Hello everyone! 🙂
Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!
It’s a shame that Christopher Eccleston only did one season of the new ‘Doctor Who’ TV series when it began in 2005. His era as the Ninth Doctor is one of the most significant of the TV show’s history, especially with resurrecting ‘Doctor Who’ back on TV and to be played for contemporary audiences.
Thankfully, Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor has not been forgotten, as he’s had a life outside the TV series, including books, comics and the Big Finish audios. In 2017, Big Finish released ‘The Ninth Doctor Chronicles’, which has Nicholas Briggs as the narrator as well as the Ninth Doctor.
In 2020, it was announced that Christopher Eccleston would be returning to play the Ninth Doctor in the Big Finish audios, and he’s done several box set adventures since then, including ‘Ravagers’, ‘Respond to All Calls’, ‘Lost Warriors’ and ‘Old Friends’. I’ve enjoyed checking out these adventures.
I’ve also had the chance to do my own take on the Ninth Doctor by writing him in the ‘Zorbius’ story ‘The Child of Death’, where he’s joined by Rose, Captain Jack, Mickey, Jackie and a Dalek. I’ve also included the Ninth Doctor and Rose in my upcoming 60th anniversary story ‘The Thirteen+ Doctors’.
In many respects, Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor is significant and special for me. He was the first Doctor I ever checked out in the TV series. David Tennant, Peter Davison and Jodie Whittaker came afterwards, but I’ll never forget how I came to check out the Ninth Doctor for the first time.
Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor is fiery and quite often full of rage, especially as he’s recovering from the Time War. There’s also the cheerful side to him, which Rose has helped to bring out to the fore more when she’s travelling with him in the TARDIS. He’s definitely one of my favourite Doctors.
From checking out ‘Dalek’ for the first time, my life has never been the same since, and I greatly appreciate the performances given by Christopher Eccleston to play the Ninth Doctor on TV and with such enthusiasm. I’m very pleased he’s kept that enthusiasm by appearing in the Big Finish audios. 🙂
Thanks for reading!
Bye for now!
Tim 🙂
Bradley's Basement 
Eccleston’s reasons for distancing himself from Dr. Who for a long time, before finally deciding on being the 9th Doctor again for Big Finish, have been discussable from all the assorted information that’s been read or listened to in interviews. The role of the Doctor is a life-changer and can make some actors feel happy to return to it whenever they can. But it’s actors like Eccleston and indeed Tom Baker who make very firm decisions on when their timing is right that can make us think. It can still be interesting to see Doctor actors in different things as it was seeing Eccleston in Heroes shortly afterwards. Things like this can work out well enough and certainly thanks to the level of freedom that Big Finish can provide. Thank you, Tim, for your reflections of the 9th Doctor.
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Hi scifimike,
Thanks for mentioning that Chris Eccleston was in ‘Heroes’. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the series and I should revisit it someday. I’m pleased that Tom Baker and Chris Eccleston have been able to revisit their roles of the Doctor in the Big Finish audios, as it’s been a worthwhile return for them. Glad you enjoyed my reflection on Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor.
Many thanks for your comments.
Tim 🙂
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You’re welcome. I was astonished by how many special guest stars Heroes attracted. Including George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Eric Roberts and Malcolm McDowell.
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And Stan Lee made a guest star appearance, I believe. 😀 Tim 🙂
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I don’t think I remember seeing Stan Lee in Heroes. Maybe it’s because after a time I somehow lost interest in the series and stopped watching it. Some of the last special guest stars I remember seeing in Heroes were Joanna Cassidy and Richard Roundtree.
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Hi scifimike,
Stan Lee cameoed as a bus driver in the sixteenth episode called ‘Unexpected’. Chris Ecceleston is in that episode too. In fact, he did five episodes from 12 to 17 in Series 1. Again, I’ll have to revisit the series sometime. It’s currently available on the ITVX streaming service where I am.
Many thanks,
Tim 🙂
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