Drinker's Chasers - Former Doctor Who Roasts Russell T Davies

So apparently Christopher Eccleston REALLY hates Russel T Davies, and made no secret of that fact in a recent convention appearance.

[@rochskier]

Eccleston gets far too little credit for being the actor who successfully resurrected Doctor Who for the 21st century.

[@JadeRunner]

I thought his performance in that season was very weak, but it sounds like it might not have been his fault.

[@iceguy9723]

I thought he was excellent

[@clydemarshall8095]

I did like Tennant better, but I thought Eccleston did alright.

[@sky0kast0]

I think he was fighting for everything he could do

[@midnightgreen8319]

He is my favorite doctor!

[@Durwood71]

As I understand it, the falling out between Chris Eccelston and the _Doctor Who_ higher ups started very early on in production when one of the directors was verbally assaulting one of the production assistants to the point that she was in tears, and Eccelson stepped in and basically said, "You will not treat anybody that way on my set." And so because he stood up for the "little people", it drove a wedge between him and the show runners that was never mended.

[@harrynewiss4630]

Yes funny how these woke postures are so very far from kind and inclusive themselves

[@NihilObstatMihi]

Totally unrelated, but absolute respect for that profile picture.

[@Durwood71]

@@NihilObstatMihi My all time favorite comedians!

[@NihilObstatMihi]

@@Durwood71 I could not agree more!

[@erg1947]

@@harrynewiss4630 so now you're trying to blame on set issues in 2005 on woke? Eccleston has basically admitted they probably couldn't have fired the director he had issues with. In his own words the BBC was very doubtful and basically looking for a delay like that to cancel the show.

[@tylergoodman3560]

I respect a man who's not afraid to speak his mind at all times. Kudos to you, doc. 🎉

[@hykeaux]

In all fairness, it's not that brave when you stopped dealing with that franchise 15 yrs ago. They got rid of him because he wasn't a fan favorite.... That being said, we do need celebrities willing to burn bridges. Because of this, he prob won't work for the BBC again. So he still gets koodos.

[@DarthScorpion]

He was a fan favourite. He left as he saw the writing on the wall for the show@@hykeaux

[@PepsiMan666]

@@hykeaux Completely false. Christopher left of his own volition because did not like the politics at the BBC and in particular how production crew were being mistreated. Christopher has been asked to come back several times, most importantly for the 50th special which he turned down because he didn't feel the script is right. He has come back for radio dramas by Big Finish. Christopher is incredibly well liked. Just not by the BBC and higher ups.

[@eddiegaltek]

@@hykeaux He was well liked as The Doctor, and the vast majority of the fan base didn't want to see him go.

[@louiswilliamterminator2887]

Basically that means the BBC wokesters and peedos

[@OctoStar20]

Eccleston deserves so much more credit. He was the first doctor to so many people (including me), it's a shame he didn't get more than his one FANTASTIC season.

[@DrgnLdyLizzie2001]

Same. The fact that he didn't want to be a part of the 50th was telling for me. He would have been onscreen for less than 10 minutes, but had no desire to do it.

[@ellugerdelacruz2555]

I agreed with Eccleston. SACK 'EM ALL!!!

[@JoshuaKevinPerry]

He explained how terrible the executives were for decades, but it took fans a long time to realize it.

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

Always heard Eccleston left Dr Who because he was afraid of being typecast. Appears there was more to it than that.

[@Dowlphin]

But isn't that part of the traditional concept? Another doctor each season? Or was it always not that rigid? I can't remember.

[@iansmith6166]

Coolest Doctor. No winks to the audience, no chewing the scenery. Deserved two more seasons.

[@sickofit1574]

"No winks to the audience, no chewing the scenery." I miss that so much. Cut to Capaldi and they literally gave him fourth wall monologues that address the audience directly. I miss when the Doctor engaged with his environment and the plot rather existing almost as a metaphysical figure outside of the world he resides in.

[@VidelxSpopovich]

I mean, probably one of his biggest scenes was literally turning to the audience(Rose’s perspective) ti deliver the last line of his big sacrifice speech but otherwise I agree with you.

[@forest3064]

@@sickofit1574 Capaldi's content is so much better than Jodie's though

[@sickofit1574]

@@forest3064 Yeah I wasn't trying to compare them in that way. Capaldi was a much better Doctor and the scripts for his episodes written by Moffat were also leagues above what Chibnall wrote for Jodie. I'm just saying by that point in the series, it was really starting to become very self aware and full of itself, which is something Moffat had issues with for his entire stint as showrunner.

[@Aerojet01]

@@sickofit1574 Jodie was never really doctor material. I wouldn't even class her as a sci fi actress. Someone thought it was a good idea to break the norm. With that being the show's direction, I would've selected someone like Dawn French, who posses an eccentric versatile personality. Whereas, Jodie is very straight laced and I think she found it challenging to break that personality mound. Admittedly, her content didn't help her cause, but the chemistry wasn't there. She's more suited to detective and hospital dramas. Fans of the show have empathy for her under dog status and wanted her to succeed, which impacts their judgment. I felt Capaldi's doctor didn't really gather traction, until the last series. I like the quote "I miss when the Doctor engaged with his environment and the plot rather existing almost as a metaphysical figure outside of the world he resides in". The producers opted for a radical makeover to address certain social problems. Ultimately, It has always been centred around moralistic values. Unfortunately, there is always a trade off between keeping within the show's genre and morphing into an area that is uncharted. Educating people with a moral compass resonates with a wider audience, such treat people the way you want to be treated, but going down a metaphysical rabbit hole has opened up a can of worms, as it's very controversial and debatable. As a result, they've alienated members of their fanbase and created divisions. Good content doesn't appear to be their primary objective, which is why the ratings have plummeted.

[@bumfie]

The BBC came out with the claim that he didnt want to be typecast as the Doctor and that was the Reason he had left . This made Christopher Eccleston come out and put the record straight claiming that it was a TOXIC environment . Wales online reported this -- It is common knowledge that Eccleston’s time on Doctor Who was short lived and he only appeared in one series before regenerating into David Tennant, who played the 10th (and now 14th) Doctor. But why did he leave the series after only a year? Here’s everything that you need to know. In 2005, after giving his life to save companion Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), the 9th Doctor succumbed to regeneration and with a cheeky smile and one final delivery of his iconic, “Fantastic!” catchphrase, he turned into David Tennant’s iteration of the character. On March 30 that year, mere days after Doctor Who’s revival had begun, the BBC released a statement confirming that Eccleston would not be staying in the role because of fears that he’d be “typecast”. A month later, the organisation was forced to apologise after admitting that they hadn’t consulted the actor before the statement was made. - Speaking to the Evening Standard in 2010, Eccleston stated that he "didn't enjoy the environment and the culture that we, the cast and crew, had to work in" and that he did not want to do any more based on the experience. 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.' And I think it's more important to be your own man than to be successful, so I left. But the most important thing is that I did it, not that I left. I really feel that, because it kind of broke the mould and it helped to reinvent it. I'm very proud of it." Further discussing his reasons for quitting to the Radio Times in 2018, Eccleston said: “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. They lost trust in me, and I lost faith and trust and belief in them. - “Billie [Piper], who we know was and 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, but out of my comfort zone. When I left, I gave my word to Russell T Davies that I wouldn’t do anything to damage the show but they did things to damage me. I didn’t criticise anybody.” Asked if Davies was aware of the issues, Eccleston said: “If you’re the showrunner, you know everything. That’s your job,” before adding that he “never will have” a working relationship with the writer again.

[@napturaladvice7646]

Wow. 🥺

[@nerva-]

I'm not defending RTD whatsoever, but Eccleston has always come across to me as a self-centered, egotistical, unprofessional a-hole. He takes offense at everything, lashes out, then plays the victim. He's the equivalent of the NFL's Terrell Owens, who couldn't get along with his teammates or coaches at every team he played on, then refused to attend his own HoF induction ceremony - at every point, claiming he was the victim. According to them, somehow the world conspires to unfairly treat and malign innocent people like Christopher Eccleston and Terrell Owens, while giving everyone else (who must be corrupt sellouts) a pass. No. Sorry, RTD may be guilty of plenty, but Eccleston was TOXIC all by himself.

[@iAnasazi]

​@@nerva-Source: Your ass?

[@WithScienceAsMySheperd]

Yes!! we knew that in 2013 the year of the 50th because he told he would not return because of the way the early team mistreated people in the crew... old news. He didn't word it with NAMES back then but it was clear it was showrunners

[@CJFS00s]

No the quote they put was that he was “tired” which made him ask them to change it, typecast isn’t what made him angry.

[@tomjames9681]

Chris has said many times that the bureaucracy at the BBC ends up screwing over the hard working individuals that make the show what it is. He has quotes that amount to many of the higher ups forgetting their place and failing to show the crew the bare minimum respect. His stance has always been surrounding the way people are treated on set, which has always seemed like a really down to earth take. Not sure what he thinks of the writing, but his concern is probably how it gets made first and foremost, because as good as a show can be, if you’ve seen how people get trampled making it, you might not care how it turns out. That’s to say, this distain for RTD is not in related to the recent backlash that many have given toward the show’s return.

[@mattevans4377]

Also giving a chance to good writers who don't get a chance due to office politics. Basically hiring based on merit, not on knowing the right people. The writing improvement will speak for itself.

[@tomjames9681]

@@mattevans4377 Oh damn, does Eccleston have statements related to that kind of stuff too?

[@mattevans4377]

@@tomjames9681 Possibly. But what I'm saying is based off how he comes across. He's very working class, in all the best ways

[@tomjames9681]

@@mattevans4377 Yeah, he’s always been cool like that.

[@WithScienceAsMySheperd]

Yes! we knew that in 2013 the year of the 50th because he told he would not return because of the way the early team mistreated people in the crew... old news. He didn't word it with NAMES back then but it was clear it was showrunners

[@maicoxmauler2825]

Remember when Tennant's doctor ended Harriet Jones' career by calling her tired? When Eccleston left, the BBC released a statement saying the same about him. No way they didn't know what they were doing.

[@Belzediel]

...you realise that this would require the BBC to be prescient, right?

[@bigeasy1997]

​@@BelzedielNot really, as I believe the "She's tired" comment is a reference to what would be the beginning of the end for Thatcher.

[@Durwood71]

Indeed, I remember hearing stories that Eccelston didn't have the energy to keep up with the pace of shooting a television series, but it seems none of that was true.

[@Noodles.Doodles]

@@Durwood71 He revealed a few years ago that he's been anorexic his entire life. He has said that he was 'very ill' during Doctor Who, but he has also said that he wasn't tired of the show, and it wasn't his reason for leaving.

[@bluebellaza4028]

And it happened because she went against a script that seemed to be ending safely under the Doctor's patronage and decided that guaranteeing people's safety was more important to her than anything else. Hmm.

[@kcrad1527]

I went back to rewatch Season 1 of modern Dr Who and holy hell did I miss the manic and speedy version of the character, one that actively will hurl himself first into bodily danger because he accepts he is most likely the only person that could survive near death. It felt like a natural aspect of a character that has a second chance mechanic.

[@alfredjohnson2647]

That's what I missed in the Matt Smith episodes. Eccleston's Doctor was 'I'll sort this out', whereas Smith's was 'You need to sort this out yourself.'

[@phydeux]

@@alfredjohnson2647- The Doctor HAS gone back and forth between those attitudes in the past. First Doctor was very hands-off, "see what you've done to yourselves?" kind of person. Troughton was a bit more capricious but generally wanted to be helpful. Pertwee was stuck on Earth for budgetary reasons, so he gets a pass. And so on... Even McCoy's doctor (no, not THAT one) was a bit prickly about intervening in others' affairs.

[@davidcoleman757]

Props for not putting words in Eccleston's mouth like a lot of other KZbinrs. Eccleston wasn't having a pop at the woke issue; his beef was with the treatment of the crew and some of the cast. and fair play to him for fighting their corner.

[@KiltBill2]

But has there ever been many people, except CE, complaining about that treatment? You'd think after 15 years there'd be more people stating RDR is an AH.

[@bettysteve322716]

maybe their complaints are not being heard because they don't have the reach of a "star".@@KiltBill2

[@birdsteak9267]

I rewatched Dr Who, it seem that as i have advanced in my enlightenment, i grown to hate Dr Who in general because of the writing and the unbearable left wing lecturing.... No wonder i grew up a Leftist, it was hammered into my brain and in the process i didn't even know why I thought the things i did... I take great offense to that.

[@tkps]

@@birdsteak9267 I still consider myself centre left. But I never fell for far left bullshit and I won't start now. We were moaning about things being too PC in the 80's when this first took hold. It's only gotten worse the more fools believed their 'we're oppressed' bullshit and listened to do gooders insisting kids be raised with kid gloves or end up mentally scarred. Many brag they have every mental illness going and as Baggage Claim said we wanted to be 'accepting'. You don't have to be conservative to disagree with this mob. Opposition to them is 80/20 not 50/50.

[@charg1nmalaz0r51]

@@KiltBill2 Well most people in these industries are so greatful to have the opportunity and dont want to be blackballed they take the abuse and keep it to themselves. Can you not remember the harvy weinstein stuff, the saville stuff. This industry is toxic as hell lol.

[@JadeRunner]

If you watch Billie Piper's face at the moment he says "Sack Russel T Davies..." she does a little knowing smirk, like she knows exactly why he's saying that. 😅

[@sadpolecat6311]

Eccleston did a good job playing a slightly traumatized dark doctor who needed a new outlook on life after the war doctor. His 13 episodes are iconic

[@isleofredemption]

Eccleston was my favorite doctor. Everyone always gave me weird looks for that stance, but I liked the angry violent doctor. And frankly, there's no better time for him to make a return as long as they get rid of... you know. And damn, I also missed Billie Piper.

[@koomo801]

He could go from goofy Doc to Doomsday Doc without blinking his eyes. He did an incredible job, despite some shoddy production and some silly scripts.

[@vanessalore9942]

He's not mine, but screw those people. He has plenty of fans, and you're allowed to like any Doctor you want to.

[@strawberrylotlizard]

Yeah he felt real

[@mrcliff3709]

Yes my favorite doctor

[@SqueakingLion]

I'm right there with you, @isleofredeption! Eccleston is Best Doctor.

[@robertmwilliams]

Eccleston is my favorite Doctor of the new Who era. He was the one I was truly ‘afraid’ of. He was intense and let it show that if you crossed him he would crush you. Couple that with the PTSD of the Time War made his Doctor seem vulnerable and conflicted.

[@nootnewt]

I liked Eccleston before I got to the 50th anniversary, but I liked him even more with the perspective of the Time War that you get from later episodes and seasons. Ninth Doctor is still the best Doctor.

[@hariman7727]

Tennant's Doctor is a goofier version of Eccleston's run as The Doctor.

[@richardfurness7556]

That line from 'Dalek' - I saw it happen. I MADE it happen - leaps out of the screen and knocks you backwards.

[@hariman7727]

@@richardfurness7556 "Just this once, everybody lives!"

[@tomnorton4277]

Christopher Ecclestone was Peter Capaldi done right. Peter Capaldi was trying far too hard to be something he's not. He came across as sociopathic, far too human for this supposedly ancient alien, and incredibly insecure about his own performance. It made moments where he's trying to be intimidating come across as a terrified teenager. Christopher Ecclestone came across as a legitimate badass because he never felt like he was overcompensating. When he was pissed off, he seemed like a man who was absolutely capable of killing you but when he was being friendly and funny, it was genuinely charming. Just imagine Peter Capaldi delivering the line "Nope. Bonehead. Bye then." He would have sounded like a complete arsehole but coming from Ecclestone, it was actually funny.

[@codybarrow4036]

Eccleston was my first doctor. He brought me into the show as an American. He will always be my favorite.

[@sarasunshinemt4444]

Same. I kinda knew what Doctor Who was, but hadn't watched any of it. Then I saw an ad for Eccleston's and got into the show. Loved it! Stopped watching after Matt Smith was cast. I just didn't like the companions, the stories or the new Doctor.

[@GoddessOfWhim2003]

he was my first Doctor too, totally underrated

[@mikametcalf3783]

Same here. I wanted more seasons with him.

[@christopherquinn5899]

Eccleston looks more like a Doctor now than he ever did. And he says it all like a Lancashire lad.

[@alfredjohnson2647]

'You are an alien? You said you come from the North!' 'Lots of planets have a north!'

[@Tevi_L7151]

What do you mean he was the Doctor then too. He drew my attention to the series with himself, his personification, at that time I had no idea about the cult status of the series and the character. And the more I saw other Doctors, got to know the classic series, the more Christopher's Doctor was the perfect embodiment

[@donaldschumaker]

He does have zero f**** to give. Always loved him. From that first scene with Rose where he tells her to "RUN!"

[@GiovanniAlckmimRusso]

I remember two or three years ago he said he had some disagreements over the show and when he got out, Davies and the others screw him over by labeling him as an asshole difficult to work with, kinda like what Feige did with Edward Norton, but Norton didn't have his career affected, while Eccleston had, which is why he still angry with them to this day.

[@jamiearmstrong3487]

Aye, Eccleston (like Billie and everyone else,) was only signed on for one series because they didn't know if it would work. Eccleston got wordy with Davies and the producers who were rather unkind to the day-to-day workers, so they decided to not renew him, without informing him. First he knew journalists harassed him. Davies said "he was tired," to which Eccleston has said "I was never tired by the show, I was tired by Russel and the rest." He never blamed Billie, Noel, etc. It was on the management who didn't care for the show, but claim credit anyway.

[@nidh1109]

​@@jamiearmstrong3487but I believe he didn't want the second series? He left, rather than got pushed?

[@majordddd]

The difference is that in the US you have multiple studios. In the uk you have the bbc basically.

[@jamiearmstrong3487]

Eccleston (like Billie and everyone else,) was only signed on for one series because they didn't know if it would work. Eccleston got wordy with Davies and the producers who were rather unkind to the day-to-day workers, so they decided to not renew him, without informing him. First he knew journalists harassed him. Davies said "he was tired," to which Eccleston has said "I was never tired by the show, I was tired by Russel and the rest." He never blamed Billie, Noel, etc. It was on the management who didn't care for the show, but claim credit anyway. He's said that Moffatt's two-parter was what he was expecting when he started DW, this of course being his peak on the show. Knowing that Moffatt had a higher standing than Davies and the management, I didn't have any hope, nor about Tennant who sold out to this hogwash.

[@WithScienceAsMySheperd]

yes! we knew that in 2013 the year of the 50th because he told he would not return because of the way the early team mistreated people in the crew... old news. He didn't word it with NAMES back then but it was clear it was showrunners

[@talonmage40k]

Which was his two-parter?

[@hannahmaria6887]

@@tvguy61also apparently John barrowman had a thing for getting naked on set. Him and Chris do not like each other.

[@jamiearmstrong3487]

@@hannahmaria6887 Barrowman's misbehaviour became more prominent with David. I believe it was Noel (before he was outed) who was at a convention with the actresses' of Jackie and a side characters, who said that whilst David was in the middle of a serious take, John would wake his knob on him. I'm nor so sure on Chris' relation to him, but I can't imagine him being so lenient.

[@hannahmaria6887]

@@jamiearmstrong3487 I saw somewhere that Chris described John as a “prick” and John said Chris was “no fun” to work with. I don’t know if Chris directly saw or knew of John’s “sexual” behaviour on set but it would not surprise me considering his opinion on him and Chris’s attitude to professionalism on set. I think this was all said when a lot of it was fresh and johns behaviour hadn’t come to light in the public so was all very cryptic. Given Chris is very much in his “fuck it” phase, would be interesting to hear his take now.

[@holyfreakinshit]

Tennant already had a couple of seasons under his belt when I first saw Doctor Who, but catching an Eccelston rerun made me a fan of the series.

[@lonewolf9578]

Honestly rewatching the Eccleston era after watching some of classic who gave the feeling that it still had the charm of the classic series at times Tenant’s era was still great but there was a definite difference between the two

[@dubstepzsi]

Oh yeah for years Eccleston said there was trouble behind the scenes and apparently the BBC wouldn't have anything to do with the show until the show was a success. I think Eccleston has seen the Russel we have now way back then in 2005 so i think Russel has always been like how he is now just as we never had social media back then for RTD show us how he really was back then.

[@RJALEXANDER777]

Russel had to be subtle before, the kind of scripts he's writing now would've been unacceptable and considered perverse 20 years ago.

[@CableAnna]

Good for Eccleston to speak his mind. Too many people in the entertainment circles try to hush or keep up with appearances.

[@shurik121]

Eccleston is still my favorite Doctor, and the first season with him is still my favorite season of the new Doctor Who. Looks like it will not change any time soon.

[@cristophergregory8938]

Word. He brought me back to the franchise and it's a shame it was just a season.

[@andykeys74]

Mine too, since the reboot.

[@KingCaridin]

Always loved Eccleston.

[@PuzzlePottage1390]

Agreed. I like Tennant as much as the next guy, but if I had to choose only one NuWho actor to play the character for the rest of time, it would probably be Eccleston. He may not have the fangirls, but he has class as an actor. I stand by my belief that Eccleston's episode with the lone Dalek remains the single best acted episode in all of NuWho, and there's been some competition.

[@4dmind]

I've worked in digital advertising, film and post-production - and what I found is that the concentration of narcissists and sociopaths in those industries is much higher than in other vertical industries. I did some great projects, got some great portfolio items, and enjoyed some of the people who were producing aspects of the media, but the nasty people were so bad that I just swore off all of those industries permanently, Lying, drama, manipulation, drugs, promiscuity, alcohol abuse - and lots of sycophants left and right - none of it is good or worth it - and these are the people writing media and therefore culture.

[@tkps]

There's always been proof. But those I blame most are who'll do anything for a job in that industry thinking it makes them more 'special'. No morals and for sale to the highest bidder right up to the top. The recent strikes shone a light. Pointing at X only earn Y whilst ignoring obscene salaries. Gave themselves away claiming view figures were hidden by streamers to avoid rewarding their worth. Upon getting them, out comes 'we want 56c from every world sub'. What about non HW actors/productions, world subs who don't watch HW content? Yet genuinely shocked at the knock back. That's ego.

[@Cynical1]

i worked in post production for a long time and feel the same way. I loved having my name attached to some of those things that I did in many different genres and worked with lots of wonderful people but at the same time there were others that were completely mal adapted in life I would say.. There were people that would doubt your creativity and pure talent for it and when it came off really well they were the first to go my idea and I was part of it just like Eccelleston says. I swore it off and got out as well and then I went back again.....I miss it, when you work would good people but there are also a ton of people with the issues that you listed and they are all over in the industry.....It is really to bad, I put a ton of years into it as my career and was still slogging through when I had health issues that finally took me away from it altogether. Even with those issues I feel that I live a much healthier life not being in the industry anymore.

[@theprogram863]

It's a profession where you have incredibly socially adept people, combined with a system that rewards prestige above all, making a product that sells based on persuasiveness rather than reality. Often the biggest names aren't exactly the brightest bulbs in the crawlspace. They can talk themselves into anything. So yeah intensely manipulative, deceptive, and political. Theater has been plagued by this for millennia. Until the recent era, most cultures and eras considered actors to be unclean. A species of prostitute. Now they're suddenly upheld as paragons of virtue. People complaining about popes or dalai lamas judging them obsess about how to be judged morally righteous by singers, actors, and Harvey Weinstein.

[@rustyshackleford17]

It's the perfect industry for narcissists and sociopaths. Social media has only brought it to light. Only difference is that these people's primary concern is no longer profit.

[@atomicvinylreviews3420]

Christopher Ecclston's run is really underrated in my mind. It was so consistent and had a really well rounded feel to it and the story it told over that season.. where as so much of Doctor Who has the baggage of juggling so much convoluted history and recent continuity with itself ... I just like how that run felt like it had a clear intentional characterization of the Doctor, as well as the general direction and story it wanted to tell.

[@tomnorton4277]

Chris Ecclestone's run was the best in New Who. I like Matt Smith and Clara Oswald more (criminally underrated TARDIS team because they didn't have enough time together) and Seasons 8 and 9 would have been fantastic if Peter Capaldi hadn't dragged them down (replace him with John Hurt and I would call Seasons 8 and 9 the best in Doctor Who history). However, Season 1 was as close to perfect as New Who ever managed to get. The writing was efficient and focussed, with only The Unquiet Dead being inconsequential to the rest of the season, Rose Tyler was a great companion, and Ecclestone slipped into the Doctor as though he'd been playing the role all his life.

[@senydieng732]

Eccleston was and will always be my favourite

[@pajamapantsjack5874]

Eccleson loves Christmas so much he forces a Santa beard to grow onto himself

[@Jp-eg7th]

Ricky Gervais has said as much way back in a 2002 interview about the office. He said the show was based on his experiences in the BBC office. Paraphrasing a little here but the quote was essentially "if you went through the BBC and asked pointedly 'what do you do here?' barely anyone would be left."

[@kenricnarbrough8191]

Amazing man, incredible talent. Also bought me a whisky a few years ago so will always support the dude. (p.s. watching the theatre luvvies squirm when he says the unvarnished truth is fantastic)

[@Moray2023]

I hope they pass Doctor Who onto Dave, like they did with Red Dwarf. The BBC should not be trusted with such important British Media. Eccelston looks a lot older because he's playing Scrooge this year at the Old Vic in London. Seen it recently, he was great.

[@jamiearmstrong3487]

I think up to Capaldi, Dave and Gold have terrestrial rights to DW. Classic Who keeps getting moved about though.

[@guypainter]

I agree the show cannot recover as long as the BBC are involved, but I'm not sure about Dave. They tried to make Dwarf episodes look like movies and for me it didn't work at all. Anyway, whoever does it, how about a "pre-boot"... Working title Galifrey Rises: Backstories on Rassilon, Omega, The Other etc, eventually leading to the Time Lord that stole a TARDIS and ran away. There's lots of material in-canon that has often been alluded to but never properly explored, the Pantheon, The Guardians Of Time, The Sisterhood, maybe even The Division (but not Tecteun because, you know, just no).

[@briansergeant]

And that’s why we got John Hurt the War Doctor instead of the 9th Doctor for the 50th anniversary special.

[@DamianTheAlien]

I was always under the impression that with the kiss in "Parting of the Ways" and the leaving of Eccleston was related: they started explicitly adding sex into an explicitly non-sexual character in what is supposed to be a G-rated show. The Doctor can be curmudgeonly, foppish, eccentric, guilelessly insensitive, almost stylish, and even desired, but he must never be sexualized. He is aloof from such things for he is the professor, the wanderer, the grandfather, the archetype, that takes children on adventures in time and space.

[@tkps]

Davies prattling on about the Dr & Rose' deep love story was painful as well. His 'feelings' were only played up in later discussions about her and in her guest appearances. Yet the Dr's interactions with Rose during her seasons show no sign he was any more interested in her than any subsequent character besides her safety, as it should be. They even portrayed the Dr as oblivious to her jealousy when he invited Mickey to travel with them. As well as inviting Madame Pompadour who he thought he'd be stranded with when choosing to rescue her. Relationship stuff was never previously part of Dr Who.

[@hannahmaria6887]

I NEVER got a romantic relationship between Rose and 9. If anything, he was her adopted father that she never had. That kinda relationship fits the characters, episodes and themes of the season. She’s softens him, bringing out his love for humanity, like having a child would. While he shows her the complexity and hardness of humanity while providing that fatherly emotional support and supporting her compassion and skills. Because of that, if they did so a second romantic season with 9 and Rose, it would be weird for both their characters. There had to be a new incarnation for that to not seem a bit weird. And even then, I still never got 100% with that romantic second season.

[@erg1947]

I doubt it. Eccleston said he was never a fan of the show. From what he said RTD's previous work actually had more influence on him taking the part that him liking Doctor Who.

[@somni2246]

I've never been a Dr. Who fan, but I was first introduced to Eccleston though his performance on the cult HBO series The Leftovers-- a performance that absolutely blew me away. I didn't even catch on that he was British until several episodes in; he did a fairly convincing American accent on top one of the most thrilling and moving dramatic performances I've ever seen. I'm a lifelong fan of his now.

[@simongardner3766]

Russell T Davies gets too much credit for Doctor Who. Yes he lobbied to bring it back, but he didn't invent the Doctor, Tardis, sonic screw driver, companions, Gallifrey, Timelords, Daleks, Cybermen, Sontaran's etc. Even the best new villain from New Who, 'The weeping angels', was invented by Steven Moffat. Russell's one big contribution is the 'Vortex manipulator', one of the worst plot devices ever, as a 51st century smart watch makes the Tardis pointless. He also hugely benefited from 15 years advances in CGI, that meant he could have hundred million dollar, (in the 80's), movie effects for a few thousand. Plus the adoption on UK TV of the American pace in drama at the time. None of that was down to him. Now his new big idea is to push his social agenda on the viewers. Christopher Eccleson is right, we could do without him as showrunner easily.

[@MrBannystar]

What I find funny is that I remember a poll around the time (I think in Doctor Who magazine) where readers ranked their favourite episodes from S1. RTD's episodes were all ranked lower than the episodes written by the guest writers. Any writer worth their salt would write a bit beyond what they know, in his case homosexuality, and not so blatantly shoehorn in a gay agenda.

[@jakebiomask]

Moffats era was dogshit. RTD's era was great.

[@stormhawk3319]

He was a good producer but his stories where nothing brilliant.

[@erg1947]

The vortex manipulator came from Moffat. He guest wrote the two parter it's introduced in.

[@kjp4250]

​@@MrBannystar Mark Gatiss wrote and acted in a few episodes and is a gay writer who actually loves and respects the show's history. He would have been an ideal showrunner but instead we have to see so many formerly great franchises run into the ground by people who don't give a shit about what they represent or mean to people.

[@DisapprovingPigeon]

It's piles of turd like current Dr Who that the increased TV license fee is paying for. To think we once had gems like Top Gear...

[@Belzediel]

Sometimes I dream of Clarkson as the Doctor. I'm not saying it'd be good, I'm just saying my brain finds it amusing. Sometimes the Hamster is his sidekick. "Some say he's a child of Skaro. Some say he's not really disabled. Some say he's a damn good tap-dancer, all I know is, he's Davros." "Uh huh. Silurians. The most dangerous beings... ...in the world!" "The Galactic Producers have sent me a message cube, and it says, we're to modify the TARDIS for a trip round the entire space time continuum stopping for an adventure, and to do this, we've got one thousand pounds each, and this pair of pliers..." "What's that?" "It's a cyberman." "What's a besiderman?" "No, no, a cyberman." "There's no way that's from Somerset..." "What?" "A ciderman..." "No, no, not, good grief, just get back in the TARDIS..."

[@rayoung74]

In the interest of fairness I must point out that Disney was also responsible for the most recent 3 episodes. Anybody else remember their "not so secret gay agenda"?

[@neats5815]

Christopher Ecclestone is my favorite Doctor of the New Doctor Who Series

[@Markfr0mCanada]

I felt robbed that we only got one season of Chris, but by now I don't think a return would be for the best. For one he's aged too much, and given that we did see his Doctor die, that really can't be explained away, and FFS don't try to deep fake him to be younger. Honestly, a lot of the time it's best to know when to call a good thing off. 20 years ago I was mad about Firefly getting cancelled after one season, but in the last 20 years I've learned to appreciate it's one season not getting tainted by later garbage seasons. Honestly the best time to call off Doctor Who was yesterday, 2nd best is today. Any further production will only further erode its dignity.

[@RJALEXANDER777]

Right. What we want is for a return to old glory days. But we as humans are not immortal and we have to accept that the opportunity for things come and go.

[@whenpigsfly8178]

A return by him may not be for the best, but the firings he mentioned as a pre-condition, would definitely be an improvement.

[@sirrathersplendid4825]

Firefly was that first perfect girlfriend that you had a huge crush on: you suspect the relationship could never last but would love to know how it might have turned out…

[@sarasunshinemt4444]

I agree, I would have loved more Firefly... but considering how crazy Whedan has gotten, and how some of his other shows just DRAGGED along way too long, it's better that we only got one season and a great movie.

[@briskettaco]

Baggage Claim is always great on these chats. I really like her POV and analysis.

[@oldmoviemusic]

Have Christopher Eccleston on the show, Drinker!!

[@JSPena]

I know he’s said some dumb shit in the past, but at this moment I feel confident in saying that Christopher Eccleston is my favorite NuWho Doctor!

[@ggt47]

What "dumb stuff"?

[@StrongandGrand]

I think that as a person gets older, who they really are shines through. It seems Chris is a true savage. Not a Who fan, but I'm glad to see people standing up against foolishness.

[@SirHawkeyeWho]

He's always been my favourite NuWho Doctor.

[@peterd788]

The only dumb thing he insinuated was that he was blacklisted by the BBC but other than that he kept to his side of his NDA.

[@TheWickedWizardOfOz1]

@@SteveyTheEx-Eevee Yeah, he did that, but that's not dumb shit, that's being a crotchety old man :D

[@CaptainUnusual]

He was my favorite modern Doctor. Was never a fan of Tenant or the others. He was reminiscent of the previous Doctors but also had that dark element to him. Kind of cool to see he has that in real life too. P.S. - he would have made a great Sherlock Holmes. Always wished he had played him at least once.

[@johnmartin4152]

Wasn't one of his early acting jobs in the "Silver Blaze" episode of the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes series?

[@erikacook7323]

Eccleston is my FAVORITE Doctor! And after what they did to Tennant, I'm glad he isn't coming back. They can't ruin him.

[@jimsherman2165]

Chris's disenchantment with the show (BBC and production staff) has been well known for quite a few years. It's why he didn't come back for the 50th. Not sure why you (Drinker) seem surprised by it. Too bad really, the man has some serious acting chops and if not for him, we would never have gotten Tennant, Smith and Capaldi afterwards. He did such an amazing job and all true Doctor Who fans owe him a debt of gratitude for doing such incredible performance as the 9th Doctor.

[@tomnorton4277]

Ecclestone's the best Doctor in New Who. Not my personal favourite - that goes to Smith - but Ecclestone's era was as close to perfection as New Who ever got.

[@AchtungEnglander]

Russel T Davis is the perfect example of why relationships fail. People often change with time, only for some, for the worse..

[@lukerota1547]

Christopher Eccleston is an underrated actor and was an underrated actor! David Tennant will always be my favourite but Eccleston will always hold a special place in my heart for being my first ever Doctor.

[@nihilvox]

Having only watched each episode of the Eccleston thru Tenant run one time, I think it says a lot about his ability to make an impression that the only line I still remember is "Pleasure to meet you, Rose. Run for your life!"

[@mayloo2137]

Proves Eccleston is normal.

[@chasehedges6775]

Exactly

[@richardmattocks]

Total respect to CE, he was The Doctor when it was considered dead and he proved it worked for a new generation.

[@captainz9]

I think Eccleston kinda avoided badmouthing it too much initially because he didn't want to tank his reputation/future, but...

[@dlewis9760]

It's a pretty small clique of people in the UK that are in this business. Chances are over the years, you will work with people that you worked with in the past. Right or wrong, you work to eat and I doubt very few would work in front of the camera for nothing. He probably went as far as he could with vague references over the years.

[@IcicleFerret]

Eccleston does not get enough credit for his portrayal of The Doctor. He's also my favorite doctor. I stayed through the Tennant era but fell off during the Smith run. Eccleston felt believable for an alien to whom humans are an interesting plaything for a short while, while both Tennant and Smith felt more like the alien was on adderol and couldn't remember what he had for lunch the previous day. They were fun, they were zany, but they weren't mature. And as I got older, I only appreciated that gravity that Eccleston brought to the role more and more.

[@peterrowley6016]

The fact that the British public have to pay to watch the Bbc under threat of imprisonment is part of the issue along with getting lectures and political ideology instead of entertaining shows for your hard earned money , because of the ' unique' way that the BeeB is funded the people in charge know that they don't have to care about the audience , just the 'Message'

[@FullMetalFeline]

We don't have to pay for the BBC, and a lot of people don't. In the past, you effectively had to pay for it as streaming wasn't a thing, but now large numbers of people (including myself) don't watch live TV.

[@victorcates9330]

There's an irony. Back in the day, the BBC's cultural mission was stressed. The BBC's first building had a placard about being a temple to the arts. And the thought that the public was a rabble who needed classic culture and religion forced down their throat. Now the people who view that as cultural supremacy and would hate the notion of exporting British culture ARE DOING EXACTLY THE SAME THING. Same missionary zeal and assumption of being the adult serving the peasants bran and yelling at them "it's good for you dammit. Auntie knows best."

[@newtpondskipper]

I liked him as he reminded me of Tom Baker, who was my favorite Dr.

[@benrtomahawk]

Grew up watching Tom Baker. He to me was incredible in that role. I was fond of that vibrant signature scarf! It nearly touched the ground! Loved it!

[@danielebowman]

People forget Russell T Davies 'golden era' of Who was actually wildly inconsistent and the really good and great stories of that era were written by writers he brought in while his own Who stories were silly or meh or always had some big Deux ex Machina ending to it all that took away tenson. His success was recognising who wrote the best Who stories in Doctor Who's hiatus and hire those writers to adapt their stories.

[@erg1947]

People forget even more that both RTD and Moffat edited guest written episodes, sometimes heavily. RTD mentioned in his book that there was one episode that he heavily rewrote that became a fan favourite and the guest writer got all the credit despite the finished script containing more of his work. Peter Capaldi mentioned the same thing happening during his run, Moffat heavily edited a guest written episode that became a fan favourite.

[@frde2190]

I might be wrong but he did write ‘Midnight’ which was one of the best episodes in the entire new who era

[@danielebowman]

@@frde2190 and I’d argue his only really good story. Considering he wrote half of each season for 4/5 seasons, that’s low strike rate.

[@tomnorton4277]

@@erg1947 Steven Moffat is a legend. Easily the best showrunner since Tom Baker's era - sorry John Nathan-Turner, you had the passion but not the storytelling ability - and one of the best writers too. And the fact that he didn't take credit for all the scripts he edited is a testament to what an awesome guy he is.

[@MudkipWithShades]

The fact that RTD came back to Doctor Who just to make it even worse feels like Nolan’s family from Invincible: We’ve been lied to for (less than) 20 years. Shout out to all classic Doctor Who fans who saw it coming since 2005.

[@user-cl5yt8yt5d]

OG OG or just OG? There's classic who then new who then shite who so what are the OG doctors

[@_hollowsky]

There's no way these recent episodes are worse than what Chin Balls outputted

[@ironhead2008]

RTD was ALWAYS woke, it smacks you in the face if you binge his and Moffat's run.

[@MudkipWithShades]

@@user-cl5yt8yt5d I meant Classic Who, not NuWho. Fixed.

[@lonewolf9578]

@@ironhead2008see the thing is, Woke back in the early 2000’s wasn’t as bad as it was now. It was subtle and didn’t get in the way of the story and still gave great characters like Jack Now it’s just all in your face and abrasive and almost always get in the way of the writing and the story

[@mattendspiel9341]

Christopher Eccleston continues to play the Doctor in audio adventures produced by Big Finish. The man is superb

[@Bayonet1809]

Big Finish is the real Doctor Who now.

[@matthewhegarty2873]

He’s really good in them!

[@mattendspiel9341]

@@matthewhegarty2873 I’d go as far to say that he’s better, mainly due to more superior stories

[@matthewhegarty2873]

@@mattendspiel9341 I’d go as far to say that he’s not just better he’s…..FANTASTIC!!!

[@RodeoJesus]

It's more accurate to say that they're using the show as a pulpit rather than a platform. They want to preach to the audience and they want that audience to repent. Education and entertainment have nothing to do with it.

[@JnEricsonx]

Met Chris a few years back. Still a great Doctor.

[@jimhormann6085]

Eccleston was actually an amazing Doctor with great episodes. The gasmask zombie episodes are still some of my favorites.(I think it was a double episode anyway)

[@macmcleod1188]

I know other people like tenant and Smith and Capaldi but Eccleston was my Doctor Who. I had never been able to get through an episode with the older doctors and I saw his first episode and then the entire season with rapt amazement. He was perfect. I was really sad at what they did with him and the MCU movie as a dark elf because I felt the director and Riders robbed him of his potential. Tenant was okay but there was something he was missing . Smith had that elusive quality the Eccleston had as well. But he wasn't the first. As far as the Doctor Who Universe goes, it's eccleston, smith, harkness, tennant. Yes, I know Captain Jack wasn't a doctor but he was amazing.

[@AtariDad]

He's fine with playing the Doctor again, it's why he's done some Big Finish audio stories recently. He just doesn't want to work with any of those people.

[@alecaquino4306]

Eccleson was (and IS) the PEOPLE'S Doctor!

[@mr_reborn]

"Get rid of the bloody executives and I'll come back" ... sounds like a man after my own heart, sick of corporation tossers.

[@Sporadic2777]

Eccleston is from the north of the UK (this was jokingly pointed out in his early episodes of DW with several characters asking why, if he's an alien, he sounds like he's from 'The North', to which he famously replied "Lots of planets have a 'North"). Northern UK is a longtime stronghold of working class people. Chris shows this in his support of the actual workers on the show, rather than the executives, which would include Davies, who often treat the workers poorly in typical UK classism. As for Davies and his change, the woke Left themselves have laid out the guidelines: No one can be 'neutral'. No one is allowed to sit on the sidelines. And 'Silence is Violence'. They echo George W. Bush's notorious "You're either with us, or you're with the terrorists" on the eve of the US's invasion of Afghanistan. Especially someone who is openly a member of the LGBT group, someone like Davies is expected to be on board and push 'The Message' (read in Drinker's voice) in everything they do. If they do not, they are condemned as being against the progressive re-alignment of society. So whether by choice or compulsion, RTD had to continue the trend of using DW as a platform to push modern social messages to the point of completely overriding the science-fiction that people actually want.

[@peterd788]

The BBC said he didn't want to be typecast but the truth was he was disgusted by how those four treated and allowed the crew and cast to be treated. RTD and him have never spoken since even though they were previously friends. He also despised one of the directors.

[@RhJones]

Damn! I was expecting a vague hinting “but I still love them” statement. He just fully said it, good man.

[@staciepaul]

Baggage Claim is a great guest. More please, she is really talented and well spoken.

[@SylverWWA]

(I think) Eccleston always had a beef with RTD on the creative vision side of the show. RTD was really pushing the whole Doctor×Rose romance and Eccleston was all against it. Rightfully so, the Doctor is an ancient, wise, hardened, time-travelling being, relationships should mean something different to him (as it was pointed out last time). And there are small glimpses in the first season that Eccleston wanted to go into this direction. Hence he left and the second season was... romance, full steam ahead. Followed by an awful third season, imho. Fourth season was such a breath of fresh air in terms of the Doctor's and his companion's relationship. Loved the Doctor and Donna, such a shame RTD ruined his own best creation :(

[@lonewolf9578]

The third season was good imo, they just tried too hard to make Martha another Rose which just dragged her character down as well as making the Doctor seem like a really shitty person at some points Donna they got right by just making her a friend, none of the romance bs

[@afriendlyreminder6072]

I know my boy ain’t shitting on Martha😤

[@RambleOn07]

I think that this is another instance of something being great in spite of people who get credit for it. I sincerely think that the show would've been better without RTD.

[@WaspCameraInSpringfield]

It's funny because post-Orange Man RTD would probably see Doctor×Rose as "shitlord content" for being heterosexual.

[@chaos.corner]

@@WaspCameraInSpringfieldAlternatively, I am coming to believe that making the doctor be interested in a heterosexual relationship was a gateway to making him gay all along.

[@CorridorJ]

I sat next to Chris and his kids on the tube the other day. He seemed really sweet and you can see he really loves them. He looked more homeless than here though 😂

[@engirish1977]

I miss the Matt Smith era, luckily he’s pretty darn good in House of the Dragon, also interesting to see him play a villain, good actor 😊

[@charg1nmalaz0r51]

matt smith is always how i envisioned the doctor. So i enjoyed his take on it. His stories were better too imo, i think his era had a different writer. I'm not too sure i dont follow showrunners/directors that hard

[@markkaminski4496]

Matt Smith was the end of Who for me and several of other once true fans I know,. He played it far to silly in his portrayal.

[@dalevintage]

Eccleston is MY Doctor Who. I reluctantly found peace with Tennant and came to like him...but I've miss Eccleston since his departure. What could have been. ❤️

[@SassyTesla]

Billy piper really aged like a fine wine, man she's still like she was 20 years ago.

[@ramblingRJ]

Russell T. Davis is not is different person now. He was ALWAYS like this. I recall his haughty, morally superior attitude, and the way he verbally abused fans. The only difference between then and now is that in 2005, he didn't have carte blanche to write whatever he wanted. Now he's encouraged to be sanctimonious and lecture us about his views,

[@tkps]

I think you're right. He was given a start in Dr Who so likely toed a line but now has $$ thrown at him when it's popularity wasn't just down to him. What I wonder now is how much influence Disney has. When it was announced they got the world screening rights outside UK/Ireland articles were quick to insist the BBC still owned the rights but also that under Disney budgets would increase. BBC always sold the screening rights around the world so why would budgets only increase under Disney unless they got more say? These episodes also scream Disney's recent efforts to me.

[@ianh452]

Happy Xmas C Drinker. Moderately amusing.

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

Eccleston's response near the beginning of this video: *_"Can you and your associates arrange that for me Mr. Morden?"_* *-- BABYLON 5* 😉

[@pryordevine3855]

Eccleston is still my favorite doctor. I think he did the best job at conveying a person who's running away from his past

[@andrewmclachlan4242]

"You Never Go Full RTD!"😂😂😂

[@r.downgrade5836]

Eccleston was always my favorite new doctor (can't say favorite favorite until I watch some of the older stuff), and this only makes me like him more.

[@johncampbell9107]

Eccleston has always and will always be my favorite Doctor. He was absolutely fantastic.

[@eodmax85]

Always liked him ever since Boyle's 28 Days Later. Excellent character and performance.

[@simonslaughter6098]

Loved him in Cracker too

[@hope-cat4894]

Christopher Eccleston was my Doctor. He was the one that really impressed me and made me like the character.

[@schrodingerscat1863]

Eccleston is the kind of actor that really did the part justice, he had that kind of old school seriousness bubbling under the surface of what is the often flippant persona associated with The Doctor. Tennant also had that quality which is what makes both their performances so satisfying.

[@nottheonlydreamer9512]

Eccleston was a great Doctor, with an edge which made him more interesting than most. He has made it clear over the last few years that he had serious issues with the hierarchy at the BBC, particularly Russell T Davies, and he has given indications as to why. Respect to him for speaking the truth.

[@henrymach]

Christopher will always be my favorite Doctor. My second favorite is someone who should have been The Doctor but never got to be: Richard E. Grant And according to Christopher, Russel is NOT a different person than he was all those years ago

[@dlewis9760]

Shorter leash back then would be my guess. Now, the people in charge are different and he can do his thing.

[@Uzarran]

At least we got Rowan Atkinson as the Doctor for one episode. First female Doctor, too.

[@michaelm5542]

@@Uzarran best female doctor as well. (Although I liked Jo Martin’s)

[@themovieguy6252]

I think he's great in Gone In 60 Seconds

[@drewgonzales9027]

"I asked for 50 cars, not 49 and a half"

[@lankeowker5878]

Before, I wasn't sure if Eccleston only left due to being scared of being type cast. He later played many other arguably more career demeaning rolls like Destro in GI Joe. However after hearing this, it was clear there was more behind the scenes that must have shaped his decision.

[@dinosaurwoman]

Chris was my favorite Doctor simply because he sparked my interest in the show overall. I've only watched his season and then bits and pieces of the others. I do remember what he said about the producers and directors. I am with him.

[@nickdexter6939]

Eccleston was amazing as the Dr. Loved his dark edgy approach to the character.

[@TheAuron32]

I absolutely love how this man has the balls to say that, same reason I like Jeremy Clarkson.

[@user-en8pi9ln3o]

I loved CE's Doctor Who! When I first saw him in the first episode I thought he looked like a plainclothes detective. I liked that look. He even seemed to come across that way too. It was a very interesting take on the Doctor.

[@dalelovell579]

I watched it's a Wonderful Life last night. Apparently Russell T. Davis has never seen the film since Potter was in a wheelchair

[@seeinred]

That remark about BBC at the end was something that i didn't even consider. This is the level of "being out of touch" i didn't think are possible to have, unless you are a child or someone with severe mental issues. Huh. Also Eccleston just significantly grown in my eyes, not that anyone cares, but daymn.

[@chaos.corner]

I've been thinking about that and I think it probably means that the upper levels of the BBC are still mostly populated by white upper-class public school (US readers would think of that more like private schools - it's complicated) types. That's what they think means conservative.

[@12crows1]

He sounds like a guy with no tolerance for two-faced crap! I like him on that principle alone!

[@davidsummer8631]

What Christopher said reminds me of the Godfather where the studio didn't want to do the film they didn't think that Pacino was right for the role of Micheal and they wanted Coppola replaced with another director but when the film became hugely successful they gave themselves pats on the back for a job well done

[@danielwilliamson6180]

It's a shame Christopher Eccleston didn't return for the 50th Anniversary Special. He was a good Doctor Who. He must have been really that unhappy playing The Doctor in Doctor Who.

[@WithScienceAsMySheperd]

Yes!! we knew that in 2013 the year of the 50th because he told he would not return because of the way the early team mistreated people in the crew... old news. He didn't word it with NAMES back then but it was clear it was showrunners

[@purefoldnz3070]

@@WithScienceAsMySheperd he said all he wanted was an apology, that was it.

[@JoshuaKevinPerry]

John Barrowman literally had a contract with Arrow to be available for the 50th and no one at BBC returned his call

[@danielwilliamson6180]

@@JoshuaKevinPerry Most likely due to the sexual misconduct scandal.

[@unknownpleasures_nic]

very good assesment from Baggage Claim, I think that the problem is that they locked in diversity an identity politics with POST-MODERNiSM which is an effed up philosophy in my humble opinion. Everything has inherent value in post modernism and rejects the idea of that value is created upon building on previews foundations. sooo, poop has value and meaning regardless of the low effort and mediocrety it took to make.

[@rich1701]

They lied about him saying he was too tired to handle the schedule which really hurt his career

[@RJALEXANDER777]

From what I've heard I'm not surprised he was tired and irritable. Season 1 was a production hell apparently with an overworked and underappreciated cast and crew. On top of that Chris was struggling with an eating disorder which obviously would sap someone's energy. His only crime was being one of the few on set who wasn't putting up with that treatment. Fuck the BBC for using that against him and made him sound like a prima donna.

[@collegerebel]

He's the only Doctor whose season I watched. I could never get into David Tennant. I think I get why he resonated with me. Eccleston seems like a stand-up guy and this just proves it.

[@jamesgordon1906]

Given the recent efforts he has been proven completely correct. ❤

[@meatpuppet5036]

Russel is writing for 2012 "Whovians" on Tumblr. But that site is long decayed. And the glory days when writers could coast on having a lizard woman repeatedly point out she's gay as "representation" are dead too. Nu-Rose didn't resonate with the people he pandered to, and now he's trying the Black community. Lets see how that plays out.

[@johnhoran9840]

He should really try pandering to Doctor Who fans!