It's Official: Christopher Eccleston Cast as New Doctor Who
Friday, 19 March 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Christopher Eccleston, star of The Second Coming and Cracker who has been rumored for the past several days in numerous fan circles, has been cast as the Doctor in the new Doctor Who TV series. The following is the announcement from PA News:
Eccleston to Take Control of the Tardis
By Rachel Williams, PA News
Actor Christopher Eccleston is to be the new Doctor Who when the cult sci-fi show returns to our screens next year, it was announced tonight.
Eccleston, star of Flesh and Blood and The Second Coming, will appear as the TV Time Lord in the 13-part BBC1 series to be shown in 2005.
The BBC said the Salford-born 40-year-old would take the famous doctor into the 21st century in a "fresh and modern approach" involving travelling through time and space and fighting monsters on all fronts.
Jane Tranter, BBC Controller of Drama Commissioning, said: "We are delighted to have cast an actor of such calibre in one of British television's most iconic roles.
"It signals our intention to take Doctor Who into the 21st century, as well as retaining its core traditional values - to be surprising, edgy and eccentric.
"We have chosen one of Britain's finest actors to play what, in effect, will be an overtly modern hero."
Executive producer and writer Russell T Davies said: "We considered many great actors for this wonderful part, but Christopher was our first choice.
"This man can give the Doctor a wisdom, wit and emotional range as far-reaching as the Doctor's travels in time and space.
"His casting raises the bar for all of us. It's going to be a magnificent, epic, entertaining journey, and I can't wait to start."
The series will be filmed in Cardiff later this year.
By Rachel Williams, PA News
Actor Christopher Eccleston is to be the new Doctor Who when the cult sci-fi show returns to our screens next year, it was announced tonight.
Eccleston, star of Flesh and Blood and The Second Coming, will appear as the TV Time Lord in the 13-part BBC1 series to be shown in 2005.
The BBC said the Salford-born 40-year-old would take the famous doctor into the 21st century in a "fresh and modern approach" involving travelling through time and space and fighting monsters on all fronts.
Jane Tranter, BBC Controller of Drama Commissioning, said: "We are delighted to have cast an actor of such calibre in one of British television's most iconic roles.
"It signals our intention to take Doctor Who into the 21st century, as well as retaining its core traditional values - to be surprising, edgy and eccentric.
"We have chosen one of Britain's finest actors to play what, in effect, will be an overtly modern hero."
Executive producer and writer Russell T Davies said: "We considered many great actors for this wonderful part, but Christopher was our first choice.
"This man can give the Doctor a wisdom, wit and emotional range as far-reaching as the Doctor's travels in time and space.
"His casting raises the bar for all of us. It's going to be a magnificent, epic, entertaining journey, and I can't wait to start."
The series will be filmed in Cardiff later this year.
News link: Scotsman.com
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