TV
Christopher Eccleston, star of the new series of Doctor Who, e-mailed writer Russell T Davies asking to be the ninth actor to play the cult character.
Eccleston (Cracker; Shallow Grave) reportedly e-mailed Davies volunteering to be the eponymous Time Lord after he heard that the show was to be resurrected.
Davies told Radio Times: "It was gobsmacking because you think he's going to be doing Hamlet all the time.
"He e-mailed me and said if we were looking for a Doctor Who, he'd be interested."
Davies, who had written the first two episodes before casting Eccleston, also revealed that the actor suited the character of the new Who perfectly. He added: "That was a happy accident - we both wanted to strip it down, make it more down-to-earth."
Also in the cast will be singer Billie Piper as his assistant Rose.
Eccleston (Cracker; Shallow Grave) reportedly e-mailed Davies volunteering to be the eponymous Time Lord after he heard that the show was to be resurrected.
Davies told Radio Times: "It was gobsmacking because you think he's going to be doing Hamlet all the time.
"He e-mailed me and said if we were looking for a Doctor Who, he'd be interested."
Davies, who had written the first two episodes before casting Eccleston, also revealed that the actor suited the character of the new Who perfectly. He added: "That was a happy accident - we both wanted to strip it down, make it more down-to-earth."
Also in the cast will be singer Billie Piper as his assistant Rose.
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