Well, it was altruistic, actually. As I said then, I'm personally pleased Chris isn't in the 50th, but others aren't, so I'm sad for them. But don't let that stop you having a dig at me because I see things differently from you, will you?

Is he nice? Don't know, don't care....not as nice as David, or Matt, imo, but I'm sure some find him nice.

Hey, Chris is an actor first and foremost, and yes, he played the part of The Doctor, and did a damn good job of it in my opinion.

I'm no expert mind but he seems to deliberately avoid being stereotyped in a particular role in those he has played over the years and for an actor, has probably given him a longer shelf life than those willing to take a more comfy position in just one or two roles. He might not be great in all of them but thats dependant on other factors such as script and direction and so on and so forth.

Different people do different things.

He doesn't want to speak about his time in the role, then fine. He's done enough PR for the show in the past, and whilst we as fans want more, he is simply a (very) good actor trying to make a living by publicising his current role in whichever film he's in.

He's principled....I like him for that, but as a fan of the show, yes, I would loved to have seen him in the 50th (and will hold out a sliver of hope that somehow he and moffat has outfoxed us all by turning up in it for however briefly).

It doesn't change my opinion of him as the Doctor.

Be happy that he contributed to the show in the best way and wish him the best for his future.....and I for one will welcome him back to the DW fold when he decides to return.

I'd just like to point out that talking about their role in Doctor Who doesn't result in an actor being stereotyped.

It hasn't happened for David, at any rate - he'll quite happily talk about his role as the Doctor, in spite of having played quite a few other roles on stage and screen since he left. (Currently Richard II at Stratford, and a barrister in a thriller on TV tonight).

Nice? Nice! Nice?! Since when was being nice a prerequisite to casting? I'm sure Jon Pertwee was a lovely fellow but you'd never get him to buy a round of drinks apparently and I don't think I've ever heard anyone describing William Hartnell as 'nice'.

Lol - agreed. I don't think Tom is always very nice, either, from what I've heard.

But I'm glad my favourite Doctor is nice.

As has been said before, Christopher Eccleston is a wonderful actor who happened to play a part once. He owes nothing to anyone.

I have listened to him being interviewed several times, and he hold specific principals with regard acting. I would urge anyone who thinks he holds any malice towards Who give this a quick listen to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LUUM4tqYaA

I've heard this many times now, and fully agree with his thinking.

On BBC Breakfast, promoting a BBC 1 drama, he is happy to talk about a special episode of an upcoming BBC production he is returning to star in.

Bit different.

He did make the point that the Doctor is a part that, once you've played it, it's always with you.

I heard that in Colin Baker's voice.

I was channeling the sixth Doctor when I wrote it

Were you wearing the coat?

Only on special occasions

Of course not, it wasn't what I was attempting to imply in my post. Being stereotyped can only happen for playing the same role for a long time or for several similar roles in different things.

CE, to my mind, has attempted to play a lot of differing roles, be it deliberately or purely by chance of which our beloved Doctor is simply one of them.

Of course, there is nothing to say that he couldn't talk about previous roles but he appears to be avoiding making comments about the show in what is an important year but then I do stand to be corrected here.

I just feel it a shame that for some of us fans can't seem to allow him to do as he feels without castigating him in some way.

It's great that others such as David Tennant and Matt Smith can talk about the show - yeah, ok so they're in the 50th but Peter Davison and others can make comments as well.

I think we should all move on and say yes, CE was ok in the role, and lets look forward to the 50th.

I think it's safe to assume that Christopher Ecclestone has said everything he's willing to say about his time on Doctor Who and wants to focus on his current projects in interviews, and as interviews are generally supposed to be PR for whatever TV shows, films or plays actors are appearing in at the moment I think that's the professional thing to do. Maybe he'll be thinking a bit differently in another ten years' time when people are still watching his episodes and saying how good he was.

I'm sure he's a decent bloke but I was always dubious at his casting. He seemed to look down on the show. I'm sure the interviews on the box set.where he seems to imply the show constantly portrayed the companions as weak scared females and that had changed now he was there.
In short he had no passion for the show. It was a gig. Nothing more.
Whatever they're doing to fart about with the doctors regenerstion cycle to keep the show going, they should replace delete Ecclestone. Then he doesn't have to worry about returning

Philip I found that really funny. People are always going to associate you with any iconic role and CE should know that more than anyone. Whenever anyone talks to honor Blackman they usually mention the avengers and James Bond and the same with Joanna lumley with Purdey. I'm sure he does know that!! Don't talk about my past roles ...focus on my big Hollywood blockbuster!!!! Mmm.

Yes. Lets delete the brilliant work of a fantastic actor who helped make the show we all love a massive hit. Just because he didn't want to talk about a show he left many years ago when promoting his new film.

He did work after Thor 2. He was in the short film Emily, the radio play 1984, a voice over for a documentary about OCD, a read through in Oxford, a charity campaign and he's also filmed a new drama about Lucan. See, this proves that he's a liar!


He's an aquarian, they are aloof. If you know anything about astrology and any aquarians you would know that they are the most bizzare, perplexing, unpredictable, intelligent, eccentric, unusual people you'd meet. My mum's an aquarian who I've known all my life and she still surprises me all the time.

I always associate Honor Blackman with that sitcom with Joe McGann, Joanna Lumley with her role in Shirley Valentine (who's Purdey?), Peter Davison with All Things Great And Wonderful and Chrissy with Shallow Grave. Odd isn't it?

Personally I think he's sticking his head up his arse like Tom did.....and now regrets it.
c'est la vie
(oh and yes that's the view of another aquarian)

Astology. The stars spend billions of years aligning just to tell you that you'll meet someone with dark hair

Except, I would imagine, any more Doctor Who...

How did Chris lie? It's perfectly plausible that he may have had other commitments at the specific time DotD was scheduled to shoot. Thor 2 was going through reshoots for quite a while.

Besides, Emily was shot in Summer 2012 and Lucan is still in production. But facts don't mean much to those who believe in guff such as star signs...

Pseudo-scientific poppycock! It's disturbing that you can reach such wild conclusions about one in twelve people on the strength of no credible evidence whatsoever.

I sincerely hope you don't work in recruitment or any job which allows you to put your irrational prejudice into practice.

You mean you have met Aquarians who are like that. You will also have met Aquarians who are not like that (we are talking about 1 in 12 of the entire population, after all). You will have met people who are like that, but are not Aquarians (or that you never find out their sign). The problem is that you, being a human, will only remember the cases that fit the rule.