Christopher Eccleston - The Ninth Doctor

With his battered leather jacket and no-nonsense attitude Christopher Eccleston spearheaded the first series of Doctor Who's revival in 2005 as The Ninth Doctor.

Christopher Eccleston’s casting was an unexpected choice for an actor more usually seen in gritty northern dramas. Here, along with Julie Gardner and Russell T Davies, he discuss how he came to be the Ninth Doctor.

After a 16 year hiatus, Doctor Who returned to the Nation’s TV screens with a thrilling trailer featuring explosions, space ships, slow motion running and, of course, Christopher Eccleston. In the words of Russell T Davies, the trailer was "a fabulous statement of intent in 2005 and I think genuinely helped get everyone buzzing."

During his tenure Christopher Eccleston's Doctor faced various adversaries, including the Daleks, Autons and the Slithee. Along the way, he formed a strong bond with his companion Rose Tyler, played by Billie Piper.

When Christopher Eccleston was invited on to Blue Peter he spoke about the bond between The Doctor and Rose, as well as some of the monsters and villains they’d encountered. He also talks about the responsibility he felt taking on such an iconic role.

Despite only playing The Doctor in one series, Christopher Eccleston's performance has been widely praised for revitalising the role.

His portrayal was notable for its realism and emotional depth. However, he still managed to retain the lighter, more humorous elements of his predecessors.

The man of action Doctor which Christopher played was reflected in his iconic costume - the battered leather jacket. Here he and costume designer Lucinda Wright explain how that look came about.

Christopher Eccleston's decision to leave the show after only one series surprised many fans, but despite the brevity of his time as The Doctor he has had an enduring impact on the series.

His performance laid the groundwork for the next actors who took on the role, contributing to the ongoing success and popularity of Doctor Who.