John Simm is set to follow in the footsteps of Ninth Doctor actor, Christopher Eccleston, by starring in this year’s West End production of A Christmas Carol.

Simm, who played the Master between 2007 and 2018 in Doctor Who, will play Scrooge in the stage play of the classic Charles Dickens novella, adapted by Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), and now in its eighth year running.

John is perhaps best known for playing Sam Tyler in Life on Mars. Some 66,000 people saw A Christmas Carol last year, when Eccleston was Ebenezer Scrooge.

Director, Matthew Warchus, said:

“For 2024, we’re delighted to be welcoming the brilliant John Simm as Scrooge. He’ll be donning the red coat and crumpled top hat and joining an outstanding ensemble cast as we share another feast of music, magic and festive joy with our audiences, whether they’re seeing the production for their first time or the eighth!”

The blurb reads:

“A Christmas Carol  fills the auditorium to the brim with mince pies, music and merriment. A unique staging immerses the audience in London’s longest running adaptation of this beloved festive favourite.”

The rest of the cast is to be announced.

Stay tuned to the DWC: later this week, we’ll have an overview of upcoming West End productions starring Doctor Who alumni!

A Christmas Carol runs from 9th November 2024 to 4th January 2025 at the Old Vic Theatre, Waterloo in London.