I know Chris Eccleston goes on about the quality of the scripts but I agree with Jonathon Ross who scolded him on his chat show for not taking any credit that it was Chris' open, warm and brave performance that made it a success. He gave the show its heart and that clearly helped Billie to settle in easily.

He has continually showed tv companies that he can bring in viewers e.g Second Coming had high ratings even though it was up against Austin Powers. Viewers know if he's on board a project its going to be a quality production and think he's more of a draw than he realises. A lot of viewers wouldnt know who Russel T Davies was if he fell on them.

I just hope tv/film casting directors take note and give him some juicy projects. I'm sick of soap stars getting expensive tv series built round them.

It was made as a drama - like the most successful of BBC productions

Seems a very down-to-earth self-deprecating kinda guy, doesn't he?

Think it was the efforts of all involved that made the show work on so many levels. Wouldn't suggest the scripts were it's strongest point though, as they varied between abysmal and excellent. Without a doubt though, it was Chris's Doctor that sealed that success. First-class performance throughout - even in the weaker episodes. Billie's performance deserves as much credit, but it wouldn't have made the impact it did if Chris's hadn't have been spot on.

When was that Rossy interview on? Missed it. Recent? Repeated?

Be a crime if the pair don't walk away with gongs come BAFTA time...

I personally think it was a number of things that made it successful. Mainly down to the fact that it was genuine fans of the show in the production team and they clearly weren't doing it souly for the money. Another thing is the format of Doctor Who is one of the most original that had ever appeared on television. Think about it...every so often the main character dies and his face changes. He travels through time and space in a police box that is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. Also there is the mythology of the series that is there for people who aren't just the casual viewer.

They tried bringing it back in 1996 and it didn't work. In my opinion the reasons for this were that they tried to making it too American. The Doctor was fine in this but they tried to make it too grandstand. Also I don't think it was bought back for the right reasons. It'd be like trying to sell Star Trek as an English production. Really wouldn't work. It was more of a money spinner, or that's how I saw it. This new series was just about the right time and also it has a big connection to the past show that really works.

Another reason is Chris Eccleston and Billie Piper's performances. The connection between these two took elements from Pertwee's Doctor and Jo Grant and other great companionships from the older series and really added emotion to it. It just was so great. Especially the episode where she goes back to the day her father dies. I was thinking as I was watching it....Wow. This is doing what Doctor Who hasn't really done before. It was raw emotion which I think is why I watched it.

So the reason I think it worked it mainly behind the production team being big Doctor Who fans but at the same time wanting to bring it up to date and showing people who are new to the show why they fell in love with it in the first place.

Stonking stuff Roll on Christmas!!!


It was on the day before 'Rose' went out. I have heard rumours that it'll be included on the dvd which I think could be a possibility as the Lucas & Walliams Rossy interview was included on the Little Britain DVD, but I'm not sure!

Does anyone think that Chris Ecclstone deserves an OBE in this New Yeas list?(I dn't think he has one yet, does he?) I don't think he just deserves it for Dr Who, but for all the work he has done in the past so far.

"For Services to Television" - it tends to be an MBE first, and then if he gives even more service, he gets an "upgrade" so to speak!!

I actually think he's more likley to get a gong for all the charity work he does and the work he does in his local community.

I'd love to see him get the Bafta because of the body of TV work he's done over the last 10 years. Nominated twice but never the winner. Sadly I think the Beeb will push Tennant this year for Casanova and Chris will get nothing. I cant believe he never got the award for Hillsborough, Second Coming, Flesh and Blood, Hearts & Minds Our Friends, etc etc

Chris E played one of TVs most powerfull death scenes ever in cracker and got nothing, maybe its time to balance this come BATAs time

When are the Bafta's? I don't really follow things like that but Chris E & Billie P well deserve to win, great performance from them both.

Oh, if you look around, I'm sure you could find it somewhere!

You legend! Cheers for the tip pal!

The ingredients were;

Good writing.
Good acting
First class production values.
Decent Budget.
Lots of media publicity (e.g. over the return of the Daleks).
Nostagia.
Poor competition from ITV and other channels. (Celebrity Wrestling?!)

Only too happy to oblige!

Taken from christophereccleston.info

ITV has been asking viewers to vote for their favourite ITV show as part of a line-up of specially commissioned programmes marking its 50th birthday.

The results of the viewers' vote will form the basis for ITV's 50 Greatest Shows, a three-hour special to be broadcast as part of a season of 50th birthday programming in September.

The special will feature interviews with some of the broadcaster's top stars, including Chris.

Viewers can vote for their favourite ITV show over the summer by post, by phone or by visiting the broadcaster's website. Digital TV viewers can also use their red interactive button to vote.

Two of Chris' programmes have been short listed by TV executives (Cracker and Hillsborough) so if you want to support Chris and the shows then drop by the ITV site and vote. You also have the opportunity to suggest a programme thats not on the list.

http://www.itv50vote.com/Voting.aspx