After over a decade away from Doctor Who, Christopher Eccleston will finally return to the role of the Doctor in a series of new audio adventures!
Christopher Eccleston famously played the Ninth Doctor on Doctor Who, the first actor to back into the iconic role for the BBC’s 2005 revival of the beloved sci-fi show. But unlike successors like David Tennant and Jodie Whittaker, Eccleston only played the Doctor for one season, and then he was out.
Over the years, Eccleston has opened up about the reasons for his early departure, including behind-the-scenes issues and mental health struggles. Whatever the exact reasons, he never returned to play the Doctor again, sitting out reunion events like The Day of the Doctor or the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special. But not, after over a decade away, Eccleston will be playing the Ninth Doctor again in a series of audio adventures for Big Finish Productions.
“I first talked to Christopher about returning to the role of the Doctor at a fan convention in February this year,” said Big Finish Chairman Jason Heigh-Ellery. “Christopher said he was enjoying meeting the fans and was pleased that his Doctor was remembered so fondly. I am so pleased that Christopher has decided to return to the role with us – and I’m excited to welcome him to the Big Finish family as we discover the new adventures of the Ninth Doctor.”
And this isn’t just a one-and-done thing, either. Eccleston will appear in 12 full-cast audio adventures, released across four box sets starting in May of 2021.
For his part, Eccleston sounds psyched to get back in the game. “After 15 years it will be exciting to revisit the Ninth Doctor’s world, bringing back to life a character I love playing,” he said in a press release.
Doctor Who fans know that Big Finish is going hog-wild lately with new audio adventures for the Doctor, bringing in cast members from all over the show’s decades-long run. This should fit right in.
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h/t Io9