Brian Blessed Could Have Been the Doctor

Brian Blessed has revealed that he was approached to play the Doctor in the 60s.

The Radio Times claims that the veteran actor would have taken over from William Hartnell if he had accepted the role.

Blessed told the site: “After I was in Z Cars, the head of BBC serials took me aside and said, ‘We’re thinking of having a young Doctor Who and we’d like to cast you’. But it clashed with other things.

Asked what his reaction would be now, he said: ” I’d jump at it.”

Brian went on to take a guest role in the show anyway in 1986’s Mindwarp, playing the character of King Yrcanos (pictured).

Blessed also had a suggestion for the next Doctor: “I think they need to re-examine his surname – “Who” is very oriental. It’s about time they had an Asian actor as the Doctor. And a female one.”