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What would bring the Ninth Doctor back to Doctor Who on TV? Christopher Eccleston finally gives an answer
Christopher Eccleston lays out what it would take to bring him back to playing the Doctor on television - and it's not what you think
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It’s a question that’s been asked a lot: what would bring the Ninth Doctor back to the screen? Christopher Eccleston finally answered at C2E2 2026, and he has an ideal scenario that would delight many fans.
Although Eccleston has reprised his role as the Doctor for audio dramas from Big Finish in recent years, he’s famously stayed away from playing the character again in the television series, even as contemporaries like Billie Piper and David Tennant have returns to the show. Asked during his C2E2 2026 spotlight panel whether he’d return to the series, he was blunt in his honesty: “I thought about this, [and] not with the four people who are running it now.”
That said, he immediately then outlined what would bring him back to Doctor Who on television.
“Here’s the thing: Doctor Who’s written for boys. There has never been a female showrunner of Doctor Who,” Eccleston said. “So my dream is this: there was a little girl who was, I don’t know — six, seven, eight — in 2005 when my series went out, and she gets the job, and she asked me back? I’d go back like a shot.”
BBC, the challenge has been laid.
Doctor Who returns to British television in late 2026 with a one-off special. Beyond that… well, maybe there’s a young female writer out there that the BBC should be checking resumes for even as you read these very words.
Popverse's favorite convention, C2E2, is back and we've got all you need to know ahead of time:
About C2E2
Comics, cosplay, gaming, authors, and anime abound in the only pop culture convention in the heart of Downtown Chicago! We've gathered your favorite celebrities, unique exhibitors, incredible comic creators, and larger-than-life literary authors into one place to celebrate the fandoms you love. From the halls of Artist Alley to the depths of the Show Floor, our goal is to provide a space of creativity and fun, but most importantly, one that cultivates a sense of belonging, safety, and inclusiveness.
Dates
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Location
Chicago's McCormick Place
United States
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