Feature: Why Does Eccleston Want RTD Sacked? Why did Eccleston Leave Doctor Who? A Brief History

Feature article by guest contributor Craig Sightings.

Way back in 2005, I remember being both surprised and saddened when Christopher Eccleston was confirmed to be leaving the role of the Ninth Doctor after just one series. His departure sparked endless discussions and speculations in the fandom. Everyone wanted to know, just why did Eccleston leave Doctor Who? His role was crucial in rejuvenating the series and his brief yet impactful tenure brought a unique depth and complexity to the character.

The thought of what might have been had Eccleston continued his journey through space and time is a topic of many wistful conversations among fans. Just recently, at a 2023 panel, Eccleston was asked about what it would take for him to return to the series on TV. His response was startlingly direct: “Sack Russell T. Davies, sack Jane Tranter, sack Phil Collinson, sack Julie Gardner, and I’ll come back. So, can you arrange that?”

Judging by reactions to this across the net, not everyone is aware of Eccleston’s troubled times during his time on the show, so I thought it would be interesting and informative to look back over everything that happened, pieced together from his interviews over the years.

A Breakdown in Relationships

The most significant factor in Eccleston’s departure appears to be his relationship with the show’s management during Series 1’s production – the same team now working on the show again, led by RTD, which explains Eccleston’s recent outburst. In interviews many years after he left, Eccleston finally revealed, “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.”

Discomfort with the Working Environment

Eccleston further described his unease with the production environment during Series 1, stating, “I didn’t enjoy the environment and the culture that we, the cast and crew, had to work in.”

He added, “I wasn’t comfortable. I thought ‘If I stay in this job, I’m going to have to blind myself to certain things that I thought were wrong.'”

Harsh Working Conditions for Crew

Eccleston also spoke about the working conditions, particularly on how crew members are treated. He noted, “The crew, I felt, could have been treated better, but you often feel that. It’s a ruthless business.” Specifically, he explained how a director or producer’s treatment of the crew can impact an actor’s respect and responsiveness to them, “I always looked to the director and the producer because they’re the ones with the big stick. If a director treats a member of the crew badly and then comes to speak to me about my performance, I have no respect for them and I don’t listen to them, and that’s difficult.”

Disagreements on Nine’s Characterisation

Regarding his portrayal of the Doctor, Eccleston expressed a preference for Steven Moffat’s writing, stating, “I was never as sure what Russell wanted. What I could see with Russell was exactly what he wanted from Rose, Billie Piper, I think that was his strength. I think Steven’s writing of the Doctor, or my Doctor, was really a gift to me.”

Mental Health Struggles

Further, Eccleston revealed he suffered from mental health issues during the filming of Doctor Who, “Many times I’ve wanted to reveal that I’m a lifelong anorexic and dysmorphic. I never have. I always thought of it as a filthy secret, because I’m Northern, because I’m male and because I’m working-class. The illness is still there raging within me as the Doctor. People love the way I look in that series, but I was very ill. The reward for that illness was the part. And therein lies the perpetuation of the whole sorry situation.”

BBC lies about Eccleston’s reason for leaving

After Eccleston left, the BBC claimed it was due to typecasting and attributed a false quote to him. The BBC were forced to admit their mistake in a statement, “In January 2005 the BBC and Christopher mutually agreed not to make public the fact that he would not be doing a second series. It was also agreed that any subsequent announcement would be done jointly. Because of the stories being put to the BBC, this was not the case. Contrary to press statements, Christopher did not leave for fear of being typecast or because of the gruelling filming schedule.”

Impact on his Confidence and Career

Eccleston openly discussed the repercussions of his departure on his confidence and career, saying, “What happened around Doctor Who almost destroyed my career. I gave them a hit show and I left with dignity and then they put me on a blacklist. I was carrying my own insecurities as it was something I had never done before and then I was abandoned, vilified in the tabloid press and blacklisted. I was told by my agent at the time: ‘The BBC regime is against you. You’re going to have to get out of the country and wait for regime change.’ So I went away to America and I kept on working because that’s what my parents instilled in me.”

“I lost all my confidence, as an actor and a person, as a result of what happened on Doctor Who.”

Decision Against Returning for the 50th Anniversary

His decision not to return for the 50th anniversary special was a big blow to the fans, especially given Steven Moffat was in charge at the time and one script had written him back in. Eccleston explained his reasons for not coming back then, saying, “I felt that it was basically myself, Matt, and Dave riffing off the fact that we used to be the Doctors… the narrative was not strong enough, particularly for the Ninth Doctor.”

Conclusion

Reflecting on Eccleston’s candid remarks and the reasons behind his departure, it seems unlikely, almost impossible, to imagine him returning to the TARDIS, especially under the current circumstances. The wounds inflicted by his experience on the show, both professionally and personally, still seem painful to him now. Even if the BBC were to overhaul its production team, the scars left by his time on the show might be too deep for a simple resolution.

However, as fans, we’ve learned to expect the unexpected. Stranger things have happened in the Whoniverse, and Eccleston has at least reprised the role for several Big Finish audio dramas since. While the prospect still seems distant for a TV return, maybe, just maybe, the Ninth Doctor might find his way back to us one day…