Christopher slams Doctor Who bosses

CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON is still unapologetically bitter about his short-lived stint as Doctor Who.

The 54-year-old, who recently claimed he was blacklisted by the BBC after leaving the rebooted sci-fi show in 2005 after just one series, has blamed his acrimonious exit on a lack of support from show bosses and his being somewhat miscast.

“My relationship with my three immediate superiors – the showrunner, the producer and co-producer – broke down irreparably during the first block of filming and it never recovered,” he tells Radio Times. “They lost trust in me and I lost faith and trust and belief in them.

“Some of my anger about the situation came from my own insecurity. They employed somebody [me, as the Doctor] who was not a natural light comedian. I think if you’re setting up a huge series like that the director has to be impeccable in setting the tone.”

The actor thinks it didn’t help having then novice actress Billie Piper, now 35, in the role of Doctor’s assistant. He explains: “Billie, who we know is brilliant, was very, very nervous and very, very inexperienced. So, you had that, and then you had me. Very, very experienced, possibly the most experienced on it but out of my comfort zone.”

Christopher, who stars in new drama series about marital breakdown, Come Home, says he’s now speaking out to clear his name. “When I left, I gave my word to Russell T Davies [showrunner] that I wouldn’t do anything to damage the show,” he adds. “But they did things to damage me… I will never have a relationship with him again.”