag (I'd accuse him of being the Master in disguise, except that even the Master admits that a cosmos without the Doctor scarely bears thinking about) has claimed he won't sabotage Who 'as long as he doesn't have to watch it' (How DARE he? DIE, DIE!) but what are we supposed to do - say 'Oh that's alright then' and relax our vigilence?

Just remember: just because you're paranoid that doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.

Right man in the right job at the right time my ****.

I think that Grade will probably have more important things on his mind than Who, but I can tell you from working in broadcasting myself that it is not beyond the relm of possibility that he might decide to lean on people to get rid of our good Doctor. It may work different for British TV, but I think we all know that in any corporation there is most definitely politics both subtle and obvious. I would say we should be vigilant, but not panicky.

"Right man in the right job at the right time my ****." -Couldn't agree more, Emily!


On a side note (and I hope people don't mind if I post this here), if I can get the time off and scrape together the money, my wife and I are planning to vaction in London this summer. I'd love to meet some of my fellow nitpickers in person. I don't have exact dates yet. I'll let you know when I do.

I had to remind myself that your Brits spell *** with four *'s. For a minute, I thought you meant ****.

;-)

To be honest, I'm surprised we haven't seen the subject of our current debate rendered as ******* *****.

Let it me rephrase my arguments. First, the best thing for Doctor Who is a strong BBC with a strong public service ethic. At the moment, the best placed person to defend that is *****. Second, the relaunch of Doctor Who is a high profile scheme that's already got lots of attention without a single frame of footage being shot - ***** is unlikely to want to sabotage that even if he wanted to. In fact, if something goes wrong, he'd probably get the blame even if it was nothing to do with him (which it probably wouldn't be).

I have nothing to add to this except try to test out the swear filter by saying arse, ••••, ••••, ••••, ••••, wank, pillock, twazzock, twonk and pillock and seeing what gets through. My excuse is that Emily is probably commenting on a Colin Baker book

MG probably has more important things to deal with. I know it's a shock to most Whooters (the term I most like - Al Bundy and all that) but we come in very low on the radar for him. If it does OK in the ratings and sells DVDs it'll be on for a while. Or Matthew Kelly will become the 10th Doctor in very short time.

You just made up 'twazzock' didn't you?

Grade seems to personify the idiocy of The Powrrs That Be, when you consider the truckloads of money we fans are happily willing to fork over for books, videos, audios, etc. for the greatest BBC creation. WHY WHY WHY WHY doesn't he get it????????? Give us Who, we give you money! Here, swim in this Olympic-size swimming pool filled to the top with our hard-earned cash because we love this show!
I just don't get it.

What is it, exactly, that you don't get?

Gotta agree with Will on this one. If "Who" had been a US show, it would have been marketed out the wazoo--spin offs, ties ins, and each season realeased in a boxed DVD set.

---
If "Who" had been a US show, it would have been marketed out the wazoo--spin offs, ties ins, and each season realeased in a boxed DVD set.
---
Or Berman and Braga would have wound up working on it, leading to the introduction of a rather attractive and well endowed assistant, then following that up with pointless, inconsistent stories relying on guest stars and old villains, and falling ratings.

Hang on a minute, didn't that happen right at the end of Peter Davisons' tenancy?

BTW, I'm a Peri fan. Whilst she may not have been the best assistant (Romana or Sarah Jane for that honour, IMO), she's a long way above Mel.
It's just incredibly obvious that some people were trying to kill Who off after Colin Baker took over. The uproar meant that they couldn't just kill it, so it was allowed to waste away.

As for boxed season sets, that'll probably happen eventually for the Key and Trial seasons. The Hartnell and Troughton eras are badly disrupted by missing stories (even a missing season in Troughtons era IIRC), and the number of people who would buy a season box set is probably below what would make it generally profitable. Plus the scattergun approach of releases would tend to mean the collectors would already have some stories in the seasons, and wouldn't automatically buy a box set if released.

Key is already out in a boxed DVD set; Trial was out in a boxed VHS set.

Even though some seasons are missing episodes, that's no reason for not sticking to the season format. And considering that I've seen boxed DVD sets of "Starsky and Hutch", "Knight Rider", and "Good Times", it's apparent that the market will bear any ••••.

The only excuse I can think of is that the price would be prohibitive. The US price for Key, for example, is over $100. I'm a die hard Who fan, but I'm not sure I'm ready to spend almost $3,000 on DVDs.

---
Key is already out in a boxed DVD set
---
Not in the UK it isn't.
Releases thus far
The Aztecs
Dalek Invasion Of Earth

Seeds Of Death
Tomb Of The Cybermen

Spearhead From Space
Three Doctors
Carnival Of Monsters

Ark In Space
Pyramids Of Mars
Robots Of Death
Talons Of Weng Chiang

Earthshock
Five Doctors
Resurrection Of The Daleks
Caves Of Androzani

Vengeance On Varos
Two Doctors

Curse Of Fenric
Rememberance Of The Daleks

The Paul McGann Tv Movie and the Peter Cushing Movies

What I don't get is why Grade hates Who so much when it's a cash cow for the BBC. He's a business man, isn't he governed by a love of money? Why hold a grudge against something that makes you rich and lets you keep your job? Surely he didn't 'like' every single series on the BBC, and wasn't obligated to like them or watch them; why should he care if others like a show he doesn't? The BBC must have gotten back every pound they ever put in to the series many times over. That's what I don't get.

The BBC is not in the business of making money. It is intended by its charter to provide varied and quality programming for all viewers. Whether it does this or not is a matter of some debate. BBC Worldwide is a separate arm of the BBC and is responsible for the money making from their products. How much overlap and influence exists between the two parts is also a matter of some debate.

A lot of series that are produced as DVD box sets have minimal extras and restoration work performed on them. Also, Doctor Who has very little ongoing story within a season so there's no pressing need to keep all the stories together. Releasing them individually allows a consistent purchase flow as people will find their favourite Doctors cropping up every few releases instead of having to wait for ages. If there was a season 22 box set it wouldn't sell very well. Because those stories will be released over a period of time people will buy them because paying x dollars for one story six times over, say, six years is less problematic than paying 6x dollars all at once for the lot.

The BBC doesn't make much money off the DW DVDs. It would make even less with box sets. Box sets with the new series is an entirely different discussion, though.

---
Because those stories will be released over a period of time people will buy them because paying x dollars for one story six times over, say, six years is less problematic than paying 6x dollars all at once for the lot.
---
And you don't notice how much you've spent until you actually sit down and work it out.

The BBC's remit (in short) is to inform, educate and entertain (and it doesn't do too bad a job in general). BBC worldwide is a subsidiary of the BBC which sells the programs produced by and for the BBC (and deals with the properties of those programs that belong to the BBC, which may not include merchandise, depending on how the contract was drawn up) around the world. But as Graham said, the BBC is not intended to make money, it has no shareholders and carries no (non-bbc at least) advertising. Every penny BBC Worldwide makes goes back into programs, and helps keep the license fee down (as much as it can do at least).

As for the reason for Michael Grade's opinion of Dr Who, well, that's his business. Maybe he got freightened by the daleks when he was young and it's scarred him mentally.

"What I don't get is why Grade hates Who so much when it's a cash cow for the BBC."

Michael Grade is perfectly entitled to like or dislike anything he wants. As you yourself ask of him later, why should we care whether he likes it or not?

I don't think for a moment that Grade's personal tastes towards Doctor Who have or will affect his attitude to the series to any undue degree. When he postponed season twenty-three it was from the professional belief that the series had become tired (and many fans agreed with this view at the time, even if they didn't agree with his response).

"He's a business man, isn't he governed by a love of money? Why hold a grudge against something that makes you rich and lets you keep your job?"

Don't you think this is a rather simplistic view of his professional role and character? I'll leave aside the fact that in no way could Doctor Who have been said to have made Grade rich; and that your argument seems to go against the very essence of the BBC as a public service broadcaster.

The fact is we're Doctor Who fans and we'd love Doctor Who even if it wasn't a commercial prospect. Yet you don't seem to want to offer that degree of leeway to Michael Grade or the BBC.

But isn't the BBC a business? And isn't it the very nature of a business to make money? They aren't producing shows because they're doing us a favour, they're doing it to make a profit by the end of the year. The BBC spends money making a show, then tries to make a profit by having advertisers pay them more money than they spent producing the tv show. At least that's what I understand it to be, as that's the case with the American networks; make money first, entertain next.
The money earned on DVDs, videos, books etc. is just icing on the cake.

Nope. The BBC is a publically-funded corporation chartered by the Crown. It raises revenue by an annual license fee and doesn't take advertising. The commercial exploitation of its properties is done via BBC Worldwide, which is a company in its own right.

Interesting; and here I thought tv networks in the UK and Canada and US were all alike. I stand corrected.
I still resent Grade, though. Hm. A 19-year grudge...must be a record for me.

Will, the closest thing to the BBC in the U.S. would be PBS (except they don't have to go begging to viewers as much). The ABC (in Oz) is funded by the government and works in a similar manner to the BBC. Both also provide national and regional radio networks, web news and orchestras. They are *not* meant to aim for the lowest common denominator as most commercial networks do which is why they show 'Doctor Who'

---
Will, the closest thing to the BBC in the U.S. would be PBS (except they don't have to go begging to viewers as much).
---
No, they just go begging to the government and get the license fee raised every year.

ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky (satellite and owned by News International) are all commercial broadcasters (although the BBC own at least part of Channel 5). There are also some cable broadcasters who are all commercial as well.

For more info on the BBC (as there was a Dr Who discussion around here somewhere ) start with http://www.bbc.co.uk

"although the BBC own at least part of Channel 5"

They do? It can only be a very minor stake.

Channel 4 also isn't a completely commercial broadcaster. It's partly funded by independent advertising revenue raised by the ITV channels but has a public service remit and isn't reliant on raising its own revenue. Also broadcasting legislation prevents commercial interests from broadcasting programme content on the mainstream commercial channels (though this has been both loosened and tightened over the years). A few years ago, Channel 4 was doing so well and ITV so badly, C4 found themselves in the unusual position of owing ITV money.

That might have been in Grade's time, he said, steering the conversation back Whowards...

Chris : "And you don't notice how much you've spent until you actually sit down and work it out"

True, but spending 3% of a salary every month is far less problematic that spending 20% in a single month. Rent, mortgage, food and other trivial things...

Channel 4, although a commercial channel, has a charter to show things that normally wouldn't be seen on commercial TV. A recent example would be something like 'Queer As Folk' which was written by RTD who is doing (ahem) the 9th Doctor which brings this thread back on topic

Okay, soooo...
Is ANYBODY making money from all those books and DVDs? Wouldn't Grade see some of it at any time? (Sorry to keep harping on this, but I had no idea British tv was like this.)

---
True, but spending 3% of a salary every month is far less problematic that spending 20% in a single month. Rent, mortgage, food and other trivial things...
---
That was my point

Who's making money? (sorry ) For the DVDs, Videos, Missing Episode CDs and so on BBC Worldwide to start with, which then gets pushed back into the BBC. Same for sales to foriegn countries, if it doesn't go straight into the BBC itself.

Merchandise, books, Big Finish Audios etc would be licensed from BBCWw, but the companies producing it would make a decent profit on it.
Some of the creators may also have various clauses in the contracts for use of certain properties (I'm thinking of Terry Nation's estate and the Daleks).

At most, as chairman, Grade would see an expenditure report split by production department (childrens, drama, comedy, current affairs etc), and possibly the overall accounts from BBCWw, although if he was inclined, he could ask for a more detailed report to be done.

I found this on Ananova about how he is going to approach the part...

"Dr Who to be played with 'emotion'

The actor playing the new Dr Who says he wants TV's time lord to show more "feelings and emotions" in a bid to move away from "spooky escapism".

Christopher Eccleston, who is to become the ninth Doctor, said that modern audiences "turn on the television to look into people's souls", the Daily Telegraph reported.

"That's basically what they're looking for, human feelings and emotions," he said. "The rest, really, is icing. Daleks and all that, is really just icing".

The BBC set out its intentions for a new-look Dr Who when Eccleston, 40, widely known for his roles in serious dramas, was named as the surprise choice as the fictional "Time Lord".

While Dr Who's new writer was announced as Russell T Davies, who penned the controversial Channel 4 drama Queer As Folk.

The series, which began 41 years ago and has been off screen since 1989, would be a radical departure from the Doctor's previously "foppish image", the BBC has indicated.

Eccleston said he best remembered Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker in the role and found the performance of Patrick Troughton as "compelling".

He said: "I hope that I'm going to go to that era a little bit, and give weight and ambiguity to it.

"I don't want to be involved in something that's just spooky escapism."

He revealed that he had been offered to play Dr Who in a film version eight years ago but turned it down because he did not want to be type-casted through the part."


Not sure what I think about this - I quite liked the 'spooky escapism'...

Whilst of course Eccleston is God and every word he says is Divinely-Inspired Truth, nonetheless, as a mere unenlightened humanoid, I'm all in favour of spooky escapism, and the last thing the Doc needs is to go round emoting all over the place. Especially since it's pretty clear (the Telegraph wasn't the only one reporting on this, in fact I don't think there was a daily paper in Britain that didn't carry this as a major news story, often on the front page) that the emotion he has in mind is melancholy. The Doctor is - boo, hoo - an exile, an outsider, and for some reason Eccleston thinks he should be UNHAPPY about this.

OK, so a depression-ridden Doctor would be one way of distinguishing the Ninth Doctor from his predecessors (unless you count the angst of the NAs). And I'd far rather the Doctor expressed his brand-new emotions by being a miserable git than - as I'd previously feared after Eccleston's mischievous comments about 'two hearts to break' - by lusting after his Companion, but...how FUNNY is the Doctor going to be if he's so bloody unhappy all the time?

And frankly I've never met anyone who switched on the telly in order to look into people's souls.

But of course it goes without saying that I'm totally wrong and God is right and I look forward to making a full, grovelling apology on this board in 2005 after Eccleston's suicidal Time Lord has proven himself to be the greatest Doctor EVER. After Tom Baker, obviously.

"The Doctor is - boo, hoo - an exile, an outsider, and for some reason Eccleston thinks he should be UNHAPPY about this."

And thus forgetting again that the Doctor is an alien, and we have seen before that he doesn't have the same emotional concerns as us humans...

I'd hate to see him lose that. It just wouldn't be the Doctor.

Yeah, the whole POINT about the Doctor (OK, one of the numerous whole points about the Doctor) is that he LOVES being an exile (and, given what Gallifrey's like, who wouldn't - no wonder about 99% of its population become Renegades) and he loves being on the run from his own people in a rickerty old TARDIS.

But hey, maybe the Ninth Doctor'll just be suffering a mid-life crisis. He'll get over it.

Am I right in thinking that the first story is going to be an Auton story? I read on Sky News that it would involve 'the automatons' - is that the autons?

Can't wait if it is...

You're right Alice, the Autons will open the season.

I wonder which versions, the Spearhead or Terror ones or maybe a new version. I'd guess they'd go for Spearhead but I would like to see the Terror ones.

Hmm, that's interesting. Too bad I haven't seen an Auton story yet!!

OK, the GOOD news is that Our Hero has won a libel case! AND given the money to charity! That should teach people to claim that he gets violent when told to play sexually impotent characters! (Which is just as well, in the circumstances...)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3849995.stm

The bad news is that it's a sports charity. After Davison spent three years wandering around in cricket gear, I'd just as soon avoid any sports-mad Time Lords in future.

So what do people think of the costume? If you CAN call it a costume when it's so bloody ordinary. I don't actually mind too much - I'm too thrilled seeing a Doctor, a real live DOCTOR. Plus the fact that most other Docs may have needed frilly shirts or ultra-long scarfs to show that they were a bit weird, but Eccleston just LOOKS so much like an alien such things are superfluous.

Can you give a link to the costume, Emily? I haven't seen it yet ... I guess I've been off in la-la land. Thanks.

Sorry, have only just noticed you say that...try:

http://www.futurenet.com/sfx/features/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=31941&subsectionid=1201

What's really irritating is that even when they're off in the god-knows-what century, ROSE gets to wear period dress, and the Doc's still wandering around in that leather jacket.

Ah, thanks, Emily. Yes, everyone in 1870s garb and the Doctor looks curiously out of place ...

Imagine that... it's not like the Sixth Doctor ever looked out of place in his costume, is it?

The Sixth Doctor looked kinda normal on Necros, yes?

I LIKE the Doctors looking out of place. It's just that they're supposed to look out of place in a MORE flamboyant way that the world around them, not less.

I can just about accept the production team wanting to ditch the Edwardian gear and shove the poor Doc into a leather jacket most of the time, but here's a heaven-given opportunity to see our Ninth Doctor in old-fashioned garb like all his predecessors, and we are deprived of that joy...

And yes, the Sixth Doctor was vastly improved on Necros, if not quite as much as when he appears in the Big Finishes.

I can just about accept the production team wanting to ditch the Edwardian gear and shove the poor Doc into a leather jacket most of the time, but here's a heaven-given opportunity to see our Ninth Doctor in old-fashioned garb like all his predecessors, and we are deprived of that joy...

I have to agree ... The Fourth Doctor donned the deerstalker and whatnot in "Talons" ... why not the Ninth in wherever-they-are?

What would happen if he ever visited a nudist camp?

*Icy glare* the Doctor would NEVER visit a nudist camp!

And if he did, he'd carry on with his anachronistic clothes, the same as always.

(NB: the occasional dressing up in kilts and deerstalkers and suchlike does not count as trying to blend in. On the contrary.)

When did he wear a kilt???

"Terror of the Zygons" if I remember correctly.

Wow, I totally missed that (must now see episode!).

Just be warned that seeing the Doctor AND the Brigadier in kilts is the only worthwhile thing about this story.

Oh I don't know - the scottish landscape is pretty fab to look at.

It successfully distract me from the story - I consider it one of my faves.

Dinosaur back projection notwithstanding, of course!

I've seen the photo; does this mean that that is the Ninth Doctor's 'look', or was it just a production photo of Eccleston on the set? If this is the Doctor's new look then all I have to say, as I quote the Peri and the Sixth Doctor...'Yuck.'

It would seem to be his look.

The negative reaction to the idea that the Doctor might dress like someone normal (which of course he did up until 1979) is quite odd. I suppose as fans we've been exposed to so many frock coats, bad wigs and question mark pullovers (and let's not even mention Colin) that anything more restrained comes across as incredibly eccentric.

that anything more restrained comes across as incredibly eccentric.

Which I guess is the point.

Well, exactly! The Doc's an eccentric - that's his entire raison d'etre (the saving planets stuff is just a sideline). And people need to just be able to take one look at him and KNOW how eccentric he is. Luckily - as I've already said - Eccleston looks a bit weird at the best of times, but all the same - would a long scarf or a frock coat really hurt?

The negative reaction to the idea that the Doctor might dress like someone normal (which of course he did up until 1979) is quite odd.

WHAT! That stovepipe hat was NORMAL?! That length of scarf had EVER been seen on Earth before? Men have a tendency to wander round in frilly shirts and silk-lined capes? First I've heard of it.

Agreed, but not only that, but the Doctor has never truly looked like he belonged where he landed, or what was in style for the year the show was on, because viewers didn't wear Edwardian coats like the First and Second Doctors. The Third, Fourth, and Seventh Doctors wore outfits that were just within what someone in our real world could wear, but they were still different in their own way.
I, myself, will wear a leather jacket, weather permitting, and will see other men wearing them at various times throughout the year. To see the Doctor dressed like 'us' is a let down, and frankly, shows a lack of creativity, in my opinion, of either the producers or wardrobe people. I don't want to see a return of the crazy Sixth's Doctor style, but something that shows his uniqness and difference from humans (not just aliens) is a rudimentary character trait.

Hear, hear. Either the Doctor will have to risk being mistaken for *shudder* a normal person, or he'll have to ACT extra-eccentric to make up for his boring clothes. Which runs the risk of being highly embarrassing.

Incidentally, my memory was playing tricks on me and the Doctor (unlike the Brig) was sadly kilt-less for Zygons. He just wore tartan hats and scarfs and things.

He's got a sonic screwdriver!!!

http://www.gallifreyone.com/picview.php?ret=newstv&sub=whophotos&id=promopic0105.jpg

Good eye, Emily. I saw the picture earlier and didn't notice that.

In some highly disappointing news Eccleston has announced that he won't be reprising the role of The Doctor in the second series because he's afraid of being typecast.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4395849.stm

The sooner he realizes he's already typecast, the better it will be for all involved.

Highly disappointed? I'll MURDER the bastard. How DARE he ruin my joy in the new series...BOTH new serieses...just when I'd decided he was the second-best Doctor EVER. Didn't the BBC write anything into his contract saying he had to play the bloody part for a few more years whether he liked it or not?

I agree, it is amazing that the BBC only did a one year contract with him. Very short-sighted.

On the bright side the TENTH Doctor might not have a brushcut and a black leather jacket, and might actually look a little more eccentric. I wonder if Eccleston will do a regeneration scene? I was kinda hoping they could have put a running thread through this series saying how he couldn't remember how he regenerated from his Eighth incarnation, which could allow the occasional flashback scene starring Paul McGann.

I agree, it is amazing that the BBC only did a one year contract with him.

Well, we all know that BBC lawyers have all the intelligence of a really thick Ogron. They let the BBC sell Doctor Who to so many different companies that no-one knew who had the right to make it any more...delaying a new series by god knows how long...AND the cowardly scum removed all named arms-dealing companies from Interference. All the same...amazing isn't in it. Can we sue 'em?

On the bright side the TENTH Doctor might not have a brushcut and a black leather jacket, and might actually look a little more eccentric.

A week ago no-one would have agreed faster than me that the Doc needed a good scarf or two. Tragically I now realise that our Ninth Doctor simply doesn't NEED such outward appearances of eccentricity. He LOOKS alien, he ACTS alien...he is utterly perfect, utterly Doctorish just as he is. ******* git.

I was kinda hoping they could have put a running thread through this series saying how he couldn't remember how he regenerated from his Eighth incarnation

The books'll probably deal with such matters. Though they'd better get a move-on.

The BBC only had a one-year contract because they only had one confirmed season - you can't give an actor a contract for two years if you're not even sure there'll be another season! (which was the case when he signed on)

Actually it's perfectly possible to contract an actor for two years even if you only have one confirmed series. They simply contract them for one year with an option on the second that can be exercised if its commissioned.

For example, when it started in 1963 Doctor Who was supposed to be in production for 52 episodes (though it ended up as 54 in the first block!) However, when the leads were cast only four weeks had been confirmed. Consequently there were about three further options built into the contracts taking them up to the full year's worth (all of which were eventually exercised - obviously! - as more episodes were commissioned).

In the US TV world it's typical for lead actors to be contracted for up to seven years, even on series that have no chance of getting beyond a pilot. Paul McGann is said to have signed a five year contract for the TVM, but obviously the options beyond the pilot were never taken up.

Since this is standard practice, either Eccleston was deliberately issued with an option-free contract, allowing him to renew or walk at his leisure; or he came to a mutual understanding with the BBC in advance that they wouldn't exercise his option after the first series, even if a further season was commissioned.

And recent BBC reports suggest that the 'he came to a mutual understanding with the BBC' explanation is the likeliest. Then the BBC messed up by panicking when the redtops started reporting that the Ecc was leaving, issued a statement without consulting him and the rest is history...

What about this; in the next season we just go back in time and start over with Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor? We wouldn't ignore the Ninth's tenure, we'd just be popping back into the Doctor's timeline to show number eight's adventures. Then when McGann is finished years from now, we get to see the Tenth Doctor, whoever that is. Just give a truck load of money to McGann to come back; it's a show about time travel, so who says it has to show the Doctor's life in chronological order?

Will, I was just going to post exactly the same idea. You beat me to it!

Too bad about Eccleston leaving. From what little I've seen (just the clips on the BBC website) he's an excellent Doctor. He's got Tom's eccentricity, Peter's vulnerability, Colin's intesity, Sylvester's and Patrick's humor, and I'm sure I'd see a little Hartnell somewhere if an American network or cable station would buy the freakin' show!

Oh, I forgot to menton Jon Pertwee in my above post. Definately some Pertwee charm too.

Also the Pertwee rudeness and arrogance and contempt for humanity. Adorable.

I'd love to see McGann back, but I don't see the BBC going for a failure-tainted Doctor* just to keep the fans happy.

*Not that I'm in any way implying it was his fault! Though of course his performance pales before the glory that is the black-hearted Eccleston.

If he's black-hearted all we need is for Sabbath to come along and remove it for him...

Spoilers for anyone who wasn't yet watched any of the new series.

Overall, I like CE. But one thing I'm not so happy with is his inability to save the day. In Rose, he was caught by Autons and Rose had to save him. He may help out a bit in The End of the World, but it's Dickens whose bright idea of turning on the gas that destroys the house and seals the rift, and the servant who willingly sacrifices her life by lighting the match--events that wouldn't have had to happen if the Doc9 hadn't been suching a trusting dufus. And when an alien spacecraft crashes into Big Ben and the Thames in the latest episode, what does he do? Channel surf the TV watching news reports. He could have used his UNIT pass or the slightly psychic paper to get in and see what was really happening since he doesn't seem to believe what he says about this being first contact. And this after getting so exciting up on the rooftop.

Come on, Doctor. Interfere again, for old time's sake!

If he's black-hearted all we need is for Sabbath to come along and remove it for him...

Yes! Where's that git Sabbath when you need him?

But one thing I'm not so happy with is his inability to save the day

I love the way he screws up all the time. Though now you mention it it IS about time the Doc did some serious planet-saving (even HARTNELL had a better record after his first few stories). However - given that the moronic scumbag* is gonna get himself KILLED in a few weeks - don't hold your breath about him suddenly developing any competence.

*I'd like to make it clear I'm talking about Mr C Eccleston here and not, in any way, my beloved Ninth Doctor.

Wow, Emily! Mr. Eccleston seems to be replacing Colin Baker in your doghouse!

I'm number 8 on Emily's list of Favourite Doctor actors! I'm number 8! Yeeeaaaaa!

But it's not really a promotion, Colin. You've been number 8 for years.

I deeply regret to inform Colin Baker that - notwithstanding his fine audio performances, not to mention my intense desire to rip Christopher Ecclestraitor's ears off - he remains my least favourite Doctor. Ever. If it's any consolation, however, his ears are safe.

*whimper!*








<<<< me.

A good spoof on Dead Ringers tonight, with Christopher Eccleston ("Ah come from the North me, I have Northern blood, I AM THE NORTH INCARNATE!!!...but ah don't like to go on about it") doing a Billy Elliot-style facing up to his family that he's going to appear in Doctor Who...his family all being diehard Northern Trekkies...

I've never understood the idea that fans of one scifi series hate other scifi. I watch, and enjoy, most scifi. Doctor Who is my current favorite, but I also watch Star Trek, Star Wars, Stargate, Farscape, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, etc.... I just don't get the animosity.

Well speaking as someone who's apathetic to most other sci-fi shows and movies, I think it's the fans and not the shows that polarize each other. Sometimes it just takes one geeky fan to make you not want to be a fan yourself.

It all just boils down to personal taste. For me, Star Trek was my "gateway drug" to science fiction fandom, and then on to Doctor Who. Over the years my love of Trek has waxed and waned, but I've remained a constant fan of the Doctor.

Doctor Who turns out stuff of more consistent quality, which is quite amazing considering that it's probably actually output at least as much quantity as Star Trek over the years. Of course, it helps that it's flexible: you can change the Doctor, the Companions, you can go to any planet, any time, you have a wide variety of longstanding villains plus you have an excuse for having Enemies Of The Week that you never see again...etc.

I guess it's our 'geeky' way of laying claim to what we perceive as the better product. Sorta like when someone in your own city likes a different baseball/football/hockey team, and your mouth drops open and you stare at them incredulously, and ask, "But whyyyy???" Personally, I'm with Merat; I like alot of sci-fi series and don't understand why we can't all get along. Picking my favourite show between my two favourite series is like choosing one kind of pizza over the other-- really tough.

Well, as far as I'm concerned, Doctor Who is so blatantly the supreme achievement of the human race that one must pledge one's eternal devotion, and watching ANYTHING else is not merely entirely pointless, it's tantamount to infidelity. (I.e. don't do it, or if you do, for god's sake don't admit to it.)

I gather, however, that this is not a particularly common view amongst the saner sections of fandom...

Different strokes, I guess. Apparently some people are completely enraptured with "Farscape" or either version of "Battlestar: Gallactica", none of which do anything for me.

That new Galactica monstrosity? Augh. This is where I take on the personality and opinion of Emily and question why ANYBODY would like it. It really rubs me the wrong way, and should have been produced as a new series completely apart from any Galactica references.
Then I'd just hate it as a separate series.

Ditto to infinity.

Did anyone else see Top Gear on Sunday? CE was this week’s driver of the ‘reasonably priced car’ and I had to snigger when Clarkson put his time up on the board under the name “Doctor Who”. So much for Chris’ determination not to be typecast!

I thought that was brilliant, also the way Clarkson kept (perhaps on purpose) calling him 'Doctor' rather than Christopher, they phased in the Reasonably Priced Car as though it were the TARDIS, and Clarkson complained about his children waking him up at 4am about the monsters...

Previously on Top Gear they had a Fastest Sci-fi Enemy competition, where the Reasonably Priced Car was driven by Darth Vader, a Klingon and a Cyberman (although the Cyberman spun off the track when the TARDIS materialised in front of the car), but at the end of the competition the Daleks turned up to compete, discovered they couldn't fit in the car, and angrily EX-TER-MIN-ATED all the other competitors...

Re:Star In a Reasonably Priced Car...
Did anyone notice they had to get one of the 41 Automatic Suzuki Lianna's that had been sold in the U.K...?
(Reason, CE's driving licence restricts him to only drive vehicles with Automatic Transmission, & the vehicle normally used has a
Manual Gearbox...).
Mind you, will Clarkson accept Chris's challenge...?
(Basically, Chris has challenged Clarkson, that he could run a Marathon faster than Clarkson could drive it, given typical London traffic/road conditions on the course...).

OK, this is going to make me sound like the saddest fan in the world, but...any chance of a multiple Doctor story? Thanks to recent Doctors having the average lifespan of a mayfly, we could round up three of the creatures (Tennant, the Ecc, and McGann) without a moment's worry about the ageing process, let alone about the creation of 3-D decapitated heads.

And they're bringing back Sarah and K9, for heaven's sake! So why not our beloved Ninth Doctor? And I'm sure McGann would leap at the chance - he could get rid of that 'Lazenby' label. (Plus he does Big Finishes, for god's sake, the man can't have much pride.)

Peter Davison looks older than when he was the Doctor of course, but not more so than Troughton did in The Two Doctors.

And who knows what they could do with CGI. Perhaps all the Doctors could meet up, using bits from previous episodes. A storyline like The Eight Doctors should certainly be possible, though it's hardly one worth copying.

I doubt if Eccleston is up for it though, for much the same reason as Tom Baker declined to appear in the Five Doctors. He's only just left. Somewhere down the road, maybe.

Yeah, but Tom had 'only just left' after putting in long and faithful service for SEVEN GLORIOUS YEARS.

And even somewhere down the road Eccleston would probably demand twice what all the other Docs got. Unless *she says hopefully* his career dies a hideous and lingering death since bet-, er, leaving Doctor Who.

Did Eccleston ever save the world? I mean, EVER?

SPOILERS for new series (obviously):

Rose - Rose saves the world (admittedly with anti-plastic the Doctor created).

The End of the World - the Doc manages (with Jabe's help, and what with her dying in the process I reckon SHE deserves the credit) to save a few of the bunch of super-rich ******** on the space station. However the world, well, ends.

The Unquiet Dead - Dickens and Gwyneth save the world between them. After the Doctor causes the alien invasion in the first place.

Aliens of London/World War III: Mickey-the-idiot saves the world (admittedly with a bit of guidance from the Doc).

Dalek: Rose and the Dalek save the world. The Doctor does little but flee in terror, lock his Companion up with a Dalek in terror, and point a dirty great gun at his Companion in terror.

The Long Game: Cathica saves the space station (the Doc may just have given her a hint, but given that this leads directly to the economic, social and political collapse of planet Earth, he gets nil points).

The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances: Nancy and her unfortunate accident save the world by hugging. Steve Moffat has assured me that the Doctor pysched them into it - and therefore deserves full world-saving credit - but I'm not convinced. Given that two minutes earlier the Doc was giving us the full 'Nozzing in ze vorld vill stop zem noooooooooow!' treatment (albeit minus the German accent).

Boom Town: The - ahem - TARDIS heart saves the day.

Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways - Rose and the TARDIS heart save the day. After the Doctor completely chickens out of doing so.

Look, I love this Doctor. More than any other. But he's a teeny bit...useless.

I noticed you skipped over 'Father's Day.' Wise move. To me, this is the worst example of the ineffectual Doctor. He gets himself killed (or whatever) and isn't even around for the story's resolution.

My fear, and I've probably said this before, is that this is not a trait of the Ninth Doctor but of RTD, and the Tenth Doctor will be just as ineffectual. Hope I'm wrong of course.

I noticed you skipped over 'Father's Day.' Wise move.

Omigod, how could I forget about Father's Day!!!!!!!!! Yes, that was the most worrying one - where the Doctor SAYS he doesn't have a clue as the whole of humanity is wiped out around him, and yet MUST know (cos even PETE TYLER can work it out) that Rose's dad going squish would solve everyone's problems. Yet the Doc keeps his gob shut, relying on the ludicrous and hitherto unsuspected ability of the TARDIS to materialise around its key (?! not that I'm complaining, at least in comparison to what the TARDIS gets up to at the end of Boom Town and Parting of the Ways) before getting gobbled up by monsters.

Not that it's entirely Eccleston's fault he actually goes as far as getting himself killed - he couldn't have spelt 'DON'T - TOUCH - THE - BABY' out to Rose in louder words of one syllable if he'd tried. But then he's gotta accept responsibility for choosing another stupid ape...

My fear, and I've probably said this before, is that this is not a trait of the Ninth Doctor but of RTD, and the Tenth Doctor will be just as ineffectual.

Actually, Tennant looks the part for ineffectual. This isn't supposed to be an insult - he's just so...young. And sweet. And vulnerable-looking. He'd do ineffectual adorably, whereas Eccleston seemed more like the ultra-tough 'Not my problem if I happen to torture you to death' Doctor, so it took me quite a while to notice how hopeless he was. (In the world-saving sense obviously, he was such a *sob* fantastic Doctor in every other conceivable way *wails* WANT HIM BACK WANT HIM BACK WANT HIM BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!)

Anyway, I reckon RTD'll be so desperate to come up with new-but-traditional traits for our Tenth Doctor (having used up all possible permutations of Doctorly greatness on the ungrateful Eccleston) that he'll HAVE to have him saving the world. And travelling to alien planets. And stuff.

I'm worried about two things in the new series; (1) The "Peter Davison" effect (i.e., the Doctor looks too young to be taken seriously), and (2) the return of not one but two original series companions (can the Brig be far behind?).

Davison's problem was the coupling of his being too young with his (character) being too human. The human, vulnerable Doctor was a good idea that maybe would've been better suited for a different actor. If Tennent retains the 'alieness' of Doc9 (or 1, 2, 7, etc), he may pull it off.

As for two companions, at least we're getting them in one shot so if it sucks, it's just one story. (Isn't it? They're not joining the TARDIS again, right?) They did a good thing by not bringing them back in the first year. And they did an excellent job of beinging back the Daleks. Every Dalek story since Destiny was a continuation of some sort of the previous Dalek story. The new ones leapfrogged all that and brought back a 60s feel, yet totally updated them as well. I suspect the Cybermen will be have some retro element as well. (Hopefully they'll be unemotional again, not based on the passionate JN-T variety.)

2) the return of not one but two original series companions

Oh, c'mon, you know you want to see Sarah and the little tin doggie again! And if you'd had the supreme joy and happiness of seeing the new series, you wouldn't worry too much. Russell T God has trodden an UTTERLY AMAZINGLY PERFECT line between wooing the kids and weird normal non-Whovian people and making the fans very, very, very happy indeed.

Davison's problem was the coupling of his being too young with his (character) being too human.

Yes - and what with Russell T God being, well, God, not to mention a True Fan, I suspect he'll have worked this out for himself, and not repeat any of the mistakes made the last time the Greatest Doctor Ever In The History Of The Universe was succeeded by someone who looked ridiculously young.

If Tennent retains the 'alieness' of Doc9 (or 1, 2, 7, etc), he may pull it off.

Yup, still in agreement - and still thinking we're on pretty safe ground. Looks like the TARDIS will continue to pop back to see Mickey n'Jackie every two minutes. Given that the Ninth Doctor had to offset such domesticity by being unprecedentedly alien and - just to be on the safe side - declaring 'I don't do domestics' every two minutes, I suspect our Tenth Doctor will be doing something similar.

They're not joining the TARDIS again, right?

Nope, just the one episode.

God, it's weird, didn't they try to get Sarah back for the Key to Time? And it's taken...well, I'm not even gonna THINK about how many more years to happen...

The new ones leapfrogged all that and brought back a 60s feel, yet totally updated them as well.

How true, how true. *Rapturous sigh* Any fool could tell that they and the Doctor had a loooooong history, but that just provided a rich and tantalising background for newbies rather than making 'em feel like the ignoramuses they are. (Especially as even WE didn't get to see the Dalek/Time Lord War stuff, *sob*.)

I suspect the Cybermen will be have some retro element as well. (Hopefully they'll be unemotional again, not based on the passionate JN-T variety.)

Only problem is, RTD claimed that the DALEKS had all their emotions surgically removed. So if - in their Dalek-less second series - they suddenly produce the Cybermen and say exactly the same thing about THEM, the public might think that Cybermen are just imitation Daleks without the having-to-pay-quarter-of-a-million-quid rights issues.

OK, so both Eccleston AND Tennant have been nominated for Best Actor for the Broadcasting Press Guild Programme Awards 2006. I feel as confused as a Dalek being talked to death by Sylvester McCoy. Who am I supposed to support??? On the one hand, Eccleston is the Love of My Life AND his victory would be a purely Whovian triumph (Tennant is nominated for Who AND other stuff) - on the other hand, Tennant is our utterly adorable current Doctor who would never DREAM of betraying and abandoning us.

Ah but, what if the lovely David is so hurt and betrayed by us not voting for him that he goes off and leaves as well....????

I say give it to Chris, since David can always win the award in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010...

what if the lovely David is so hurt and betrayed by us not voting for him that he goes off and leaves as well....????

He never would!!! He's a FAN!!!!!!!! My god - this must be the first time the Doctor AND Executive Producer are We instead of Not-We. WE'VE DONE IT! Who fans have finally taken over the world! At least, the only bit of the world that matters...

I say give it to Chris, since David can always win the award in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010...

He'd BETTER. But why should we give Ecclestraitor any more awards when he hasn't bothered turning up to collect any of the Who-related ones already bestowed on him? (Has he ANY IDEA of how long I spent on the Net ticking Ecc-related boxes to get him one of those awards?)

So the Doctor swaps Captain Jack's Villenguard-made weapon for a banana. This is surpising in itself - the Ninth Doc is not noted for a) carrying around pieces of fruit (so unlike his successor), b) healthy eating (it's chips, chips, chips with him) or c) any sort of food-supplying efficiency (having to land on Earth every time he needs a pint of milk, not to mention having an empty TARDIS (Christmas Invasion). And then there's the fact that (unless he's lying through his teeth, of course) this banana JUST HAPPENS to be from the grove on the site of the former weapons factories of Villenguard. This can only mean one thing:

The Ninth Doctor has capacious pockets!

THE MOST capacious pockets since TOM BAKER!!

Or, as Alien Bodies would put it, he is at one with the lining of his leather jacket!!!

Yes, at last we have conclusive proof that he is - sorry, WAS - so totally the perfect Doctor. *Sob*

(And, of course, this means the Doctor actually took the trouble to go back and check his handiwork a few years later. This is uncharacteristic for ANY Doc, let alone Mr 'I hate clearing up, this is me swanning off' Eccleston.)

Y'know, following my New Earth experience I caught sight of my darling Eccy on the cover of my prominently-displayed Shooting Scripts...and found myself wondering 'What's with the stupid short hair? No Doctor should have hair that short!' I'm thinking that this could be a hopeful sign that I'm onto the second stage of my recovery from Eccleston (the first stage being falling in love with David Tennant). Obviously a full recovery is impossible - Christopher Eccleston will always be THE Doctor, his thirteen episodes will always be humanity's only glimpse of perfection - but I feel as if my gaping wounds are finally beginning to scar over. (Alright, hideous pus-filled kind of scars, but nonetheless a start...)

As long as it's Doctor Who, you're incorrigibly fickle, Emily. I can remember when you liked the NAs. ;-)

And when Tom Baker was THE Doctor for her. :-)

*Pouts* It's quite understandable that I believed Tom Baker to be the apogee of Doctorly evolution. (I still can't work out how the HELL Eccleston managed to surpass him. He doesn't even have a scarf!) And it's not like I didn't wait a decent quarter-century interval before I got over him...

Ever liking the NAs is harder to justify...do you have any proof of this allegation...?

"Christmas on a Rational Planet", maybe?

I just went back and reread your old reviews of the NAs. You had good things to say about "The Dying Days", "The Also People", and, of course "Damaged Goods" (by one Russell T. Davies).

I am in awe of the lengths to which you're prepared to go to win an argument. That really was above and beyond the call of duty. I feel bad having to point out that approving of FOUR books out of 61 gives a six-point-something-or-other percentage of Emily-approved NAs, i.e. DEFINITELY not enough to claim that I once LIKED the things.

I just quickly skimmed the NA boards and pulled out those 4. You don't really want me to go back and count them all, do you? Heck, I'm willing to go out on a limb (without checking) and state that you liked a few of the MAs, too.

Hey, i just got back from the Davison board and thought I would pop the question here. Does Christopher Ecc's Doctor sweat as well? Could we see Emily's theory of a no-sweating Doctor put to dust again?

I just quickly skimmed the NA boards and pulled out those 4. You don't really want me to go back and count them all, do you?

No of course I don't! That's why I was so shocked when I thought you HAD.

Heck, I'm willing to go out on a limb (without checking) and state that you liked a few of the MAs, too.

Wrong!

Does Christopher Ecc's Doctor sweat as well?

I don't remember him sweating. Crying and foaming at the mouth is another matter, of course.

Possibly when Jade burnt up.

Oh, so that's how it's going to be....

The Romance of Crime: "..it’s a pleasantly traditional tale.."

The Empire of Glass: after a few negative coments, you said "Still, plenty of good moments, especially on the Doctor’s Chairmanship."

The English Way of Death: a few nits, then "Oh well…it’s fun, anyway."

The Plotters: "A good book, especially the portrayal of Hartnell"

A Device of Death: "...this book actually works rather well."

Yes, I know these aren't rave reviews, and that you hated some other MAs with a deep burning passion. I'm just making the point that it's not all bad, and it DID sustain us in those long, Doctor-less years. Don't turn your back on the books just because the new series is so marvelous.

Actually, I turned my back on the books even as I was reading them. They really were rather bad. And utterly pointless. Even in my advanced state of Who-deprivation (and don't forget my desperation was such as to drive me to adore the TELEMOVIE, for god's sake) I could spot their utter unworthiness to bear the sacred name of Who a mile off.

And even had I fallen for the books during those sixteen barren, pointless years...why SHOULDN'T I turn my back on them now due to new series gloriousness? Reading those books and listening to those audios (the vast majority of them, anyway, she says hastily, to spare Mike the bother of trawling through hundreds more reviews) were like drinking your own urine. I.e. something you only did cos you were dying of thirst. Not something you'd do when a 13-course scrumptuous banquet was set before you for your delectation.

Having said that, I really miss my fix of written Who rubbish every month. (Can't wait to get my hands on the TDAs.) And I'm bizarrely grateful that Big Finish are continuing to churn out complete **** on a regular basis...

Have to report that my rehabilitation got a bit of a set-back. I was just basking in the post-Tooth and Claw glow of sheer unadulterated happiness - with Doctor Who Confidential going on in the background - when what did they do but show a few Empty Child clips. Immediately I'm back to square one and feeling like pointing a sonic screwdriver at someone and roaring 'GIVE HIM BACK TO ME!'

Maybe you should check your medication? It's all good now, Emily, no need to spend all this time worrying about missing #9.

I KNOW. And I'm trying, I'm really trying, but...

HE LEFT ME MUM HE LEFT ME MUM.

So now he's all set to play Number 6 in a remake of the Prisoner. Supposedly he left DW because he was afraid of being typecast, but it looks like he might get typecast as a sci-fi revival lead.

What's next? Blake? That show's been supposed to come back for years as well.

Any Canadian and American fans of the tv series 'Heroes' should know by now that Eccleston is set to appear as a man that can turn invisible. No word whether or not he's a hero or a bad guy. Must take alot of power to hide those ears!

There's more information in this article. They talk about him at the very end. Mark your calendars: January 22

Well, that didn't work. Here's the link:

http://www.tvguide.com/News-Views/Interviews-Features/Article/default.aspx?posting={6D0C6401-84BA-43AC-8212-45653B68E469}

And since that link doesn't work either (unless you copy and paste the whole thing, click on "Heroes: A Preview of Tonight's Mid-season Cliff-hanger!" when you get to that page.

Try this.

You needed to put a backslash (\) in front of both the open and close braces. Like this:

...=\{....\}

Oh

Eccleston looks different from his Who persona with that beard and moustache, as well as the slightly longer hair. Also noted that one of his first lines was a very-Who-related, "Fantastic!" A nod to us Who fans, I believe.

Another Doctor Who reference on this weeks episode of Heroes;
Eccleston pushes Peter off a building, and Peter manages to survive it, thanks to absorbing the powers of Claire. Peter then attacks Eccleston shouting the only reason he was able to survive the fall was because he was able to regenerate, healing his wounds (but not changing his face like the Doctor).

For anyone who is interested, Christopher Eccleston has a long interview in the October issue of Starlog Magazine.

Huh. Any tearful pleas for forgiveness?

No but there is a quote- "There is this barmy lady from England called Emily who won't stop bugging me. She's left me phone messages, emails, even sent a strippergram to my house. Hard to understand why anyone would hire a stripper to sing "Are you sorry? Tell me you're sorry you sad little git". Strange, strange lady..."

*Innocent look* Not me, mate. Well, there must be THOUSANDS of English Emilies whose lives were thoroughly ruined by Ecclestraitor's swanning-off (well, thoroughly ruined till they fell in love with Tennant in Christmas Invasion, anyway). SOME of them would no doubt resort to strippergrams, but not me. For one thing I'm a feminist, and for another, 'sorry' isn't really sufficient for robbing the universe of its Greatest Doctor Ever. (I'm still meditating on a suitable punishment, but haven't come up with anything more fitting than the ear-removal option. No-one but a Doctor should have ears like that.)

On TV right now! In the first role I ever saw him in, the extremely hateable character he played in 28 Days Later...

Look for him in the film "Shallow Grave", with Ewan McGregor. His performance will make you cover your teeth in terror.

Or the RTD Second Coming.

I just found out yesterday when I saw this page that he'll be in the G.I. Joe movie. Neat.

God, he'd do ANYTHING, wouldn't he?

Except play the Doctor.

I just caught a repeat of "Rose" the other day and it made me pretty glad he's moved on to other things. His Doctor persona seems so forced.

Oh no! Mandy is going to face the wrath of Emily now!!!

Unless, of course, she still hasn't forgiven Eccleston.

I don't agree, but even if that's true, he would have grown into the part. McCoy did. Tom Baker did (albeit it by his second story). Pertwee's hair did.

Of course I haven't forgiven Eccleston!

And of course that's not gonna prevent me ripping Mandy into little pieces!

Eccy IS the Doctor! All the others are merely aspects of the Doc (admittedly utterly perfect aspects where Tom n'Tennant are concerned).

I will give Eccleston credit for the very important job of bringing the Doctor back from the cancelled. Without his successful portrayal, DW would have fallen back into the grave from which it came. And then he sensibly got out of the way for a real Doctor....

(Ah, the safety of Internet anonymity!)

I was checking the internet today as part of my traditional post-Super Bowl review of the best commercials, and was startled to see Christopher Eccelston is going to be Destro in the live-action "GI Joe" film. That almost (almost!) makes me want to see this movie.

Just for Emily: http://www.airlockalpha.com/node/7532

What the **** has ENJOYMENT got to do with the fact he was BORN to be the Doctor, and should be FORCED to be the Doctor till the day he DIES?

What the **** does he mean, CULTURE and ENVIRONMENT?

And given that said culture and environment have presumably changed due to this being the (slightly less) Glorious Moffat Era...does that mean he might consider a return for the 50th anniversary story...?

Well if he HADN'T left then we would never have received the joyous gift of 4 years of Tennanty goodness.

Of course if we had it YOUR way, we'd still have TB in his walking frame tripping up on his scarf...

Well if he HADN'T left then we would never have received the joyous gift of 4 years of Tennanty goodness.

Three-and-a-half years (the stingy git). And OF COURSE we would have received that joyous gift - Tennant was DESTINED to be our Tenth Doctor, he'd just have come to it a few years later...(Giving Matt Smith a few extra years to stop looking about nine.)

Of course if we had it YOUR way, we'd still have TB in his walking frame tripping up on his scarf...

Now, now, I'm a perfectly reasonable human being. If Tom had REALLY wanted to leave after, say, 30 years I wouldn't have stopped him...

Saw the movie 28 Days Later on AMC last night. Eccy was in it. He played, I suppose you could call it, one of the villians.

Moderator's Note: This was moved from the Season Six: A Christmas Carol thread:

Considering Who's ratings have slipped rather a make or break sounds like a bad idea, who knows tho Moffett can do it when he wants to. But I think he does better when he does his more classic style episodes compared to those that try and copy RTD's style. Talking of Eccy I saw a review of Accused (the show he's doing now)and he was described as the best actor but worst Doctor. At last someone agrees with me. BTW Emily I notice u always bring up Colin as the worst, he was the worst because they wasted a year trying to do something different that resulted in an epic fail, sound familiar? lol

Considering Who's ratings have slipped rather a make or break sounds like a bad idea

They haven't slipped THAT badly. And all Fans will be so desperate for more Who-y goodness we won't be TOO critical...and it'll be the best thing all Not We have ever seen, they just won't realise that Who could be so much better.

But I think he does better when he does his more classic style episodes compared to those that try and copy RTD's style.

Which episodes would you put into each category?

Talking of Eccy I saw a review of Accused (the show he's doing now)and he was described as the best actor but worst Doctor.

I saw that review too. What a cretin. (Actually I saw the Accused episode too, it just rubbed salt into my wounds, I'm no closer to working out why HE LEFT ME MUM HE LEFT ME MUM, least of all to play a miserable adulterous god-bothering in-debt plumber.)

BTW Emily I notice u always bring up Colin as the worst, he was the worst because they wasted a year trying to do something different that resulted in an epic fail, sound familiar? lol

I'm sorry, are you SERIOUSLY trying to claim that Season 1/27 was an 'epic fail'? The season that brought Who back in triumph and glory beyond our wildest dreams???

Of course it didn't exactly bomb we do still have Who. BUT Eccy was not well received by fans or critics alike and his season has new who's lowest ratings until Smiths era, and that can be justified as Tennant withdrawal and the beeb moving it all round the schedules they have lost a few million Emily that isn't exactly good. This Xmas specials ratings will be quite telling as they normally do very well. If it's under 10 million who might be in trouble.

As for old style vs new style, Time of the Angels two parter mostly classic who. the pandorica opens two parter new who. Especially the last episode with the wedding in (I forget the title).

I thought Ecclseton was very well received, although I suppose it would be hard to separate him from the fact that Who was actually back and in a big, well-done way, unlike the Telemovie.

I don't suspect anyone here will agree with me, but Eccleston remains my favourite New Series Doctor. (Okay, you can't actually argue that he's NOT my favourite New Series Doctor, but you know what I mean.) From 'Run!' I was completely convinced that he was the Doctor. He had quirky moments but didn't wallow in them. He had more emotional depth than all previous Doctors combined, and his switches from serious to quirky were organic and plot-driven. And scriptwise, RTD didn't need to try to top the previous series' finale.

Eccleston was the right actor to play the Doctor and I thought he did the job brilliantly. Tennant just came in and basically went one better. Had it not been for the work RTD and CE had done there would not have been a Tennant (or a Smith).

I'm sorry-I feel the only things Eccleston had in his favor were a cute companion(Rose), and the fact that this was the first new Who in 16 years. That and the question of-is New Who a continuation(STTNG) or a reboot(Lost in Space) were the only things his season offered.

I feel that Ecclston was-quite simply-the worst Doctor I have ever seen--and I've seen all the canon Doctors plus some non-canon ones(I think the Cushing films are mis-judged,and that the Rowan Atkinson(?) is funny).

He was useless-in 13 stories he was the hero in one(and in that one if he had moved a little faster he could have saved the tree he lusted after). What he tended to do is figure out the problem--and then yammer on until someone else(anyone else) takes the hint and sacrifices him/her/it self to stop the threat.

I found the mood swings and emotional depth felt phony-like an actor playing them, not a man feeling them.

About his companions-Colin Baker is hated for nearly killing Peri(although I feel there is a defense for that)-Eccy, on the other hand in 3 stories:

1) Nearly shot Rose(in Dalek)

2) Dumped Adam into a world he wasn't ready for, and when he fouled up(and got fast-talked into buying a computer hookup-ditched him in a place where it would destroy him(it would be kinder to have shot him).

3)Tried to ditch Rose(and the human race)19 years out of time-because he was too stupid to see that Rose planned to try to save her father(don't tell me it wasn't a ditch-the only thing that stopped him was that the inside of the TARDIS was missing).

I'm sorry-I'm venting.Eccy tends to do that to me-and as I've now said enough to tick off many people here-it's more than time to sign-out.

I do agree with the ineffectualness of the Doc9, something I complained about very much at the time.

his season has new who's lowest ratings until Smiths era

Well, YEAH. Season 1/27 had utterly fantastic ratings, but thanks to Eccy n'RTG's excellent foundation work, the figures for Who just crept up and up over the years as we managed to convert the Not We to Be Like Us. (Does anyone know if this is normal - do figures usually go up season-on-season, or down?)

This Xmas specials ratings will be quite telling as they normally do very well. If it's under 10 million who might be in trouble.

Paranoid though I am, I'm not that worried. Who is the only thing the BBC have going for them in their struggle with the Tory, sorry, Coalition Government. And they know it.

As for old style vs new style, Time of the Angels two parter mostly classic who. the pandorica opens two parter new who. Especially the last episode with the wedding in (I forget the title).

Interesting. Angels was, of course, an excellent two-parter, but basically consisted of running round caves/corridors. (And was a SEVERELY disappointing use of said Angels.) Whereas The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang was the only Season 5/31 story that actually wrung my heartstrings the way the RTG era did...all the time.

I thought Ecclseton was very well received,

•••• right he was. By ANY criteria, he was a glorious success. (And even if he hadn't been...the very PRESENCE of this heavyweight character actor ensured that all the people who'd spent decades sneering at Who finally had to take it seriously.)

I don't suspect anyone here will agree with me, but Eccleston remains my favourite New Series Doctor.

Ahem! You don't suspect anyone here will agree with you??????????????????? I betrayed TOM BAKER HIMSELF for the big-eared git, the least people should do is NOTICE that I love him, GOD how I love him...

...what d'you mean favourite New Series Doctor? You mean FAVOURITE DOCTOR, surely?

From 'Run!' I was completely convinced that he was the Doctor. He had quirky moments but didn't wallow in them. He had more emotional depth than all previous Doctors combined, and his switches from serious to quirky were organic and plot-driven.

*Nods so vigorously head is in danger of falling off*

Tennant just came in and basically went one better. Had it not been for the work RTD and CE had done there would not have been a Tennant (or a Smith).

Hear, hear. (Though I'm not sure about Tennant going one BETTER so much as merely managing to hang around for more than two minutes. And having really great hair. And being as near as fantastic as Eccy as makes no difference.)

I'm sorry-I feel the only things Eccleston had in his favor were a cute companion(Rose), and the fact that this was the first new Who in 16 years.

And the best scripts in Who history. And being the best Doctor in Who history...

That and the question of-is New Who a continuation(STTNG) or a reboot(Lost in Space) were the only things his season offered.

THAT was NEVER in question. A continuation, a TOTAL GLORIOUS CONTINUATION, pray do not mention this 'reboot' word in my presence again...

I feel that Ecclston was-quite simply-the worst Doctor I have ever seen--and I've seen all the canon Doctors plus some non-canon ones(I think the Cushing films are mis-judged,and that the Rowan Atkinson(?) is funny).

There...really isn't anything I can ARGUE with here. It's like slipping into a parallel universe where someone thinks Timelash is better than City of Death...

He was useless-in 13 stories he was the hero in one(and in that one if he had moved a little faster he could have saved the tree he lusted after). What he tended to do is figure out the problem--and then yammer on until someone else(anyone else) takes the hint and sacrifices him/her/it self to stop the threat.

Yeah - wasn't it FANTASTIC that RTG managed to find a whole new spin on the Doctor - strip away his primary purpose (world-saving) and you'd think he wouldn't be the Doctor any more...except that his intrinsic Doctorishness has never been more evident. It was as if Eccy WAS all the best parts of the previous (and subsequent) Doctors rolled into one. Distilled essence of Doctor.

I found the mood swings and emotional depth felt phony-like an actor playing them, not a man feeling them.

Whereas I thought it was blatantly obvious that Eccleston was the greatest actor of the lot. He completely altered my previous position (viz - forget this 'acting' nonsense, just pluck the right someone off a building site to BE the Doctor).

About his companions-Colin Baker is hated for nearly killing Peri(although I feel there is a defense for that)

Every (well, not Hartnell obviously) other Doctor suffered post-regenerative trauma, funnily enough none of 'em tried to throttle their Companions.

-Eccy, on the other hand in 3 stories:

1) Nearly shot Rose(in Dalek)

He never came within a million miles of shooting Rose! He was gonna shoot A DALEK and she happened to get in the way, whereupon...he didn't shoot. (Locking her up with a Dalek, THAT was Eccy's big, unforgiveable, out-of-character moment.)

2) Dumped Adam into a world he wasn't ready for, and when he fouled up(and got fast-talked into buying a computer hookup-ditched him in a place where it would destroy him(it would be kinder to have shot him).

He whisked a highly intelligent alien-fixated bloke off round time and space, gave him the freedom to explore, and when he couldn't take it, returned him home. Not exactly the crime of the century.

3)Tried to ditch Rose(and the human race)19 years out of time-because he was too stupid to see that Rose planned to try to save her father(don't tell me it wasn't a ditch-the only thing that stopped him was that the inside of the TARDIS was missing).

Come off it! Rose knew, I know, and Eccy admitted, that he'd never have left her.

I'm sorry-I'm venting.Eccy tends to do that to me-and as I've now said enough to tick off many people here-it's more than time to sign-out.

Nonsense, as long as you come up with REASONS to bash the greatest blessing ever bestowed on Who...vent away!

I do agree with the ineffectualness of the Doc9, something I complained about very much at the time.

Well, yes, even I had a whinge about it every now and then...making people better is a lovely new series idea, but Tennant managed to inspire everyone around him to save the world whilst managing to do it himself every now and then...

Lets try to avoid bringing the Adam argument up again but as we worked Adam is either in bits on an operating table, or living in a cave alone for the rest of his life I think it's very much the docs fault.

As for Rose he was only trying to blow up a Dalek that Rose had decided to befriend because it felt sorry about killing 200 people. By that time we were like "we get it Rose is a good companion you think she's the best thing since sliced bread now can we please have the doc save the day just this once?"

As for Adam i find it funny he kicks him out for recklessly endangering history by recklessly endangering history and keeps Rose who was responsible for 200 people being killed in the ep before and all of humanity and history in the episode after Adam leaves.

As for RTD putting a new spin on the doc the show has always been about the doc saving the day now that is a rule of the show no argument about that one, not something to be tossed aside.

As for RTD putting a new spin on the doc the show has always been about the doc saving the day now that is a rule of the show no argument about that one, not something to be tossed aside.

Rubbish. Hartnell couldn't save a grasshopper; thank god for Ian. The show eventually evolved to have the Doctor as pretty much the only savior around, but it started as an ensemble.

And let's not forget all the times he didn't save the day, as in "there should have been another way" Davison, or "oops, the Brigadier blew up the Silurians despite my telling him not to" Pertwee, or poetry-quoting Fang-Rock Baker.

Lets try to avoid bringing the Adam argument up again but as we worked Adam is either in bits on an operating table, or living in a cave alone for the rest of his life I think it's very much the docs fault.

Nonsense, he's living comfortably and reclusively at home glued to the Internet with his mother waiting on him hand and foot, like every other British male of his age.

As for Adam i find it funny he kicks him out for recklessly endangering history by recklessly endangering history and keeps Rose who was responsible for 200 people being killed in the ep before and all of humanity and history in the episode after Adam leaves.

I think the difference is that Rose was sorry about what she'd done.

Also, she was MUCH more attractive.

Do you really WANT the Doc to be some sort of robot? Treating Mel and Donna, for example, exactly the same...?

Rubbish. Hartnell couldn't save a grasshopper; thank god for Ian.

Hear, hear!

Um, I mean, pure slander! Hartnell COULD have saved a grasshopper if he'd wished. He just tended to think it would be more fun to jump up and down on said grasshopper whilst giggling insanely.

The show eventually evolved to have the Doctor as pretty much the only savior around, but it started as an ensemble.

Yeah. About Time suggests The Sensorites as the moment the Doctor finally evolved into a hero - after finding a cure for Ian and being offered his TARDIS lock back he FINALLY risked his life to solve a puzzle and save a race...with no self-interested motive.

Though obviously he continued to have every other adventure a non-planet-saving historical.

And let's not forget all the times he didn't save the day, as in "there should have been another way" Davison, or "oops, the Brigadier blew up the Silurians despite my telling him not to" Pertwee, or poetry-quoting Fang-Rock Baker.

To be fair, the Doc DID save Earth on all of those occasions (and don't let Rodney tell you otherwise).

To be fair, the Doc DID save Earth on all of those occasions (and don't let Rodney tell you otherwise).

To be fair, point out where I said he DIDN'T save Earth on any of those occasions...

To be fair, the Doc DID save Earth on all of those occasions

Earth yes, but "save the day" isn't the phrase I'd use, not to mention all the other times he's left a string of corpses behind him.

To be fair, point out where I said he DIDN'T save Earth on any of those occasions...

You did, however, tend to concentrate on...other aspects...than that of your skin (and every other human's) being heroically saved by our Doctor...

"save the day" isn't the phrase I'd use, not to mention all the other times he's left a string of corpses behind him.

But our poor darling almost invariably leaves a string of corpses behind him. If EVERYBODY LIVES! it's definitely a 'just this once' occasion.

(For starters, there's a string of burnt corpses the one-and-only time Eccy personally saves the day...)

Actually it's more likely the Daleks found Adam when they invaded Earth. They would have scanned for advanced tech.

Also don't knock doc 1, he did save the known universe from the Daleks in The Dalek's Master Plan. Doc 9 struggled to save a mere dozen. Tho to be fair he would have saved the day in Dalek, could have done in Journey's end and sort of did it in the doctor dances.

I think the doc would have gotten to save the day more if eccy hadn't quit and RTD didn't realise he was writing him as useless but that's no excuse lol.

Mere dozen people that is not universes lol.

Actually it's more likely the Daleks found Adam when they invaded Earth. They would have scanned for advanced tech.

Are you sure? Cos they didn't spot Torchwood until Harriet rather stupidly transferred control of the Subwave Network to it...despite having over a century's-worth of alien tech.

Also don't knock doc 1, he did save the known universe from the Daleks in The Dalek's Master Plan.

True, but I have a feeling that any other Doctor would have done so in considerably fewer than twelve episodes, and without conducting the biggest Companion-cull in Who history...

I think the doc would have gotten to save the day more if eccy hadn't quit and RTD didn't realise he was writing him as useless but that's no excuse lol.

Is NOT useless! Is just so unbelievably cool that merely breathing the same air as him (even when he's NOT deliberately gifting you with air from his lungs) is enough to turn ordinary people into universe-saving heroes in five minutes flat. (Well, that and, according to Eccy in Doctor Dances, psychology.)

Adam has the 200,000AD equivalent of a wireless hub in his head it would be a signal flare.

BTW they weren't companions Doc 1 lost they were just tag alongs for that story, it just felt like they were as it went on so long.

Isn't this page supposed to be about Christopher Eccleston?

Adam has the 200,000AD equivalent of a wireless hub in his head it would be a signal flare.

You'd think the Hub beaming billions of phone calls through time and space to the Doctor would also be a signal flare, but nope, the Daleks completely missed it...

BTW they weren't companions Doc 1 lost they were just tag alongs for that story, it just felt like they were as it went on so long.

I couldn't agree more, but I hypocrically count Sara and Katarina as Companions whenever that suits my argument.

Isn't this page supposed to be about Christopher Eccleston?

Yeah, but for some reason his treatment of Adam Mitchell seems to be a MAJOR factor when discussing his character.

Plus people seem to think I'm abusing their fundamental human rights whenever I shift a post into a more appropriate section...

Plus people seem to think I'm abusing their fundamental human rights whenever I shift a post into a more appropriate section...

Well, I wouldn't go that far. I just thought it was making things a little awkward.

Well the hub has it's shielding and time bubbles and it just sent ordinary phone calls. Adam has technology more advanced than anything Torchwoord has, unshielded and out in the open.

And Adam is a big deal, the doc berates him for nearly screwing history and throws him out with future tech in his head thereby potentially screwing history and sentencing him to a painful death or a life of loneliness. And his purpose was apparently to show how much better Rose was but she killed 6 billion people in the next ep and then destroyed the docs one and only chance to put all to rights forcing her dad to kill himself to fix things. actually lets give the doc some credit he nearly saved the day that ep but Rose wrecked it.

Are you whining about Adric The Second again!?

Dude, give it up, NO ONE CARES!!!

Hear, hear!

And actually I don't want to give Eccy any credit for Father's Day. At least when Rose saved Pete she (understandably!) had no idea this would lead to the destruction of the human race. Whereas Eccy was quite happy to gamble with the future of said race rather than upset Rose by pointing out the VERY obvious solution - daddy going splat under that car.

I care as does John, and to be fair to Eccy the doc did come up with a plan that avoided Daddy going splat until Rose wrecked it.

Tho it does fit in with gambling the future of said race perfectly in that he gambled it due to wanting to avoid upsetting Rose and gambled in due to his anger with Adam. And Adam was nowhere near as bad as Adric at least he didn't try to side with the Jagrafas.

to be fair to Eccy the doc did come up with a plan that avoided Daddy going splat until Rose wrecked it.

To be fair to Rose, it wasn't entirely her fault she had that rug-rat shoved into her arms...

"Christopher Eccleston has insisted that he has no interest in returning to Doctor Who. Chris portrayed the ninth incarnation of The Doctor when the series was revived in 2005, but departed after only one series. He was succeeded by David Tennant. During an interview on Graham Norton's BBC Radio 2 show, Eccleston expressed pride over portraying the Time Lord and admiration for Doctor Who's former executive producer Russell Davies. 'I heard Russell was going to do Doctor Who and I thought, "That's quite strange,"' the actor admitted. 'When I heard he was writing it, I e-mailed him and said I'd like to play the part. I went after the part.' Eccleston added: 'I'd done a lot of television for adults. I actually think the most intelligent and the most difficult audience are children. They will be not patronised. I wanted to front a big series like that, which I felt was going to be intelligent.' The actor went on to suggest that he was drawn to the role of the time-travelling alien because of the character's belief in not judging others. 'The thing about The Doctor is, he's very inclusive. He doesn't see the alien in aliens and I loved that about him,' he added. 'Also the fact that he's never at home. He's a Time Lord and he's always, always falling though the universe. When I thought about that, I thought I could play that.' After insisting that his only intention was to do one series to 'make that show a success,' Eccleston balked at Norton's question as to whether he'd reprise the role for Doctor Who's fiftieth anniversary in 2013. 'No, I never bathe in the same river twice.'"

Ha! Wait till the fan pressure starts. He'll cave.

Let's start now.

Why would you want to do that-he was the worst thing to ever happen to Who!!??!!??

The kindest things I can say about him are that he was better than nothing(but not by much),and he was only there for one season.

Let him go and be forgotten-the sooner the better!!

'No, I never bathe in the same river twice.'

That is undoubtedly the stupidest line I've ever heard in my life. And I've heard lines involving the catharsis of spurious morality.

Wait till the fan pressure starts. He'll cave.

Yes. Pressure. I'm thinking physical pressure. I've always said that those are the NINTH DOCTOR'S EARS and shouldn't be allowed to remain on some mere human actor who, let's face it, MURDERED our beloved Ninth Doctor after only thirteen weeks...

Let him go and be forgotten-the sooner the better!!

Of course there's no point with arguing with your unfortunate delusions - just go and watch Season 1/27 again. And again, and again, and again, until you realise how utterly we were blessed.

Yeah, it's hard to watch that first/twenty-seventh series again and think about what might have been. Short lived though he was, he was the guy that introduced me to Who. He'll always be my Doc.

In the meantime, the guy has got to do something better than G.I. Joe.

Christopher Eccleston was the shortest-lived version of Dr. Who...
1 season.

(Not counting McGann who was in the movie)

Rub salt into my still-gaping wounds, why don't you...

Would thirteen palty (if beyond-my-wildest-dreams-and-then-some) episodes PLUS A BRIEF APPEARANCE IN THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY STORY really be so much to ask for? REALLY?

Emily: Of course there's no point with arguing with your unfortunate delusions - just go and watch Season 1/27 again. And again, and again, and again, until you realise how utterly we were blessed.

I don't think that'll help. I mean would watching "Trial of a Timelord" again and again turn you into a Colin Baker fan????

Josh M.:Yeah, it's hard to watch that first/twenty-seventh series again and think about what might have been. Short lived though he was, he was the guy that introduced me to Who. He'll always be my Doc.

You poor thing--if this had been my first Who, I doubt I'd have come back.

John A Lang:Christopher Eccleston was the shortest-lived version of Dr. Who...
1 season.

On the other hand-he did get 13 stories; Colin Baker only got 11, and McCoy only hit 13 if you count the movie.

Emily:Rub salt into my still-gaping wounds, why don't you...

Which do you prefer--table,sea or rock salt???

Emily:Would thirteen palty (if beyond-my-wildest-dreams-and-then-some) episodes PLUS A BRIEF APPEARANCE IN THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY STORY really be so much to ask for? REALLY?

Sure looks like it-you might have to live with it.

You poor thing--if this had been my first Who, I doubt I'd have come back.

Reminds me of an earlier discussion about whether we'd be watching New Who if not for the Old. If it had been Tennant, I'd say yes, I would have come back. Eccleston? Not so sure.

Colin Baker only got 11, and McCoy only hit 13 if you count the movie.

What about poor old McGann?

Amanda:What about poor old McGann?

Sorry-as McGann had been mentioned in the post I was answering I left him out. He is clearly the Doctor with the shortest run.

Amanda:Reminds me of an earlier discussion about whether we'd be watching New Who if not for the Old. If it had been Tennant, I'd say yes, I would have come back. Eccleston? Not so sure.

I must have missed that one--sounds like something I'd like to read. Can you tell me where I could find it??

I must have missed that one--sounds like something I'd like to read. Can you tell me where I could find it??

Not really. It's been a while. Maybe under the Old vs New Who page in Ask the Matrix?

For what it's worth (i.e. not much):

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/jul/21/doctor-who-christopher-eccleston

"The first series of the revived Doctor Who – which featured farting aliens – was a world away from the intelligent, populist science-fiction we know it as now."

What? Did the author even watch the series? While Eccleston didn't quite do it for me either, I'd hardly characterize his time as stupid and cultist.

Pity him saying he'd never come back for an anniversary show though.

Here's a longer and EVEN MORE DEPRESSING version:

http://badwilf.co.uk/?p=820

Maybe if we find the prop man in question and threaten to SHOOT him if Eccy doesn't come back...?

Well, here's another reason to hate Eccles-traitor...

With regard to the 50th anniversary, I just keep thinking of the Smithers/Tom Jones scene from the Simpsons only with Emily and Chris:

*a BBC set two years from now*

*Emily with gun in Chris's back*: "That's right. Big smile. Everybody's happy!"

Chris: "Hello everyone! Um, let's get to work!"

This sounds like an EXCELLENT idea.

Where can I find a gun and a tape of The Simpsons?

Emily:This sounds like an EXCELLENT idea.

Not to me it doesn't!!!!

Why would you want to take the most useless(and imho worst) person to ever play the Doctor-force him back (even though neither he nor the producers want him there), and force him to play again????

Now that's really going to get you a show to remember--it's a show that wiil go down in infamy!!!

Let him go, he's not worth the effort; just be grateful for the fact that Tennant and Smith(as well as everyone this side of C.B.) are all so much better in the role--and look forward to good times ahead(I hope!!!).

By the way-I did follow the links above and read what he had to say, and I will give him one thing.

I hadn't thought it possible for me to think less of him, he proved me wrong.(He sounded like a 3 year old caught with his fingers in the pie,trying to come up with some way to blame someone(anyone) else without saying enough to get caught in a lie, what a loser.)

Emily (2002): There's no law that says you've got to have good taste in Doctors.

(Sorry, had to throw that in before the shrieking begins.)

Are you telling me to follow my own advice--and duck and cover???(In truth not a bad idea at this time!!!!).

Just giving you a defense before Emily hires the hitman.

Why would you want to take the most useless(and imho worst) person to ever play the Doctor-force him back (even though neither he nor the producers want him there), and force him to play again????

I never said anything about forcing Colin Baker back...

By the way-I did follow the links above and read what he had to say, and I will give him one thing.

I hadn't thought it possible for me to think less of him, he proved me wrong.(He sounded like a 3 year old caught with his fingers in the pie,trying to come up with some way to blame someone(anyone) else without saying enough to get caught in a lie, what a loser.)

When it comes to The Actor Called Christopher Eccleston, we are in complete agreement. If anything, I hate him more than you do - HE MURDERED MY NINTH DOCTOR.

(And as for all that rubbish about 'can't swim in the same stream twice' - HELLO! The ENTIRE POINT of that saying is that it's physically impossible - it's completely different water! Just like it's a completely different production team, not that I believe for a moment that he resigned out of consideration for put-upon production members, given his utter and total lack of consideration for the fans whose lives he ruined.)

Emily (2002): There's no law that says you've got to have good taste in Doctors.

That was before there was such a Doctor as Number Nine. It is now compulsory to love, worship and adore the Big-Eared One, at least a BIT.

Emily:I never said anything about forcing Colin Baker back...

You know that's not who I meant.

Besides C.B. doesn't fit what I said--he would have been happy to come back for more seasons.

Emily:When it comes to The Actor Called Christopher Eccleston, we are in complete agreement. If anything, I hate him more than you do - HE MURDERED MY NINTH DOCTOR.

Not quite--you hate him for leaving, I hate him for taking the role in the first place.

About who hates him more-I think that's mine:you'd be happy to watch him if he came back,the only thing he ever did that made me happy was leave.

Emily:And as for all that rubbish about 'can't swim in the same stream twice'

As for Eccy coming back for the 50th anniversery special after recent interviews, I have a better quote 'Don't drink from the same water bottle you just pissed in'.

Emily:That was before there was such a Doctor as Number Nine. It is now compulsory to love, worship and adore the Big-Eared One, at least a BIT.

Not from here I'm afraid.

In fact I don't see the first season of New Who being Who at all--I see it as season one of:

THE ROSE TYLER SHOW!!!!

Starring:

Rose Tyler-a spunky young woman from London,who wanders time and space(but never too far from home) trying to save the universe while finding the perfect boyfriend.

Her mother Jackie: a well-meaning, loving but clueless parent who doesn't care for some of the people Rose hangs out with--good at being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Her first boyfriend-Mickey the Idiot: a well-meaning chicken who tries to keep Rose from going into danger--maybe if he could grow a spine he could become a real hero.

Her second Boyfroend-Adam: a fine young man, who makes a mistake when thrown without warning into the deep end of the pool-gets tossed out(note:although he's left in a place where he will be killed for the tech in his body--we didn't see it so we can tell the kiddies he lived).

Her third boyfriend-Captain Jack:a immoral con man who quickly forgets his motives and back story after meeting Rose. He is omni-sexual, meaning he'll do any one(and any thing)at the drop of a hat-any hat.(See deleted scenes on the dvd set to see more of the Captain than most people want to see).

Also here-The Doctor: a poor deluded man with many mental problems,subject to severe mood swings. Although he knows a great deal-he is almost unable to do anything. his normal plan is to yammer techo-babal at the villians until someone else solves the problem(often giving up their lives so they don't have to listen anymore). The main reason the others let him stay is that he owns the ship they travel in.(Maybe if he's good--Rose will grant his wish, and make him a real live Time Lord).

Amanda:Just giving you a defense before Emily hires the hitman.

Since I figure they're already coming--I might as well make it worth Emily's money!!!

Besides C.B. doesn't fit what I said--he would have been happy to come back for more seasons.

God, I KNOW - I still have nightmares about when he WAS the Doctor, strutting round saying things like 'a Doctor with a name not disimilar to mine went on for seven years...' and 'I'd hate to be known as the second-longest-running Doctor...' (well, he achieved THAT ambition alright.)

About who hates him more-I think that's mine:you'd be happy to watch him if he came back,the only thing he ever did that made me happy was leave.

Ah, but YOU only had to put up with *sob* thirteen episodes with EcclesDoc. I have to put up with a lifetime without him...

In fact I don't see the first season of New Who being Who at all--I see it as season one of:

THE ROSE TYLER SHOW!!!!

Mmmmm yes *blissful sigh of nostalgia*

(note:although he's left in a place where he will be killed for the tech in his body--we didn't see it so we can tell the kiddies he lived).

Stuff n'nonsense. All Adam has to do is WHAT THE DOCTOR TELLS HIM and keep his head down (and maybe wear a hat if he goes outdoors).

(See deleted scenes on the dvd set to see more of the Captain than most people want to see).

WHAT! Where??

Also here-The Doctor: a poor deluded man with many mental problems,subject to severe mood swings. Although he knows a great deal-he is almost unable to do anything. his normal plan is to yammer techo-babal at the villians until someone else solves the problem(often giving up their lives so they don't have to listen anymore).

And oh gods HOW I MISS HIM.

Emily:God, I KNOW - I still have nightmares about when he WAS the Doctor, strutting round saying things like 'a Doctor with a name not disimilar to mine went on for seven years...' and 'I'd hate to be known as the second-longest-running Doctor...' (well, he achieved THAT ambition alright.)

Whatever else you say about him-he was loyal to the show(also note:it wasn't his fault he got such rotten scripts).

Emily:Ah, but YOU only had to put up with *sob* thirteen episodes with EcclesDoc. I have to put up with a lifetime without him...

You might have something there--but I prefer to think that his leaving gave us both the Tennant and Smith Doctors(goth of whom are better than him) sho we wouldn't have had if he didn't leave(if we could clear up my issues I have with the scripts-I might be happy).

Emily:Mmmmm yes *blissful sigh of nostalgia*

Watching Rose can be fun--but it's not Doctor Who.

What I want to see is a smart,brave Doctor out there solving the problems(with some help from his friends)--not those same friends out solving everything while a useless Doctor babels uselessly.

I want a Doctor who is THE hero on the show--not an also there(I also want scripts that aren't silly,or feel like wastes of time).

Me: (See deleted scenes on the dvd set to see more of the Captain than most people want to see).

Emily:WHAT! Where??

I might have mis-spoken---it might have been the behind the scenes for "Bad Wolf" where we saw more of the good Captains behind than I ever wanted to even think about(Rose on the other hand-I'd have no problem with).

Emily:And oh gods HOW I MISS HIM.

I missed him to--BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A LOUSY SHOT!!!!!

What I want to see is a smart,brave Doctor out there solving the problems(with some help from his friends)--not those same friends out solving everything while a useless Doctor babels uselessly.

There goes Hartnell then.

Whatever else you say about him-he was loyal to the show

I knooooooooooow! Why (oh why oh why) did our most loyal Doctor - the only one who HASN'T betrayed n'abandoned us - have to be HIM?

I prefer to think that his leaving gave us both the Tennant and Smith Doctors(goth of whom are better than him) sho we wouldn't have had if he didn't leave

OF COURSE we would have had TennantDoc and MattDoc! They were DESTINED! From the DAWN OF TIME! We just could have had them a few years - or preferably decades - later. After all, Tennant has only got more gorgeous and more brilliant as he gets older, and Matt will do doubt do likewise (or at least stop looking as if he's about six).

Watching Rose can be fun--but it's not Doctor Who.

It is TOTALLY Doctor Who! Who squared!

'That's the Doctor. In the TARDIS. With Rose Tyler.'

What I want to see is a smart,brave Doctor out there solving the problems(with some help from his friends)--not those same friends out solving everything while a useless Doctor babels uselessly.

Did you somehow MISS all that psychology Nine did?? Even during the 'Don't worry, it's sorted' 'How?' 'Psychology' scene???

I want a Doctor who is THE hero on the show

Yup. That's my EcclesDoc. THE hero. SO heroic, in fact, that he makes everyone around him heroic too (except that ghastly Adam, of course...)

(I also want scripts that aren't silly,or feel like wastes of time).

Me too. It's so sad that seasons twenty-six AND TWENTY-SEVEN are the ONLY seasons of Who that DON'T have any wastes of time in them.

I might have mis-spoken---it might have been the behind the scenes for "Bad Wolf" where we saw more of the good Captains behind than I ever wanted to even think about

Darling Captain Jack! You should see Children of Earth: Day Two...

Actually RTG LOST all the deleted scenes that SHOULD have given us some glorious Season 27 DVD extras - a crime for which I'll never forgive Him.

Emily:And oh gods HOW I MISS HIM.

I missed him to--BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A LOUSY SHOT!!!!!

*Sigh*

What I want to see is a smart,brave Doctor out there solving the problems(with some help from his friends)--not those same friends out solving everything while a useless Doctor babels uselessly.

There goes Hartnell then.

Ah yes - Eccy was only going Back To Basics. (Only BETTER.)

Emily:I knooooooooooow! Why (oh why oh why) did our most loyal Doctor - the only one who HASN'T betrayed n'abandoned us - have to be HIM?

Hard to say--it could be that he was the only Doctor to be betrayed n'abandoned before he felt he had done what he could done with rhe role.

Emily: OF COURSE we would have had TennantDoc and MattDoc! They were DESTINED! From the DAWN OF TIME!

Listen to yourself!!!

How can there be a plan if there is no planner????

(Remember--you are an atheist, there is no planner!!!!)

Who knows--maybe Eccy leaving was DESTINED so that the role would be clear for Tennant and Smith, rather than being cancelled due to dropping ratings(if he had stayed--I doubt that I would have, and I doubt that I'm alone in that).

Emily:We just could have had them a few years - or preferably decades - later. After all, Tennant has only got more gorgeous and more brilliant as he gets older, and Matt will do doubt do likewise (or at least stop looking as if he's about six).

Odds are if Eccy hadn't left when he did that everything would have played out differently.

Tennant might not have been free(he might have been in the next Star Trek film with Patrick Stewart, while Smith might have given up on acting to finish his schooling.

Emily:'That's the Doctor. In the TARDIS. With Rose Tyler.'

No it wasn't--it was Rose Tyler and her boyfriends wandering about in a machine(which May be a Tardis), with some shell-shocked loser who calls himself the Doctor.

Note: I've never seen Eccy as being the Doctor--I've never seen anyone(including that poor deluded man in "The Next Doctor") who failed so badly at being the Doctor.

Emily:Did you somehow MISS all that psychology Nine did?? Even during the 'Don't worry, it's sorted' 'How?' 'Psychology' scene???

Hey, I mentioned it--I called it spouting techno-babble(although I think I was mis-spelling it before).

Emily:Yup. That's my EcclesDoc. THE hero. SO heroic, in fact, that he makes everyone around him heroic too (except that ghastly Adam, of course...)

Yup-that's the EcclesDoc. THE bore. So boring that he makes other everyone around him willing to top themselves(and maybe stop the villian) to get away from him.

Emily:Me too. It's so sad that seasons twenty-six AND TWENTY-SEVEN are the ONLY seasons of Who that DON'T have any wastes of time in them.

I'm sorry-I can't say much on the 26th seaso, I saw most of it once close to 20 years ago.

On the other hand--I'd toss at least half of the first season of New Who without second thought as wastes of time, with some being truly insulting(the Slitheen were bad).

Emily:Actually RTG LOST all the deleted scenes that SHOULD have given us some glorious Season 27 DVD extras - a crime for which I'll never forgive Him.

I say be thankful for small favors--I already saw too much of Captain Jacks bumm, and I really don't want to see where he hide that gun.

Emily:*Sigh*

I agree-Ive always wanted to be a better shot!!!!!

Amanda:There goes Hartnell then.


Hartnell was designed with different rules in mind.

Harnell was the old grandfather who was there as a teacher-not an action hero.

The companions were there for being the heroes.

Starting with Troughton this changed--with the Doctor becoming an action hero himself, this is one of the reasons there are so few male companions from Pertwee on-they weren't needed.

For Eccy to work he needed to either be older(with companions to take up the slack) or able to do the job himself(he either wasn't or wouldn't).

Emily:Ah yes - Eccy was only going Back To Basics. (Only BETTER.)

No, they tried and missed on all counts--I guess I'm not the worst shot in the universe!!!!

it could be that he was the only Doctor to be betrayed n'abandoned before he felt he had done what he could done with rhe role.

Eccy can't POSSIBLY have thought he'd done all he could with the role. There were SO MANY THINGS he'd never done! Like GO TO A SODDING ALIEN PLANET, for starters...

Emily: OF COURSE we would have had TennantDoc and MattDoc! They were DESTINED! From the DAWN OF TIME!

Listen to yourself!!!

How can there be a plan if there is no planner????

(Remember--you are an atheist, there is no planner!!!!)

Of course there's no PLANNER, but in a universe rebooted by the Doctor Himself -

- oh wait, sorry, wrong universe.

Look, I realise the concept of 'destiny' is a difficult, indeed, silly one to mess with, but...I'm a human. As McGann mentioned during his pitiful hour of existence, I see patterns that aren't there in things. I mean, the chances of ME ever being conceived are practically infinity to one. So are the chances of Doctor Who blessing us with its presence. So 'destiny' is as good a word as any for these happy events. And obviously both my existence and Who's would be entirely pointless without a certain David Tennant coming onto the scene sooner or later. (As I was saying, preferably later.)

Who knows--maybe Eccy leaving was DESTINED so that the role would be clear for Tennant and Smith, rather than being cancelled due to dropping ratings(if he had stayed--I doubt that I would have, and I doubt that I'm alone in that).

AS IF!

Odds are if Eccy hadn't left when he did that everything would have played out differently.

Noooo no no no no. Tennant was writing essays about how he wanted to be the Doctor when he was about seven. His very NAME proclaimed his destiny as the Tenth incarnation.

Tennant might not have been free(he might have been in the next Star Trek film with Patrick Stewart

Ha ha ha ha ha!

Emily:'That's the Doctor. In the TARDIS. With Rose Tyler.'

No it wasn't--it was Rose Tyler and her boyfriends wandering about in a machine(which May be a Tardis), with some shell-shocked loser who calls himself the Doctor.

LOSER? He was fantastic. Absolutely...fantastic.

And you still haven't explained why it's better to get all sweaty pulling the world-saving lever (or whatever) yourself than to psych other people into doing it FOR you. It was, after all, very much in the tradition of the master-manipulating Seventh Doctor, only he had a tendency to screw up. (Didn't think there'd be two Dalek factions, indeed!)

I've never seen Eccy as being the Doctor--I've never seen anyone(including that poor deluded man in "The Next Doctor") who failed so badly at being the Doctor.

Funny how HE was the one to relaunch Doctor Who to massive popular acclaim and critical success, isn't it?

Yup-that's the EcclesDoc. THE bore. So boring that he makes other everyone around him willing to top themselves(and maybe stop the villian) to get away from him.

Ooh, that's harsh. Only Jabe, Jack and Pete were, er, inspired to top themselves after a few minutes in his company. I'm sure that's par for the course for any Doctor. I mean, it's not like he SAID '**** off and kill yourself' like Tom did to Sorenson, or anything.

I'm sorry-I can't say much on the 26th seaso, I saw most of it once close to 20 years ago.

Boy are YOU in for a treat (just ignore what everyone says about Battlefield - it's great!).

On the other hand--I'd toss at least half of the first season of New Who without second thought as wastes of time, with some being truly insulting(the Slitheen were bad).

I LOVE the Slitheen! There's really nothing like seeing Eccy n'Blon go head-to-head. Admittedly that awful Boak director made them fart a really tedious number of times in Aliens of London, but that aside, they're one of New Who's most memorable monsters. (Admittedly coming up with memorable monsters isn't exactly one of New Who's greatest strengths.)

Hartnell was designed with different rules in mind.

Harnell was the old grandfather who was there as a teacher-not an action hero.

The companions were there for being the heroes.

And New Who FINALLY got the balance right - the Doctor and his Companion(s) inspire each other to be heroes.

Starting with Troughton this changed--with the Doctor becoming an action hero himself

And Who lost something when that happened - the Doctor suddenly became a lot less unique and alien. All the more so when New Who added him having a bloody love life. So it's very lucky - and when I say 'luck' I mean ALL HAIL THE WISDOM OF RTG - that Eccy nonetheless managed to put the 'alien' back into the character.

For Eccy to work he needed to either be older(with companions to take up the slack) or able to do the job himself(he either wasn't or wouldn't).

Eccy ALWAYS got the job done. The fact it always looked as if he WOULDN'T just ramped up the tension and excitement and terror the way Who SHOULD.

He's just won an International Emmy for playing a PLUMBER. That's just STUPID.

Maybe he just did a better job of playing a plumber than he did playing the Doctor.

Or he might have put more effort in--it wouldn't have taken much!!!!

Maybe they liked the way his tool belt pulled the top of his trousers down to expose a part of his cute tooshy?
Or should I say...fantastic tooshy?

He's just won an International Emmy for playing a PLUMBER. That's just STUPID.

He was inspired by the Daleks?

Or he might have put more effort in--it wouldn't have taken much!!!!

LIES AND SLANDER!

Maybe they liked the way his tool belt pulled the top of his trousers down to expose a part of his cute tooshy?
Or should I say...fantastic tooshy?

I did watch the (unconvincing!) plumber story in question and I'm fairly sure this mercifully never happened - he was a fairly up-market plumber. In fact, I don't actually remember him doing any plumbing.

He was inspired by the Daleks?

Daleks having secondary careers unblocking sinks is a stupid myth, alongside 'can't see the colour red' and 'have no letter J'.

Moderator's Note: Moved from New Series: Season Seven: General Discussion:

but in the case of Eccy it'll be a cold day in hell

Why? Has he said he's never do Doctor Who again?

From what he's said he'd rather burn in hell forever than even think about doing Who again.

So I'd take this to mean that no he won't do Who again.

He hated it that much? I wonder why.

Apparently the producers/directors/whatever were HORRID to the poor little extras. So, of course, that's totally a good reason to ruin millions of lives by refusing to deal with a TOTALLY DIFFERENT production team for the rest of eternity.

Exactly.
Why not make the millions of fans that actually LIKE you and RESPECT you very, very happy with a new appearance?
And in the process stick it to the previous production team by saying, "I've come back for THEM and not YOU!'
If Eccleston thinks that the set of Doctor Who was the only place that extras were mistreated, then, ooooh, boy, does he need to check out the hundreds of other movie and TV sets to see that some are good, some are bad, and some are in between.

I see it's Eccy's life's ambition to 'drag up' and play a woman.

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17487480)

I'm now wondering, if the Twelfth Doctor is a woman, would he be prepared to play her...?

OK, probably not.

if the Twelfth Doctor is a woman, would he be prepared to play her...?

Oooo..kay! There's an image that will linger for a while!

On a different note, if you ever have the opportunity to watch G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Eccy plays a deliciously campy bad guy in that movie.

Christopher Eccleston as Kenneth Williams, I take it?

Now that you mention it, yes, but he brings more class and panache to his role. He plays McCullen, aka Destro.

JEP in Companions: Almost Companions thread:

Also--as far as I can see Eccy had 2 things going for him:

1) Rose was there.

2) It had been 16 years since there were any new shows--the fans would have happily watched C.B. return if that was the only choise.

Excellent points, you just accidentally forgot:

3) Best. *******. Doctor. EVER.

(Oh, and I don't think I'd've been watching Colin Baker HAPPILY. Though - unlike Season 23 - I would at least have been WATCHING.)

Emily:Excellent points, you just accidentally forgot:

3) Best. *******. Doctor. EVER.

If I were to say it it would read:

3)Worst SMEGGING Doctor EVER!!!!!!

Doesn't seem to fit somehow with what I was saying.

I'm sorry-I feel this guy was a total failure in the role.

I feel that in every catagory but one(sorry Mel) C.B. outclassed Eccy by a mile, and with the other issues cleared up(as talked about on this sight) would have made an excellent New Who Doctor.

EmilyOh, and I don't think I'd've been watching Colin Baker HAPPILY. Though - unlike Season 23 - I would at least have been WATCHING.)

Oh come on Emily--after 16 years of no new stories(and the other problem during his years cleared up), you'd have been happily watching, and commenting here how much better he is in New Who than his time in Old Who(I'm getting this from what you've been saying about his recent audios).

I'm sorry-I feel this guy was a total failure in the role.

Ah yes - he was such a failure that the programme HE launched to massive audience figures and critical acclaim is still going strong seven years later.

I feel that in every catagory but one(sorry Mel) C.B. outclassed Eccy by a mile, and with the other issues cleared up(as talked about on this sight) would have made an excellent New Who Doctor.

OVER - MY - DEAD - BODY!

Oh come on Emily--after 16 years of no new stories(and the other problem during his years cleared up), you'd have been happily watching, and commenting here how much better he is in New Who than his time in Old Who(I'm getting this from what you've been saying about his recent audios).

Oh yeah, he's absolutely fine in the audios - WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEE HIM. Plus the audios are virtually all a bit rubbish, utterly unworthy of the sacred name of Who - they don't NEED the best actor in the universe to play the Doctor. New Who...DOES. And even if both I and Colin have mellowed over the years, he still just isn't good enough. To be fair, neither is McCoy, whose Doctor I love, or Davison, whose Doctor was perfectly adequate...for Old Who.

JEP in Companions: Almost Companions section, re The Long Game:

Most of the time it's clear the problem is solved--here it wasn't.

Eccy GENUINELY believed that the Web of Time was powerful enough to tug The Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire back on-track. It was very soon after the Time War and he may not have realised how much more flexible time is these days (he was spot-on with his hysterical assertions that one insignificant human being alive when it shouldn't be could make a BIG difference).

Eccy also had ABSOLUTELY NO REASON to suspect any more alien intervention than the Jagrafess. And, more than any other Doctor, his modus operandi was to inspire OTHER PEOPLE to be great. Cathica had risen to the challenge and the future looked safe in her hands.

Plus, why are you assuming all the problems were solved on all those other occasions - just because we never SAW what happened next? I'm pretty sure Humans and Hath won't find cooperation easy. That the Sense-Sphere will, as it feared, be subsumed into the human empire. That the rebels on Pluto will be as dictatorial as the regime they overthrew. That the galaxy won't be saved from famine by a few pretty plants. That this WASN'T the final end of the Daleks after all. That the Morestrans won't find it so easy to tap the movement of the planets for energy. Etc etc...

Emily:*Gasps of outrage*

But no claim that I'm wrong.

OK: you're wrong.

'Eccy betrayed EVERY companion he had at least once' - he didn't betray Rose. Obviously he DID betray Jackie, Mickey and Captain Jack.

Yes-he needed to throw a hissy fit, beat on his chest,and set up the murder of the one person who could see him for the loser he really was.

In what way did Adam see Nine as a 'loser'? To his credit, he admitted that the Time Lord was the better man and that he, Adam, wouldn't stand a chance with Rose while Eccy was around.

I guess he needed to prove his manhood(for once).

OK, this is getting a bit bizarre.

Note:like most losers--he lacked the gonads to do the job himself.

Unlike other Doctors, Nine didn't swoop in in a smug, patriarchal, condescending, neo-colonialist manner and sort out all the stupid apes' problems for them. He was SO ******* FANTASTIC that his mere presence inspired everyone to save themselves. (Well, everyone bar you and Adam - yes, EVEN UNDEAD ZOMBIES (well, the one in Long Game - not so much the ones in Unquiet Dead).)

I'm sorry-I feel this guy was a total failure in the role.

Eccleston's not my favorite Doctor, but he was hardly a total failure. Who would never had survived to its second season if he were.

Huh. Just tormenting myself by watching THAT Eccy interview on the Season 1 DVD:

He was 'out playing' when Who was on. He only watched when there was a regeneration or the inside of a Dalek. He was 'fascinated' by regeneration. SO FASCINATED HE STAGED HIS OWN REGENERATION AS SOON AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.

He stayed with Star Trek because of its high production values.

He accuses Season 1/27 of 'a bit of wobbly acting'!

'I don't have a camp sensibility' - yeah, and if only you DID maybe you'd STILL BE THE DOCTOR.

'I would like 8-to-12-year-olds to take me to their hearts. I don't think I've got much of a chance with Tom Baker or Pertwee fans, and I respect that fidelity' - hell, now even CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON is making me feel guilty for loving Christopher Eccleston best.

'I'm constantly told that I'm not funny and I'm not charming and they were some of the demands in the role...there were two reasons to do it: Russell T Davies and the gamble' - some people do things for REALLY WEIRD REASONS.

Huh! Imagine being so ignorant you think NINE is the first Doctor to face Daleks-who-can-go-up-stairs.

Urg, just look at him trying to wriggle out of saying whether he's going to be the Doctor for a long time...

'It's been an absolute pleasure and a privilege to play the part...it's not a burden. It was a joy to play' SO WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME???

http://gallifreybase.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144465

Or, for those still refusing to register on Gallifrey Base, this bloke went to a Q&A with Eccy, and...*drumroll*...

I was surprised how easily he took the questions and he very graciously thanked people who complimented him on his performance in Doctor Who. He also spoke with real warmth and enthusiasm about the character of the Doctor and what a real joy of a character it is to play. In response to a question about whether he felt he'd taken the character as far as he could he (very tellingly) said he felt that one series isn't enough to get under the skin of the character and that if he'd had two or three series he'd have developed the role considerably. He said that if you looked at the other Doctors (with the exception of Tom Baker) you can see them working out how to play the character through their first series because it's such a complex and challenging role. He said several times that there was more for him to do with the character....

Or, for those still refusing to register on Gallifrey Base,

Thank you.

*Sigh.

I wish he *had* stayed for another season or 2 or 3. Tennant was great, and I love Matt Smith, but... It wouldn't have hurt to delay them a little!

I'm just PRAYING that this means he MIGHT JUST be open to an appearance for our fiftieth...of course, far from repenting of his evil ways, he might just have decided to amusingly torment fans with some HOPE.

Matt Smith on a possible return of Ecclestraitor:

'Well, I mean, who knows? I'd love it. I'd love him to come back. I love his Doctor. I really do. He was from Manchester. Proper hard. Leather jacket. He'd give my Doctor a bit of a whopping, wouldn't he?'

*Nods approvingly* It is good that our current Living God acknowledges this.

He'll be in the anniversary special....you read it here first...

Rodney:He'll be in the anniversary special....you read it here first...

NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Now, now. Rodney's just being joyously over-optimistic. But JUST IN CASE, let's make a deal: I'll still watch the fiftieth anniversary celebration(s) if they've got Colin Baker in 'em, and you'll still watch if they've got the Big-Eared One. Agreed?

Rodney's just being joyously over-optimistic.

Rodney has excellent sources that says it is pretty much a done deal thathis Doctor will appear. I will grant you that it COULD mean old footage (ala Shada)but we'll see.

Mofatt is not keen on a story featuring loads of old Doctors and companions in one shot, he may spread it out over a couple episodes....

I now want to see a scene where Colin & Ecclestone appear on screen, they hear Emily & John scream, they smile and fistbump each other. ;-)

I just got an image of Rose having put his leather jacket through the laundry and it's now almost microscopic:

"You s-shrunk my leather jacket??!"

Ninth Doctor meeting the Eleventh:

Bowtie, suspenders, and a FEZ?! Seriously?

Recent interview on why he left:
http://www.denofgeek.us/tv/doctor-who/20897/christopher-eccleston-is-this-why-he-really-quit-doctor-who

Ah, but that says July 2011 on it - I'm sure he's mellowed since.

Ok, recently-posted-on-my-Facebook interview then...

Eccy in a 2004 DWM interview, incorrectly claiming that he can cope with the pressure ('I'm quite good at looking after myself!'...that's not what he said when suing News of the World for hacking his phone):

'I've had the experience in my career, when if you do something that touches the audience's hearts or minds - good stuff, you know - they'll treat you quite respectfully, they'll thank you for it, and then they'll let you go.'

Let Eccy Go?

In your DREAMS, Sunshine!

Eccleston will be seen in 'Thor 2' as Malekith, leader of the Dark Elves.
'Thor 2' will be released November 8, 2013.

Don't DO that to me!

I saw the words 'Eccleston will be seen in' after clicking on 'Last Day' and OF COURSE I thought you'd got confirmation that he was blessing our Fiftieth with his presence...

Is there any ex-Doctor who hasn't played the King of the Elves in something?!!

What other Doctors have?

Tom!

Moffatt has officially confirmed that Eccy was, in fact, the ninth Doctor....

That's very nice of him, but why was such a confirmation needed?

Yeah - OF COURSE Our Ecc is Number Nine. Gallifrey Chronicles' attempt to portray THREE conflicting Ninth Doctors (including Richard E Grant from the Scream of the Shalka webcast and Rowan Atkinson from the Curse of Fatal Death sketch) was doomed to laughable obsolescence the MOMENT Himself grabbed Rose's hand and said 'Run!'

I'd like to know something, and only the gang over in Britain can know this, thanks to their access to all the entertainment articles and TV and radio reports, so here goes;

Can anybody tell me what the present-day situation is with Christopher Eccleston, when it comes to Doctor Who? Is there even a chance he'd show up in the 50th anniversary? Has he ever been approached for an audio adventure?
Or has he emphatically stated that he's done with Who in every way?

Unfortunately, it's the latter.'I never bathe in the same river twice' were his exact words.

But that was YEARS ago! He's mellowed since!

I'd love to be wrong here.

You're not wrong.

HE LEFT ME MUM HE LEFT ME MUM.

Hopefully there's some unbroadcast footage of Eccleston they can insert into the anniversary special.

RTG LOST all Eccy's deleted scenes.

Uhhhh...WHAT????!!!! HOW????!!!!!

RTG LOST all Eccy's deleted scenes.

What?

You're kidding, right? How do you LOSE scenes in this day and age? The backups should have backups!

One moment he rewrites years of his publicly known disinterest by saying "I think there's more I could do with the character" and then a month later I find out that he was APPROACHED and then TURNED THEM DOWN. Eccleston's Doctor will always be my favorite, but Eccleston's image as an actor in my eyes has done almost nothing but fall to a point of no return.

I know that he was supposed to have concerns about being typecast with the series, but even if that was the case (which is looking less likely now, with everything from 'not getting what he wanted' to 'protecting his artistic integrity' being thrown around), a single anniversary episode was hardly going to be a problem there.

This was his last real chance to play the Doctor again and maybe even get some good drama in and a proper final send-off to his character (if the Time War spoilers are true).

The refusal to appear in a reunion special shows signs of Tom Baker in 1983, so maybe like Baker, he'll appear in the next one ten years down the road. Unfortunately, in ten years time, Eccleston might be too old to play the Ninth Doctor convincingly (again, like Tom Baker in 1993).

I think we can safely say the book on the mysterious Ninth Doctor is closed, except for comic strips and maybe some audio plays thirty years from now.

Eccleston to return in 2063!

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/08/25/christopher-ecclestons-message-to-doctor-who-fans-a-promise-for-the-future-tongue-firmly-in-cheek/

Yeah, I SAW THAT.

It's astonishing, isn't it. Every time I think that MAYBE I should START to TRY to forgive him...

Hmmm.... a bit cryptic there at 0.37 Mr. Eccleston....

Eccleston to return in 2063!

I wonder how the 99-year-old Eccleston will do in the role

By that time, we may have come up with medical treatments for aging, and a 99-year-old Eccleston could look just as good as he did in 2005.

Ok, maybe not.

Yeah by 2063, Eccleston will be wearing just a nappy like those guys in Vengence on Varos....

Doctor Who Archive:

'Christopher Eccleston provisionally agreed to appear in Doctor Who‘s 50th anniversary special...

After “amicable” meetings between ninth Doctor actor Eccleston and producer Steven Moffat at the start of the year, Chris agreed to partake in the special given certain creative input, primarily that Moffat consider the appointment of Joe Aherne as director.

“Steven rejected this out of hand, that was the end of anything Chris wanted to do with the project.”

The negotiations and Moffat’s refusal to budge on the issue led to the now infamous public row at the BBC Showcase event in February between The Moff and Caroline Skinner which many speculate led to her stepping down as Executive Producer in March.'

If this is TRUE...I mean, Eccy had NO RIGHT to 'creative input' - who the hell does he think he IS - but if that's what it TAKES, GIVE him bloody Aherne. As a director or roasted alive with an apple in his mouth, I don't particularly CARE - it would be a small price to pay for a Day of the Doctor that actually had our greatest Doctor in it.

(Plus, Aherne IS a great director. And you can't altogether blame Eccy for being paranoid on this subject after getting stuck with that Keith Boak person with the half-hour-long cliffhangers...)

If Hurt's dying wish was for less prominent ears, why does Eccy look mildly impressed when he first catches sight of his splendiferous appendages?

And how can Eccy POSSIBLY be a mere 900 years old when McCoy was 953 (Time and the Rani), McGann spent 600 years with jellyfish people (the audios - canonised by Night of the Doctor) and Hurt spent hundreds of years on the front line (compare n'contrast his youthful face in Night of the Doctor with the ancient thing we got in Day of the Doctor)? Did he perhaps think that Jackie Tyler would accuse him of being a paedophile if he admitted he was 2,000-odd, but thought that a mere 881-year age-gap would be entirely appropriate...?

Have I got this right?

Straight after regenerating from Hurt, Eccy:

a) Forgets that he's just saved not destroyed Gallifrey

b) Completely redecorates the TARDIS to get rid of the PROPER roundels

c) 'Just happens' to be passing by Earth when he spots a Nestene invasion

d) Builds a bomb, blows up a department store, falls in love with a stpuid ape, rejects its mother's sexual advances, admires his new ears in a mirror, and basically starts having FUN FUN FUN.

Of course, there's all that Titanic/JFK stuff to fit in, but he COULD have done it between Rose rejecting him and him coming back for her (we don't know how long it is for HIM) or when she's asleep (all those First Night/Good Night Season 6 DVD extras prove he's always leaving his Companions asleep in the TARDIS and nipping out adventuring/having sex).

And there's all the counting-up-the-dead-Gallifreyan-children thing - do we know if that was Eccy or Tennant?

The thing I REALLY don't get is getting rid of the 'round things' ('I love the round things'). If he was punishing himself for genocide it was a slightly inadequate gesture. If he WASN'T punishing himself WHY DID HE GET RID OF THE ROUNDELS?

Jane Tranter in DWM: 'Christopher had such integrity and went at the part with such power. He was stunning. We knew he would be able to play every note there was - intense, serious, lgiht; he just got it. Christopher kicked open the door that enabled David and Matt to dance to a different beat aftrwards....The later performances could not have come without Christopher' - well, they certainly couldn't have come without him BETRAYING AND ABANDONING us, anyway...

I sort of knew that he wouldn’t. I know Chris a bit. I did a couple of meetings, and there was a moment, I suppose, a giddy moment where [I thought] ‘Would he actually do it?’ This wasn’t the kind of decision he took in a funk or that he was cross. He was very measured, very kind, very gentlemanly about it. He’s a good bloke. If you look at Chris’s career, this is not what he does. The Ninth Doctor turns up for the battle and not the party. -- The Moff

What it in "do it" was he talking about?

Ah, must be about whether or not Ecclestraitor would refuse, in the meanest, pettiest-minded way, to pop back for our fiftieth anniversary.

Dunno what turning up for the battle not the party has to do with anything, though.

Good old Quittopher Ecclesgone.

I just want to know WHY.

That's a lie, obviously. I don't really CARE why, I just want him back.

Though even if we GOT him back it wouldn't erase what I felt seeing that 'DOCTOR WHO QUITS' headline.

How many humans wait SIXTEEN YEARS for something, and discover that when they get it it's utterly beyond their wildest dreams...and then get their joy trampled into the dust by the love of their life two days later?

Being the Doctor isn't some ACTING JOB, it's a Sacred Trust. ALL the other Doctors realise that*! Why doesn't HE?!

*OK, give or take John Hurt who I don't blame in the least, it was obviously sold to him as a one-time-only, quick-plug-the-Eccleston-shaped-gap, you're-not-a-real-Doctor deal (though it's a great shame he can't even be bothered to read the audio version of Engines of War).

Wasn't the why because he didn't get along with Davies and co.? Which is why he actually entertained listening to Moffat about the 50th?

But hey, at least we're getting him again for a few comic book issues.

The very definition of 'adding insult to injury'...

Well the 9th Doctor is back! In comic book form next year with Titan Comic's 5 part mini-series Weapons of Past Destruction!

Leaving World War II behind, The Ninth Doctor, Rose and Captain Jack discover that Time Lord technology, lost in the wake of the Time War, is being sold on the intergalactic black market!

What IS it with the Time Lords? The Minyans, the Mawdryn-and-cos, the MASTER, approximately fifteen million renegade Time Lords...can't they learn to fit anti-theft devices to their technology...?

And if this is the case, wouldn't the whole Time War thing come up for discussion with Captain Jack BEFORE Parting of the Ways?

So this clip is making the rounds:

http://www.kasterborous.com/2015/02/christopher-eccleston-hates-doctor-much-helped-whovian-wedding-proposal/

What the •••• is that guy's PROBLEM??

He'll be the Doctor for someone's stupid MARRIAGE PROPOSAL but he won't take LITERALLY FIVE MINUTES to gurn a bit in front of the cameras so that tens of millions of people can have the joy/heartbreak of seeing Hurt regenerate into him?

(And why the hell would the woman agree to marry someone else when Eccy's STANDING RIGHT THERE?

I can't even marry anyone else even though Eccy is, quite sensibly, NOT STANDING RIGHT THERE.)

He'll be the Doctor for someone's stupid MARRIAGE PROPOSAL but he won't take LITERALLY FIVE MINUTES to gurn a bit in front of the cameras so that tens of millions of people can have the joy/heartbreak of seeing Hurt regenerate into him?

And if he DID spend that five muntes you'd be whinging he didn't stay and do MORE. And if he did MORE you'd be whinging he didn't do EVEN MORE. And if he did EVEN MORE you'd be whinging that he left in the first place...
....oh wait, you do that already....

And why the hell would the woman agree to marry someone else when Eccy's STANDING RIGHT THERE?
because she's in love with the other guy and not the guy with schnoz and the big ears.

I can't even marry anyone else even though Eccy is, quite sensibly, NOT STANDING RIGHT THERE.

I can hear the wedding vows now...

...and do you take Emily Jemima Carter to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health...
...and when she goes off on her rants about how appalling the PDAs and BFAs are
...and when she starts fawning over her much loved lifesize cutout of Tom Baker
...and when she insists on bringing home her 20th cat so she can finally re-enact the episode "New earth"
...and when she forcibly asks you to always enter a room with "would you like a jelly baby?"
...and in the unlikely event of any more lost episodes turning up, will you be prepared to mourish and care for her needs while she watches said episodes on a continuous loop for 48 hours so can "rip them to shreds"?
...and when she....oh...he's run out of the church it would seem....

"Jemima" - is her best friend Big Ted, Rodney?

Meanwhile, Eccleston's standing right there and the person with the camera is making sure he's never fully in the shot.

"Jemima" - is her best friend Big Ted, Rodney?

Don't ridiculous Finn. She's more a little Ted person...

(Emily) Yes, children, today we're looking through the *round window*!(/Emily)

Am I the only here who has no idea what you guys are talking about?

You are not.

the Australian Play School

He'll be the Doctor for someone's stupid MARRIAGE PROPOSAL but he won't take LITERALLY FIVE MINUTES to gurn a bit in front of the cameras so that tens of millions of people can have the joy/heartbreak of seeing Hurt regenerate into him?

And if he DID spend that five muntes you'd be whinging he didn't stay and do MORE.

Well, YEAH.

How much hassle WOULD it be to actually be paid a fortune for DOING SOME ACTING when acting is your CAREER OF CHOICE?

Would it REALLY be a FUNDAMENTAL BREACH OF HIS HUMAN RIGHTS to reprise his most successful acting role EVER, to make MILLIONS of human beings happy, to partake of TELEVISION HISTORY, to celebrate a programme's FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY by, y'know, turning up to be the Doctor again for AN HOUR?

But failing that...FIVE MINUTES? You SERIOUSLY couldn't spare FIVE MINUTES?

And if he did MORE you'd be whinging he didn't do EVEN MORE. And if he did EVEN MORE you'd be whinging that he left in the first place...
....oh wait, you do that already....

I've always had a VERY REALISTIC attitude towards Doctors.

I've always known that sooner or later they go jumping off radio telescopes, the STUPID GITS.

Truly, I WOULD have been, if not SATISFIED, then at least...RESIGNED if Eccy had only chosen to give us a mere ten years of his life (plus specials). I COULD have lived with that, however mournfully. Honest.

And why the hell would the woman agree to marry someone else when Eccy's STANDING RIGHT THERE?
because she's in love with the other guy and not the guy with schnoz and the big ears.

Yeah, but how would THAT happen?!

Seriously, I NEED TO KNOW how anyone can NOT be in love with the Ninth Doctor so I can follow their fine example before ANOTHER ten years of my life gets ruined.

...and do you take Emily Jemima Carter to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health...

My middle name is SO not Jemima.

It's actually WORSE than Jemima.

...and when she goes off on her rants about how appalling the PDAs and BFAs are

Only 90% of them.

OK, maybe 95%.

...and when she starts fawning over her much loved lifesize cutout of Tom Baker

You say that like it's a bad thing.

...and when she insists on bringing home her 20th cat so she can finally re-enact the episode "New earth"

Well, that wouldn't be the ONLY reason to acquire a Twentieth Oochie.

Though it's a •••• good one.

...and when she forcibly asks you to always enter a room with "would you like a jelly baby?"

What are you, a 'The Evil One eats babies!' savage? What's WRONG with jelly babies?!

(Apart from the animal rights issue. And...y'know...the taste.)

...and in the unlikely event of any more lost episodes turning up, will you be prepared to mourish and care for her needs while she watches said episodes on a continuous loop for 48 hours so can "rip them to shreds"?}

A shining example to those philistines who reacted to our Enemy and Web miracles by NOT ripping them to shreds on Nitcentral.

...and when she....oh...he's run out of the church it would seem....

CHURCH?!

If a registry office is good enough for Sarah Jane's bridegroom to abscond from, it's good enough for ME TOO.

Churches are ghastly places, full of Maluses and Daemons and Reverend Magisters and I've even heard a rumour they worship some sort of God that isn't the REAL, i.e. Lonely, One....

you could always change your name to "Elizabeth Anne Carter". As Eleven would say "I like Elizabeth Anne. Elizabeth Annes are good..."

But Eleven DIDN'T say that.

(the prince regent from blackadder) Well it's the sort of thing he might have said...(/the prince regent from blackadder)

During the BFI's Who season he sent a message to the audience;

I love the BFI. I love the Doctor and hope you enjoy this presentation. Joe Ahearne directed five of the 13 episodes of the first series. He understood the tone the show needed completely – strong, bold, pacy visuals coupled with wit, warmth and a twinkle in the performances, missus.

If Joe agrees to direct the 100th anniversary special, I will bring my sonic and a stair-lift and – providing the Daleks don’t bring theirs – I, the ninth Doctor, vow to save the universe and all you apes in it.

he clearly didn't want to turn up and be berated about not doing the 50th. But equally he didn't need to say anything at all and I think "I love the Doctor" speaks for itself

Really? Because I think his betrayal and abandonment of us, coupled with his ruination of our fiftieth anniversary, speaks for itself.

Whinging Eccy

If you're so keen on working-class actors, maybe you should prove how ••••••• fantastic they are by remaining in the greatest role in TV history for more than five minutes? Just a thought.

And what the hell d'you MEAN, you didn't like the culture that grew up around the series? You quit long before New Who had the CHANCE to grow itself that glorious culture that has infiltrated the entire human race.

Could he be talking about the Original Series?

I doubt it. If he hated THAT culture so much he wouldn't have taken the job in the first place.

I guess he saw Doctor Who as just a job, nothing more.

*Pitiful whimpering noises*

Hey, the BBC has form in forcing northern actors to drop their natural accents in Doctor Who, dating back at least to 1966...!

They let Eccy keep his ******* accent, didn't they?! What MORE does he want!

And if he wants to whinge about 60s Who (yeah, like HE'S ever seen any) he can just get in line behind WOMEN and NON-WHITE people...

Well, here's more, courtesy of doctorwhonews.net...

Christopher Eccleston
has been talking about his time on Doctor Who in a rare interview on BBC Radio 4.

Eccleston was appearing on the Saturday evening discussion programme Loose Ends, primarily to promote his role in Safe House, a four-part drama on ITV from 20 April.

Eccleston was interviewed by Emma Freud in a wide ranging talk about his career. When asked about Doctor Who, he told Freud how he had put himself forward for the role.
I approached Russell T Davies and said I know you are going to do this and I think you should think about me.... I wanted to do something for children, I wanted to learn a lighter way of being.
Freud asked him if he felt he had succeeded.
I think I over pitched the comedy. If I had my time again I would do the comedy very differently. But I think, where I possibly succeeded was in the tortured stuff.
So why did he leave?
What's interesting in this country is that wherever a story like this emerges they concentrate on the negative. I dont think it's important why I left, I think it's important that I did it in the first place.
Freud pushed the point saying it was a big shock to fans when he left, and he had been so successful in the role he could still be playing it now.
Well I'm still there in spirit....... Myself and three individuals at the very top of the pyramid clashed, so off I went. But they are are not here to say their side of it, so I'm not going to go into details.
The full programme can be heard worldwide on the BBC iPlayer for the next four weeks.

When I saw the name Emma Freud, I wondered if she were related to Sigmund. She's his great-granddaughter.

Triumph of a Time Lord: 'In some publicity material, rather than Who being recontextualised as "quality", it was the programme itself that was "othered" as low-cultural and non-quality...And the proponent of this devaluing discourse - radically out of alignment with all other production discourses - was Christopher Eccleston himself..."There's a kind of madness when you essentially do the same thing in each episode...The Doctor...saves the world...the previous work I've done, it's always been 'beginning, middle and end' drama, and this is a different animal"...Eccleston effectively inverted the show's discursive production bid for "quality" as based upon his own star persona.' - What a treacherous git.

Plus, his Doctor NEVER saved the world.

Plus, his Doctor NEVER saved the world.

Yes he did. He saved the world from becoming populated with gas mask wearing zombies who walk around asking for their mummy all the time.

And from being populated by gas creatures, as well as the universe, which has the world as part of it...

He saved the world from becoming populated with gas mask wearing zombies who walk around asking for their mummy all the time.

I give Nancy full credit for saving the world by *shudders* hugging her ghastly little brat.

Admittedly Eccy may have given her a push in the right direction...

And from being populated by gas creatures

Who INVITED the gas creatures in in the first place?!

as well as the universe

When did he ever save the universe? He had the CHANCE to do so but decided that it would be 'coward, every time.'

Look, I'm not COMPLAINING. I don't CARE if he ever saved the world, universe, or anything else. He was MY Doctor.

Hi, Emily.

It looks to me like you're reaching the point where you dislike Eccy almost as much as I do!!!

If you want to jump on the "I hate Eccy" train, all I can say is:

Welcome aboard--- there's always room for one more!!!

No, no, no, I love him SO MUCH...

The Ninth Doctor, obviously.

Now if we're talking about that scumvermin ACTOR who BETRAYED AND ABANDONED us...

Okay-I admit it: I tend to lump my feelings about the role with what I feel about the actor.

(I think you tend to do the same thing--- see what you say about the Baker boys.)

Truth is I hate Eccy((the actor)who does make some points) less than I hate his "Doctor"(the best I can say about him is he was the first in 16 years(that and he did pick up Rose)).

I tend to lump my feelings about the role with what I feel about the actor.

(I think you tend to do the same thing--- see what you say about the Baker boys.)

I have tried valiantly to separate my feelings for the Sixth Doctor from my feelings for the actor but with limited success. (Of course, it doesn't help that one frequently uses said actor's name as a shorthand for their Doctor.)

Post-Five(ish) Doctors Reboot I've attempted to do the same for Peter Davison, but I simply can't get my head around the fact he's really really funny...

the best I can say about him is he was the first in 16 years(that and he did pick up Rose)

He WASN'T the first in 16 years, though, was he. There was McGann (and Hurt. Kind of).

You should at least *pitiful sobbing noises* be grateful he swanned off quite so fast...?

RTG: 'No, I do not think he'd just regenerated. If you have certain physical features like big ears, or buck teeth, you look at them and sigh at them every time you look in the mirror. And I think, if you'd had eight different faces, even if you'd been in this current form for a hundred years, you'd still mutter at them...He doesn't act very post-regeneration, does he? He appears in command, waving a bomb. This is a man who knows himself, and has known himself for a while.' - Weeeell...if YOU say so...

But remember all those pictures of Nine that were shown to Rose? He 'seemed' to be on his own, which means those times, plus more unrecorded visits, took place before "Rose".

Or they COULD have taken place in the interval AFTER he dematerialised but before it occurred to him to return with the ultimate pick-up line: 'By the way...did I mention? It also travels in time...'

Oorrrrrr....
The first picture was a Doctor look-alike named Tim Jones from Cleveland, the second guy is a Doctor look-alike named Fred Dunsford from Manchester, the third is Leonard Rogers from Ottawa....

Or maybe not!

As if Emily didn't have enough reasons for her righteous rage:

www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-09-03/christopher-eccleston-i-never-watched-doctor-who-when-i-was-a-child-i-never-watched-myself-as-doctor-who

Well it's not like I hadn't GUESSED he wasn't a Fan.

There were certain...subtle clues.

He does mention in an interview that he watched the one where they open up a Dalek. Guessing Davison's.

He's still my favourite new series Doctor, so there might be something to be said for not hiring fans to play the title role. He played it his own way; his successors liberally based their interpretations on Troughton's and T.Baker's more comedic elements.

Still the Eccestraitor, right Emily?

He's still my favourite new series Doctor, so there might be something to be said for not hiring fans to play the title role. He played it his own way; his successors liberally based their interpretations on Troughton's and T.Baker's more comedic elements.

Ah, but Eccy said himself that the comedic elements of his Doctor weren't satisfactory (I'd disagree myself, obviously) so maybe if he HAD had Troughton and Tom to go on, they'd've been EVEN BETTER.

Still the Eccestraitor, right Emily?

Always and forever.

HE LEFT ME MUM HE LEFT ME MUM.

I three-quarters talked him into it

DAMMIT!

That just makes me feel EVEN WORSE.

And I can't BELIEVE he's got the cheek to WATCH Doctor Who and chat about Amy Pond like he's some sort of FAN.

And still no explanation why McGann wasn't an option for the war Doctor. If I had been doing that interview it would have been the FIRST question I asked.

It is a shame that Eccleston was not in the 50th, especially since he was the only surviving actor to portray the Doctor not involved in the 50th anniversary in some way. Still, it's his choice, and fandom needs to respect that.

He ruined millions of lives because he couldn't be bothered to turn up for a few well-paid days work.

'Respect' isn't really the word springing to mind.

Saw this on Youtube

Pah. Don't pretend you care about one sick kid when you've broken MILLIONS OF HEARTS.

And god you look OLD. Day of the Doctor was your last chance to appear in Who without some shorting-out-the-time-differential nonsense, but hey, you decided to BREAK ALL OUR HEARTS ALL OVER AGAIN instead.

saw this - http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/09/11/christopher-eccleston-expresses-regret-for-his-quick-doctor-who-departure/

'It was kind of tragic for me, that I didn’t play him for longer.' - for You? What do you want, SYMPATHY? You deliberately attempted to ruin tens of millions of lives and it was only by the grace of the gods - Russell T God and David Tennant, to be specific - that you didn't succeed. All because - boo hoo - you had one director who wasn't - sob sob - very good.

God, I preferred the git when he was pretending he had NO regrets as he crawled from one obscure failure to another while his replacement was making HIS Doctor universally adored and worshipped.

And when exactly did the TRAGEDY of abandoning the Doctor's BEAUTIFUL CHARACTER hit him? Sometime AFTER he screwed Moffat and the rest of the human race around over Day of the Doctor, presumably?

Oh, and - 'rumors emerged indicating that Eccleston was ready to walk away during that first recording block, with Boak as a principle reason for the actor’s displeasure' - I suppose we should be grateful he deigned to film a whole thirteen episodes before smashing our hearts into little pieces and jumping up and down on them.

Yesterday's Metro featured a Q&A with Christopher Eccleston...

Q: Is there anything that would induce you to return to Doctor Who?
A: Er... if it would create world peace!

So, still looking a bit unlikely then Chris?

Ouch.

If he won't lift a finger to participate in something like this, which requires him to just be himself and not portray the Doctor, then I think he mever acknowledge that he's part of the show;s history for life. Ol' Tom is another story.

From doctorwhonews.net;

'Thursday, 23 March, 2017 - Reported by Marcus

Comic Relief is offering the first opportunity ever created to enjoy a Full English Breakfast in the company of Seven Doctors.

The Wolseley on Piccadilly will be hosting this landmark meal where, for the first time in the show's 54 year history, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, David Tennant, Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi will meet to break bread and talk Tardis.

Here, inside its hallowed hall, the meal of meals will take place. An epic event, a world first, and a legendary opportunity to witness history in the making. To win the chance to join them on this remarkable morning, you need to enter the prize draw. Five pounds enters your name into the pot for a chance to join the seven Doctors for what is being described as the most historic breakfast in the history of television.

The meet and greet will take place between September 2017 and May 2018. Comic Relief will give you as much noticed as possible once the date is confirmed.

This prize has been kindly donated by the actors and The Wolseley.'

I think I just might toss my fiver into the ring anyway. (Though I have the hideous feeling a Full English Breakfast includes BAKED BEANS or some such abomination?)

Attempting to hack Eccy's ears off whilst screaming 'They belong to the NINTH DOCTOR - you know, the guy you MURDERED, you DEPRAVED MONSTER!' wouldn't help anyone digest their breakfast.

And at least it might shut up all those idiots on Gallifrey Base who are always claiming how WONDERFULLY CHARITABLE Christopher Eccleston is so we TOTALLY shouldn't hold his attempt to destroy Doctor Who against him in any way...

Come on, he never attempted to destroy Doctor Who.

Sixteen years. Sixteen Long And Barren Years Of Despair we waited for it to come back to us, and then it did, and it was so far beyond my wildest dreams that some part of me STILL can't believe it happened, and then - what - TWO DAYS after our Glorious Resurrection Ecclestraitor turned round, spat in our faces, and swanned off. The only thing that saved us was, ridiculously and impossibly, finding ourselves a more popular Doctor than Tom Baker Himself. You're probably right that Eccy wasn't TRYING to destroy us, it was worse than that - he just didn't give a •••• either way about our survival.

He was a •••• Doctor anyway so I wouldn't be wasting any more time on him. When he's old, grey and about to drop off the perch like TB shortly then maybe he'll recant. Remember, for how many years did your beloved TB ignore and deny the existence of Doctor Who??

He was a •••• Doctor anyway so I wouldn't be wasting any more time on him.

Look, I would absolutely LOVE this to be the case, it's just an unfortunate FACT that he was the Best Doctor Ever. But if you're in denial about this just KEEP IT UP, your life will be all the happier for it.

(Still, I suppose it could have been worse, can you IMAGINE our even greater lifelong misery if McGann or Hurt had had the misfortune to be the Best Doctor Ever.)

When he's old, grey and about to drop off the perch like TB shortly then maybe he'll recant.

You've been waiting for Tom to croak in a vulture-like manner for as long as I can remember, when is the penny gonna drop that this is NEVER GONNA HAPPEN?

Especially now that Hurt has proved that Our Hero is no longer neatly dying in chronological order.

Remember, for how many years did your beloved TB ignore and deny the existence of Doctor Who??

Our Tom never ignored and denied the existence of Doctor Who, he just declined to be part of it any more (and who can blame him, whenever he broke this rule we ended up with that awful Tom Baker clips video, that awful Shada narration, and that worse-than-awful Dimensions in Time).

Best line: "Deadly for *humans*, maybe..."

Huh. I see that Himself is to play Macbeth. On the one hand, playing the ultimate TRAITOR is highly suitable, on the other hand, what does HE know about going mad with guilt, LIKE HE BLOODY WELL SHOULD HAVE DONE?

And if he had gone mad, at least it would have been cured temporarily if he'd just appeared in the 50th anniversary show for more than 3 seconds!

GOD, yeah. It's not as if it would have mended the pieces of my broken heart he'd been stomping on for the previous eight years but it was his ONE SHOT at anything remotely approaching redemption and he blew it...

If there's one thing I'm grateful for, it's that the notion of 'Doctor-lite' episodes was developed after Eccleston's tenure.

Ah, yes, good point.

And that the hideous reduction in episodes from thirteen to twelve, from twelve to ten, hadn't started yet.

(Though I suppose if it HAD started I'd never have realised that thirteen-plus-Christmas-Special was what Who was MEANT to be, dammit.)

I MISS HIM.

Did you post this on the right board?

Where else should I have posted it?

Well that's strange. When I clicked on your link yesterday, it took me here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV0C6Bhr1Wk

which, being Who-related, didn't seem odd except for the lack of any mention of Eccleston. I must have accidentally clicked on one of the Up-Nexts.

But today it gives me the one you obviously intended.

••••, I miss him too. Still my favourite New Series Doctor.

Ecclestraitor claims to have been blacklisted by the BBC after Who

Frankly, GOOD.

Did they catch him being nice and respectable to an intern? ;-)

Because then they had to hire David Tennant and what a disaster that was for the BBC.

So, er, what do we all make of the Christopher Eccleston interview with its epic - but circumspect - but epic slaggage-off of RTD, placing the blame for his departure firmly on "the showrunner, the producer and co-producer"?

Oh, has the Traitor finally mustered the guts to name n'(attempt to) shame our Living God after thirteen years of skirting around the issue?

Astonishing how someone can just keep on going down in your estimation thirteen years after he broke your heart and jumped up and down on all the little pieces...

So how would you feel if the split had led to RTD jumping ship in 2005 and Eccleston staying on as the Doctor...?

WHY WOULD YOU TRY TO MAKE MY BRAIN EXPLODE LIKE THAT, WHY!

Well, there's a universe out there where that happened. RTD jumping ship I mean. Not your head exploding.

If RTD had jumped ship in 2005 we might have got Mark Gatiss *shudders*

I've no doubt Eccles is right that he would have improved had he done another series - he made some bad technical choices based on his preconceptions of the show.

WHY WOULD YOU TRY TO MAKE MY BRAIN EXPLODE LIKE THAT, WHY!

To be fair, if Rusty had walked after series one then the BBC would have pulled the plug on the show. We're a long way from the Graham Williams era, when the star had all the power and the producer none.

And I wonder if we'll ever again see a new executive producer take over with an incumbent Doctor staying on.

Anyway, given the choice between our universe and one where RTD left after one year and Eccleston stayed on, I might just bail ship.

RTD was absolutely the right choice for kicking the series off, and when he left I felt it was time he did, but then Moffat turned out to be a bigger disappointment (with some notable high points).

But Eccleston? The fact that he did so few episodes might very well be why he's my second favourite Doctor and not my first. Another series or two he might have pushed Tom off the mantel.

Update: Eccleston's RT interview has made Private Eye's Luvvies column, but based on his Hollywood experiences than anything to do with Doctor Who.

I see that Himself has overcome his hatred of Who enough to turn up at Comic Con and fleece us for £95 autographs.

There was definitely a time I'd've coughed up ninety-five quid to lunge screaming for his throat/prostate myself at his feet howling 'Why! WHY!' but that time has, mercifully for us both, almost definitely passed.

Makes one want to dress up as a Comic Con official and berate an intern in his presence just to see if he would quit or keep taking the money. ;-)

Brilliant.

I wouldn't have him wipe my ass for ninety five bucks.

Another reason to see him as a whiny actor who doesn't yet realise what a plum role he landed. Makes me dislike his Doctor more and more.

Remember when actors gave autographs free of charge at Conventions.

I didn't have to pay Marina Sirtis when I got her autograph at a Trek Convention, here in Ottawa, in 1993.

When did that change (I haven't been to any conventions since 1995).

It changed when conventions became big business and autographs became hot ticket items on ebay.

These actors need to be paid for their time so I have no quibbles paying money for the privilege of their scrawl.

Yeah, that could be it. The Internet was just starting to come into common usage in the early 1990's.

While Ebay started in 1995, it probably took a number of years for it to become the big thing it is now.

However, I do have a problem with the actors charging for autographs. It costs a pretty penny just to get into a convention these days, isn't that enough. Back in the day, the conventions paid the actor in question to appear.

Besides, most of these actors make more money than we'll even see in our lifetimes. They don't need to pick our pockets.

However, I do have a problem with the actors charging for autographs. It costs a pretty penny just to get into a convention these days, isn't that enough. Back in the day, the conventions paid the actor in question to appear.

It's not the actor charging it's the convention people. The fact that people would send their little kids to get autographs and then sell them on ebay for $$$ was getting out of hand.

Also, not everyone who goes to conventions does so for the autographs. Some go for the cosplay and stalls only and therefore the ticket price is a lot less for those people.

Remember, these actors are being booked for an appearance and may have to give up work for it so they deserve to be compensated.

Also, I'm curious as to why Emily hasn't chimed in on the article I posted....

It's not the actor charging it's the convention people.

Oh, okay.


Some go for the cosplay and stalls only

They didn't have cosplay at the conventions I was at, although they did have a gift room, where one could buy memorabilia.

As I said, I haven't been to a convention in over twenty years. Guess I was out of the loop on how they run now, as to compared to 1993.

Come to think of it...what the •••• made Eccleston think HE was suddenly worthy of being called 'Doctor' again? Hurt stripped himself of the Sacred Name just cos he intended to go fight for the universe in a necessary and just war - the new-born Eccleston, having spent centuries slaughtering billions (according to the Day of the Doctor novelisation, if nothing else), has just deliberately (he believed) wiped out HIS ENTIRE SPECIES like, FIVE MINUTES ago.

Does regeneration REALLY wipe you free of all your sins, just like that? (Would certainly explain why Davison didn't give a second thought to that misfortunate wiping-out-half-the-universe thing.) In what way does that make sense? Should every human mass-murderer be absolved after every cell in THEIR body has changed, i.e. seven years later?

Does regeneration REALLY wipe you free of all your sins, just like that?

Good question, and possibly yes.

I thought stealing a TARDIS was one of the charges in the War Games trial, but checking the transcripts, it doesn't appear it was, although it could have been mentioned offscreen.

Troughton's defence, and Colin Baker's, drew only on incidents from that incarnation.

The Inquisitor mentioned the earlier trial but it was dismissed with a single line of dialogue.

So perhaps regeneration does clean the slate in Time Lord culture.

I thought stealing a TARDIS was one of the charges in the War Games trial, but checking the transcripts, it doesn't appear it was, although it could have been mentioned offscreen.

Blimey, that's...unexpected.

So perhaps regeneration does clean the slate in Time Lord culture.

There IS the fact that Davison was reproached for Tom's failure to return Romana to Gallifrey. But on the other hand, in the Gallifrey audios Romana was banned from standing for President cos she'd served her full terms (or something) but ran on the promise that if she won she'd regenerate, which would make everything legally OK...

But how would this work? Commit ANY crime and know you would be let off scot-free if you just regenerate? Was THAT why they released Missy and gave her a TARDIS, after Simm had screwed up their chances of escaping the Time War? What happens if you regenerate into exactly the same body, a la Tennant?

And even if this WAS Time Lord culture/law, why would the Doctor, who's never taken Time Lord culture/law particularly seriously, go along with it?

Blimey, that's...unexpected.

The War Chief mentions him stealing a TARDIS, so this is the story that establishes that. But:

You have heard the charge against you, that you have repeatedly broken our most important law of non-interference in the affairs of other planets.

'Charge.' Singular. Interference.

So why don't they accuse him of theft? Possible evidence for the 'current incarnation only' interpretation, but I do agree it doesn't make a lot of sense.

But then, I never believed the Time Lords couldn't capture the first Doctor, only that they couldn't be bothered to. (Or decided not to, knowing the Doctor was too important, that he would become a key player in the Time Lord. Whatever.)

I always thought Susie Who (Cushing) was some sort of alien agent. No human little girl could be that irritatingly obnoxious.

So why don't they accuse him of theft? Possible evidence for the 'current incarnation only' interpretation

Or for the SHE stole HIM interpretation...

I always thought Susie Who (Cushing) was some sort of alien agent. No human little girl could be that irritatingly obnoxious.

Have you not MET children?

After struggling to fall asleep last night, I put on the audiobook of the novelisation of Spearhead from Space/Auton Invasion. (I can't believe I needed 11 words to say what I put on.) It definitely mentioned stealing a TARDIS in the recap of the trial scene. Not canonical but it goes some ways towards why we think it's in there.

That's a relief, it's always a bit worrying when you find that you've spent your lifetime believing something that just isn't true, in defiance of the evidence of your own eyes. But OF COURSE the novelisations would sink their teeth into me more than the TV story would, they caught me younger and it's not as if, excellent though it is, one watches all ten episodes of The War Games on a regular basis...

Watching those episodes wasn't even an option when we were reading those books. We relied on them, and later Peter Haining, to provide the history and mythology of the show.

I guess this is as good a place as any for this short video.

https://youtu.be/fLvT9v--eCY

9. for Emily, it's a shame we didn't have more of him...

There's an easy way to remember how to spell his name - Eccleston finishes earlier than you expect...

Fourteen years.

Fourteen ••••••• years.

We're LITERALLY not the same people as when he broke our hearts and ruined our lives. Every cell in our bodies has regenerated. TWICE.

And every time you think that maybe you're over it...

Every cell in our bodies has regenerated. TWICE.

Not our neurons, those are still the same ones we had then, so we're still the same people where it counts.

Ah.

That explains A LOT.

So...the Doctor's neurons - does s/he get new ones every regeneration or just get 'em all shaken up?

That's a good question. Some things must remain the same because each Doctor remembers being their previous incarnations. Others must change because each incarnation has a distinct personality. Even the various Doctor versions have different opinions on the matter. I will not dare hazard a guess, we'd have to as someone from Gallifrey to get a valid answer.

I've interpreted the rest period following most regenerations as the brain rewiring itself. The memories are there but the pathways to them are being sorted out.

Of course there are goofy exceptions. In Time Crash he remembers seeing something he did six regenerations previous, while he can otherwise never remember events from previous encounters with himself (they've all be 'him's so far).

And this still doesn't explain his trouble remembering his previous visit in Face of Evil, which had to have been relatively recent and undeniably in the same incarnation.

And this still doesn't explain his trouble remembering his previous visit in Face of Evil, which had to have been relatively recent and undeniably in the same incarnation.

Terrence Dicks clears it up nicely when he novelized the story. He places it during the events of Robot, when the just regenerated Doctor sneaks off in the TARDIS one night, winds up on this planet, "fixes" Xoannon, and returns to 20th Century Earth, arriving only moments after he left. Due to his state at the time, the Doctor's memories of these events are buried.

This is probably the only explanation that we'll ever get.

Have to admire Mr. Dicks for this. In several of his novels, he fixes things that needed fixing.

Like side stepping the whole UNIT dating thing in his novelization of Pyramids of Mars, where he has Sarah asking the Doctor to return her to her own time, never saying "1980" (and this novel was written in 1979, before the whole UNIT dating thing really got started).

Like giving an explanation as to how the Dodecahedron got to Tigella is his novelization of Meglos.

And, yes, why Vince burned the money in Horror Of Fang Rock (of course, he wrote the actual story, but that explanation got cut out).

And this still doesn't explain his trouble remembering his previous visit in Face of Evil, which had to have been relatively recent and undeniably in the same incarnation.

When he first visited he probably landed on the ship and was dealing with the computer. At the start of the episode he lands in the jungle. Do you really need a big detailed explanation for why he didn't realize it was the same place?

Have to admire Mr. Dicks for this. In several of his novels, he fixes things that needed fixing.

Doesn't always WORK though. He clearly sees that the Doctor not realising the Duke is an Evil Alien and leaving Sarah with him in Terror of the Zygons makes the Doctor a half-witted moronic idiot, but Dicks' 'he had suspected the Duke from the very first. By revealing how much he knew of their plans...the Doctor had hoped to bluff the aliens into seeking a peaceful solution. He'd even agreed to let Sarah stay at the Castle, feeling that he and the Duke had reached a sort of unspoken truce', whilst a valiant attempt to remedy the situation, merely makes the Doctor look like a half-witted moronic CRIMINALLY RECKLESS idiot instead.

Oh - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-7464325/Doctor-star-Christopher-Eccleston-reveals-battle-anorexia-drove-suicide.html

Oh poor darling. That explains everything. I will absolutely stop berating him as a Who-hater who ruined my life -

- 'People love the way I look in that series, but I was very ill. The reward for that illness was the part. And therein lies the perpetuation of the whole sorry situation' - don't - you - DARE blame Who you Who-hater who ruined my life! Have you actually SEEN any of your other selves? The Doctor is SO not cast for her/his LOOKS.

The Doctor is SO not cast for her/his LOOKS

True. Even the Lighthouse Killer wouldn't be featured in a womens magazine.

The Doctor is SO not cast for her/his LOOKS.

This sounds like something Chandler Bing would say!


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandler_Bing

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-09-20/christopher-eccleston-doctor-who-fans/

Christopher Eccleston: Doctor Who fans have “healed something in me”

Clearly, he hasn't met Emily yet.

Oh gods, and now when I DO encounter him I'll have to be nice now won't I, I mean how many people go round saying how Who Fans heal their souls and suchlike? Could I really face being the one who ruined that by confiscating the Ninth Doctor's Sacred Ears from Eccleston's unworthy head?

I'm glad he seems to have found some better mental strength, now he's older, and he has retained his integrity. He doesn't need Large Endings (as Ainley called them).

Don't worry, Emily, everything's fine.

'Fine' in what possible sense of the word?

HE LEFT ME MUM HE LEFT ME MUM.

Yesterday Patrick Troughton was trending on Twitter. Before realising he's been dead for 33 years, I thought, "Blimey! I hope he's not caught covid-19!" It turns out it was just to mark the centenary of his birth.

Today Christopher Eccleson is trending on Twitter. It thought, "Blimey! He's not turned 100 as well?!"

Eccleston is trending today because he’s going to star in a Big Finish production. Good news for you I hope.

You can see my reaction in the brand new Audios: Ninth Doctor: The Ninth Doctor Adventures 1 section.

Yeah, just saw it.

Christopher Eccleston was one of the specialist subjects on tonight's 'Mastermind'. Tragically, the questions did not include "why did he betray and abandon us?" or "what is the size of the bounty Emily is offering for his ears?"

And what, exactly, IS the size of the bounty?

All the kittens you can cuddle. ;-)

Ecclestraitor answers listener questions

'After being somewhat distant towards the role after leaving -' 'That's your opinion' - WTF that's not an OPINION you...gaslighting *@!t{*.(! That's the UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE CENTURY.

Well, at least he's being honest about doing it for the money. Right before he starts lying through his teeth about the high quality of the Big Finish scripts.

He doesn't even know that 'classic' = Old Who!

My god, if he tells me ONE MORE TIME how great Big Finish are, I'll KNOW this is a hostage video...

You'd think you'd be happy to have him back in the fold, even if it is only Big Finish.

You've spent the last 15 years plotting your revenge against him leaving Who, after all.

Yes, and does he think I have no SELF-RESPECT? No man gets to RIP MY HEART OUT and then stroll back in SIXTEEN YEARS LATER with a cry of 'Hi honey I'm home!'...

Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

Yes.

Damned is the word.

I might have been able to forgive him in a Christ-like act of benevolence for my shattered life had he made amends in our Fiftieth but nope, he just had to twist that knife AGAIN and inflict that stupid wispy-bearded fake-Doctor-thing on us instead...only to grace BIG FINISH of all things with his presence...

Eccleston says Who should be more female

There's definitely a discussion to be had, but possibly the guy who obviously didn't watch Cyberwoman shouldn't be the one lecturing us on the need for a Cyberwoman.

the guy who obviously didn't watch Cyberwoman shouldn't be the one lecturing us on the need for a Cyberwoman

No one has the right to lecture us about 'Cyberwoman' if they've never endured the misery of watching 'Cyberwoman'.

First look at Chris Eccleston in Oliver Twist prequel Dodger:
https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/dodger-christopher-eccleston-trailer-newsupdate/?fbclid=IwAR3IyPe3GsUsfp2NWq4IxGzmDORH1Dv3Ey0GxnWZthgpZ4tU6cCEjXFFEAg

This has two Ninth Doctors in it as it also has Phil Cornwell as he played the Ninth Doctor on Dead Ringers.

Cornwell subsequently played the stallholder in The Fires of Pompeii, the one who sold the TARDIS to Peter Capaldi!

Other cast members of Dodger includes Alex Kingston, Frances Barber, Danny John-Jules and Alexei Sayle.

I guess I can put this here. But of a coin toss.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZe9TLUMOxo/?utm_medium=copy_link

Lol imagine if all of them swapped with each other

The Traitor in DWM:

'It's a gift to play it, as every actor who's ever had the role will tell you. This is a hero who doesn't take himself too seriously, and who is filled with love. It's a joyous thing to do' - oh •••• off Eccy.

'He's very straight isn't he, the Doctor? He does not go in for manipulation' - SOMEONE hasn't been watching the McCoy Era...

'He has a leaning towards the feminine, does the Doctor, which is illustrated in his companions down the years - their emotional intelligence' - that's a...charitable way of looking at it. But one cannot help but wonder, if that's the case, why the hell he didn't get the gender-upgrade a lot sooner.

'I think there's huge wisdom in Tom Baker. When I was cast as the Doctor, they said to him, "What do you think of Chris Eccleston?" And he said, "Who's Chris Eccleston?" Which was my favourite reaction at the time...He's the master. And you see that in all his episodes. He's eternally in the moment and eternally fresh' - hmm. Maybe Ecclestraitor's life can be spared after all...

...Oh, probably not: 'I'm an average actor made to look good by writers like Jimmy McGovern, Peter Bowker and Peter Flannery' - don't bother mentioning RUSSELL T GOD.

'The message in Doctor Who is always positive. The message is, always embrace every lifeform' - no it isn't.

DWM's view on the character is that he's 'hoping that if he pretends to be a good, brave, upbeat Doctor for Rose long enough, he will somehow become that person again' - is that TRUE? It also seems to regard being Tennant as the REWARD of becoming such a person but what kind of sicko sees DYING as a REWARD?

So, Eccleston has an issue with Ncuti Gatwa as the next Doctor.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0goIaasiLr/

'Sack Russell T Davies' is Ecclestraitor's response to the question of what it'll take for him to come back to Who.

Well SOMEONE somehow didn't notice the Moffat and Chibnall Eras, which is all the odder when you consider he had two meetings with The Moff begging him to return for our Fiftieth...

I kind of felt his original argument about leaving the show wasn't all of his problems. But his demanding the sacking of Davies & Trantor supplies more of the missing bits.