Christopher Eccleston rules out 'Who' return
Published May 2 2011, 16:50 BST | By Justin Harp
© BBC
The Lancashire native portrayed the ninth incarnation of The Doctor when the sci-fi 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 T. 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 emailed 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 [Doctor Who], which I felt was going to be intelligent."
The star went on to profess 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 of the Ninth Doctor for Doctor Who's 50th anniversary in 2013.
"No, I never bathe in the same river twice," Eccleston said.
Last week, current showrunner Steven Moffat teased that John Barrowman could return as Captain Jack Harkness in a future Doctor Who episode, and John Simm later expressed openness to re-emerging as The Master.
Doctor Who returns with new episode 'The Curse of the Black Spot' this Saturday on BBC One in the UK and on BBC America in the US.
> Rate last weekend's episode 'Day of the Moon'
Listen to Christopher Eccleston discuss Doctor Who below:
who needs christopher, he was a rubbish doctor , and was as moody in the episodes as he is in real life, he doesn't deserve to be doctor who again, its a huge honour to play the role and its one he doesn't deserve.it is however rather selfish to do the role and expect it to just be dismissed, he was and always will be doctor who, he cant change that and needs to realise that.he could do 100 films and most people will now just know him as doctor who. if bbc wanted him they would buy him but being bbc they are so tight they cant keep any big name so hopefully the money will be going to david tennant , paul mcgann, sylvestor mccoy, colinbaker and peter davison. hopefully they wont ask tom baker as he is more stuck up than christopher and also doesn't deserve the role , he didn't want the 25th so he shouldn't get the 50th role.
May 14th 2011 at 2:49am
They should give Paul McGann a chance to return. He has said he'd be willing to. He was a fantastic Doctor and his Big Finish Audio adventures are wonderful. I think the BBC has treated him unfairly. I also see many fans having a desire to See Paul reprise his role as the Doctor again. Paul Mcann deserves an offer to return more than any other Doctor.
May 11th 2011 at 7:51pm
why oh why is ecclestone such a sourpuss? it relaunched his career. he should be greatful.
May 10th 2011 at 8:06pm
No way, he was the best one! I couldn't believe we went from him to David Tennant, whom I never took to after the brilliant portrayal of Ecclestein.
May 9th 2011 at 1:59am
He says he won't return now, the amount of people who say that and end up coming back anyway. I'm sure when the 50th Anniversary hype begins, he might cave in and come back. Anybody can be convinced!
May 8th 2011 at 12:25pm