I was reviewing an old video tape to see what was on it, and I came across a trailer for the BBC's 'The Magician's House'. What struck me was actor Ian Richardson's uncanny resemblence to William Hartnell. So I was thinking, if they ever needed to include the first doctor in any of the new stories, they could use him, similar to the 20th anniversary episode. To illustrate my point I uploaded the trailer.

The Magician's House (1999) Trailer

Well he's not unlike him.
But I highly doubt that any of the old Doctors will be appearing in their old roles any time soon.

I think Troughton would be hard to recast.

Any ideas?

What about one of his sons, Michael and David?

Both are still "in the business" as far as I know, and one of them in particular bears more than a passing resemblance to their father.

The same could be said of Sean Pertwee when recasting the Third Doctor

Oh yes?

I agree with you on that one. I'm not suggesting they do. Nor should they try and recreate all the doctors. I'm merely passing comment that if a situation arose, Ian Richardson would make a good Hartnell. Since he is described as the first doctor, maybe when the last doctor looks back on his life... ah well you know what I mean anyway, there are some cases when a clip from an old episode just won't do and another actor might be better used.

Plus with the first Doctor you can get away with more, in terms of discrepancys etc. All the other Doctor's were followed from Regeneration to...regeneration. But with Doctor #1 you have lots of time (centuries?) before the first episode to play with.

Just a thought, mind...

VB

I love Ian Richardson and think he's a fantastic actor. It would be great to have him guest star in an episode of Who. He could even, possibly, play an evil timelord.

Hmm.

Just an idea...

So what do you know that we don't?

this is a strange one in a way, as we are already starting to move away from rtd's original ethos that this is effectively a "new show" with now baggage from the past.. we already know of a couple of old characters from the classic series returning in the new season, so it isnt inconcievable that (now the concept of regeneration has been re-introduced) that at least one old incarnation might make an appearance at some stage..

You're quite right, of course.

Davison, McCoy or McGann would work - they still look fairly like they used to, don't they?

I don't think either of the Bakers do, though.

Well Tom with some hair dye would. But Colin has eaten a few pies