Christopher Eccleston was cast as the star, when Doctor Who came back to life in 2005. His Doctor was unpredictable and edgy, but still held all of the wonder and mystery of every Doctor before him. But his tenure was cut short, because Eccleston departed the show after just one season on bad terms.
For years, speculation ran rampant about what exactly happened to make Eccleston jaded about the show. He finally broke his silence in a recent interview with Radio Times about what happened all those years ago. According to Eccleston, it was behind-the-scenes drama with management that caused him to leave. He loved the character, but still holds a grudge with the production for how he was treated:
“My relationship with my three immediate superiors – the showrunner, the producer and co-producer – broke down irreparably during the first block of filming and it never recovered. They lost trust in me, and I lost faith and trust and belief in them.
Some of my anger about the situation came from my own insecurity. They employed somebody [as the Doctor] who was not a natural light comedian. Billie [Piper], who we know was and is brilliant, was very, very nervous and very, very inexperienced.
So, you had that, and then you had me. Very, very experienced, possibly the most experienced on it, but out of my comfort zone. When I left, I gave my word to [then-showrunner] Russell T Davies that I wouldn’t do anything to damage the show. But they did things to damage me. I didn’t criticise anybody.”
Eccleston goes on to say that he will never work with showrunner Russell T. Davies again. That is slightly good news for Doctor Who fans who hope to see him return as the Doctor again. Davies departed the show when David Tennant left.
