Christopher Eccleston, largely unfamiliar with Doctor Who because he was never a fan of the "Doctor Who" (1963), prepared for the role of the Doctor by watching the DVD of "The Talons of Weng-Chiang", a Tom Baker adventure originally broadcast in 1977.
Special effects man Mike Tucker who is responsible for the model work and director Graeme Harper are the only crewmembers to have worked on the original show.
On Thursday 31 March 2005, the day after the show was picked up for a second season, the BBC Press Office announced that Christopher Eccleston was quitting the series, citing a fear of being typecast and long working hours as reasons for his departure. The BBC later apologized for issuing this statement, as they had done so without consultation with Eccleston. In fact it was agreed by mutual consent some months earlier that Eccleston would only do one season, with the BBC holding off announcing the news until after the series was finished. This would have allowed the death of Eccleston's character in episode 13 to be a surprise for the audience. Unfortunately, the BBC Press Office jumped the gun under pressure from the British Press who were concerned that a second season had been announced, but it had not been confirmed that Eccleston was returning. Fan reaction to Eccelston's departure was violent and the debate reached such a fever pitch that Outpost Gallifrey, the biggest Doctor Who fan site on the Internet, was forced to close down its forum for days.
On Saturday 5 March 2005 (some three weeks before its TV debut), a rough-cut version of episode one, "Rose" was leaked onto the Internet by an unnamed employee of a third-party contractor to CBC in Canada. The person responsible had their employment immediately terminated. The version is mostly similar to the broadcast version - the most notable difference is that instead of using Murray Gold's new version of the theme song, a remixed version of the original was used instead
Because of the varying technical and logistical demands of the 13 episodes of the first season, filming was broken into five production blocks. Episodes 1, 4 and 5 formed block one, and was filmed between July and September 2004. Block 2 comprised episodes 2 and 3, and was filmed between September and October 2004. Block 3 contained episodes 6 and 8 filmed between October and December. Block 4 was split into two sub blocks, 4A and 4B due to the large visual effects demands of episode 7 which on its own became block 4A, filmed between December 2004 and January 2005. Episodes 9 and 10 made up Block 4B, filmed from December through February 2005. Episodes 11-13 formed Block 5 filmed from February until March 2005.
Producer Russell T. Davies had Christopher Eccleston's name on a shortlist for the role of the Doctor but didn't really think that he would accept the role. Coincidentally, Davies soon received an email from Eccleston asking if he could audition for the part.
Colin Baker, the sixth actor to play the Doctor in the original series during the 1980s, said he was ecstatic on hearing that Christopher Eccleston was cast as the Doctor, as he feared it would be very easy to cast someone in the role who just would not suit the part.
Penelope Wilton, who played Harriet Jones in episodes "Aliens of London" and "World War Three" of "Doctor Who" (2005), was offered a part in the original "Doctor Who" (1963) series as Lady Pienforte in the episode "Silver Nemesis". The part was taken by Fiona Walker.
The best british show going along with Hustle. I must admit a hella lot of my interest in faded when Tennant quit but obviously I'm gonna give the new guy a chance at least.
On Thursday 31 March 2005, the day after the show was picked up for a second season, the BBC Press Office announced that Christopher Eccleston was quitting the series, citing a fear of being typecast and long working hours as reasons for his departure. The BBC later apologized for issuing this statement, as they had done so without consultation with Eccleston. In fact it was agreed by mutual consent some months earlier that Eccleston would only do one season, with the BBC holding off announcing the news until after the series was finished. This would have allowed the death of Eccleston's character in episode 13 to be a surprise for the audience. Unfortunately, the BBC Press Office jumped the gun under pressure from the British Press who were concerned that a second season had been announced, but it had not been confirmed that Eccleston was returning. Fan reaction to Eccelston's departure was violent and the debate reached such a fever pitch that Outpost Gallifrey, the biggest Doctor Who fan site on the Internet, was forced to close down its forum for days.
actually eccleston took the role knowing it was only for one season. In Russel T Davies's original series plan(written bout a year before anybody was cast) he wrote the doctor to die in the final. The whole idea of that 1st season was to show all the aspects of the characotr and the fact he can regenerate is a big part of the mythology. So yeah-eccleston was never fired, he never quit-he simply played the role out as it was written. He has said in interviews since he would not of taken the role if he didnt die in the final ep
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Anybody interested in Doctor Who here?
Anybody interested in Doctor Who here?
