Christopher Eccleston has lauded the casting of Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor while chastising the BBC for resting on their laurels.
Speaking on Lorraine Kelly on her ITV chat show (via Digital Spy) about the return of The A Word, Eccleston, who helped reinvent the Doctor for the BBC in 2005, felt that it was about time the BBC moved on.
“Hurrah! The BBC have gone as far as they can with skinny white men, I think.
“It’s time, isn’t it? It had to change, and God knows how much money it makes for the BBC. They needed to reinvent it, and they could not have chosen someone better.”
Earlier this year, Jodie Whittaker was announced as the first female actor to take on the role of the Doctor in Chris Chibnall’s first season as showrunner. She’ll be joined in the TARDIS by The Chase host Bradley Walsh and two other companions Tosin Cole and Mandip Gill.
Eccleston also explained why he hasn’t been a regular fixture on the convention circuit since leaving Doctor Who.
“I’ve never done conventions. I know there’s a lot of money there, isn’t there? But I’ve always just wanted to earn my living by acting.
“And that’s not a judgment on people who do them. It’s just the way I am. So I’ve avoided all that so far. But listen – who know’s what’s around the corner financially?”
The A Word returns Tuesday 14th November on BBC One.
