DOCTOR WHO: Christopher Eccleston Makes Conditions For Ninth Doctor Return Clear: "[Fire] Russell T Davies"

DOCTOR WHO: Christopher Eccleston Makes Conditions For Ninth Doctor Return Clear: "[Fire] Russell T Davies"

Christopher Eccleston only starred in Doctor Who for a single season, and he's now talked candidly about what it would take for him to consider reprising the role of the Ninth Doctor in the Whoniverse...

By JoshWilding - Dec 14, 2023 08:12 AM EST
Filed Under: Doctor Who
Source: SFFGazette.com

When Russell T Davies resurrected Doctor Who back in 2005, it was with Christopher Eccleston playing the Ninth Doctor. However, the actor ended up bidding farewell to the role after just a single season, causing speculation in the British tabloids to go into overdrive. 

BBC announced Eccleston wouldn't be sticking around shortly after his first episode and hinted that he was struggling with what was required of him as the Doctor amid concerns about being typecast. Later, the broadcaster had to admit to "falsely [attributing] a statement" to him and breaking an agreement about not revealing his departure so soon into his run (as you can probably imagine, the fact Eccleston wasn't sticking around quickly soured many fans on him).

Over the years, Eccleston has remained resolute in his decision to not return to Doctor Who and made it clear he remains angry with both the BBC and the creative team who he feels threw him under the bus. 

Appearing at "For The Love Of Sci-Fi 2023" convention (via SFFGazette.com) alongside Billie Piper, Eccleston revealed what it would take to bring him back to the long-running sci-fi series. 

"Sack Russell T Davies," he stated. "Sack Jane Tranter. Sack Phil Collinson. Sack Julie Gardner. And I'll come back. So can you arrange that?" Something tells us Davies, who recently returned to Doctor Who, isn't going anywhere. The same can likely be said for those executive producers as well. 

Still, despite not being a fan of how his time on Doctor Who was handled, Eccleston went on to confirm he has no problem with still being tied to the show. 

"Not at all, I love being associated, just don't like being associated with those people and the politics that went on in the first series. The first series was a mess, and it wasn't to do with me or Billie [Piper], it was to do with the people who were supposed to make it, and it was a mess."

"You know, the first series, nobody wants to know. The BBC were like we're gonna keep a big distance from this. And then as soon as it was a success they were all up close going 'I was responsible for that,' but they were all like at a distance. Like this is a folly, Eccleston's folly, Piper's folly, Russell T. Davies' folly. And then when it worked, suddenly 'Oh yeah I worked on that.'"

"They wouldn't come anywhere near us and then they jump on the bandwagon. Those kinds of politics I'm not very good at handling, I can't swallow that shit."

On the plus side, Billie Piper said she would jump at the chance to play Rose Tyler again. "Well, I've returned a bunch of times. I couldn't stop returning for a while. It has been a while. Too long, too long. Yeah, I think I would. I think I'd go back. I think also now again because my kids are a bit older, I'd quite like to share all of that with them as well."

You can watch Eccleston and Piper's full Doctor Who panel appearance in the player below. 

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Origame
Origame - 12/14/2023, 8:08 AM
After the holiday special, I have to agree.
philinterrupted
philinterrupted - 12/14/2023, 8:31 AM
After more than 10 years of those people not being in the show he had his chance.

I think this is a good safe answer. I think he just prefers doing the Big Finish audio dramas of Who.
Batmangina
Batmangina - 12/14/2023, 8:44 AM
MY MAN!
PapaBear562
PapaBear562 - 12/14/2023, 9:03 AM
I also have to agree with Chris. I loved him and Piper in their roles, but the politics of BBC were already making inroads in his days.
Blergh
Blergh - 12/14/2023, 9:17 AM
I don’t quite get that though. Most of these folks were gone for quite some time and returned along RTD?
From what I remember by Capaldis first episode none of them were involved anymore.

I’m not sure what happened and I wouldn’t claim that RTD is some saint but Eccleston seems kind of odd here
dracula
dracula - 12/14/2023, 11:59 AM
@Blergh - were any involved during the 50th anniversary?

Thats really the only chance he had to return since leaving, filling the War Doctor role
1stDalek
1stDalek - 12/14/2023, 3:06 PM
@Blergh - He did have lunch to talk with Moffat about doing the 50th so there's at least less animosity there, they just couldn't agree on it.
1stDalek
1stDalek - 12/14/2023, 3:19 PM
I feel like if Moffat hadn't chickened out on killing having Capaldi regenerate on 'Doctor Falls' he could have gotten creative for Twice Upon a Time and given us an episode with Eccleston or McGann as the Doctor. A genuine breather episode before we get to the good stuff with Whitaker, just catching up with an old Doctor having a 'lost episode' type adventure, maybe even keep 1st Doctor involved too for funsies.
marvel72
marvel72 - 12/14/2023, 9:36 AM
Well said, I'm liking this Doctor more and more.
EternalMikeHunt
EternalMikeHunt - 12/14/2023, 11:28 AM
This is THE MAN. 'Bout time someone with BALLS spoke out firmly. Doctor Who is [frick]ing RUINED...for now.
dracula
dracula - 12/14/2023, 11:56 AM
Wow. What the hell happened during that first season?

Considering what RTD has done since his return, i wouldnt mind him being fired but man something bad must have happened for Chris to only be willing to return under these conditions
AnthonyVonGeek
AnthonyVonGeek - 12/14/2023, 12:00 PM
Modern movies and tv shows are like a popular band that’s been around for 20 years then all the sudden they get a new lead singer that hates rock music and despises the fans so they purposely try to ruin the band’s popularity to get a totally different fanbase. Definitely sounds familiar to me. 🤷‍♂️
1stDalek
1stDalek - 12/14/2023, 3:14 PM
He's really not been interested in returning until he started doing Cons and then BF, it's impressive how he's turned around on it. I guess he could have made something happen with Chibnall, but I can see how that would have been a struggle to fit in. It's ok, Tom Baker also turned his back on the show for decades before he felt comfortable returning, though he also had to make peace with his co-workers after being an asshole on set for so long and they get along splendidly now. I think we'll see him in a couple of years for NuWho's 20th anniversary, feel like that's a great time to do something big with all the 21st century Doctors.

He also finally stated he'd be down to doing Big Finish with Billie Piper if they give them fat checks. I expect something to come from that in the next year or 2.

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