April 7th 2024.
In a recent interview, actress Billie Piper opened up about her former co-star Christopher Eccleston's struggles while filming Doctor Who. Eccleston, who played the iconic role of the Doctor in the 2005 series, has been vocal about his negative experience on set and his mental health struggles.
Piper, who played the Doctor's companion Rose Tyler, revealed that she was aware that Eccleston was going through a tough time during filming, but she didn't realize the extent of it. In fact, she was surprised to hear him publicly voice his disdain for the show and his desire for showrunner Russell T Davies to be fired.
"It was one of my first big acting jobs," Piper shared. "I was just grateful and excited to be a part of it all. I didn't pay much attention to any behind-the-scenes drama because I was overwhelmed with the opportunity to work with such incredible people and be a part of rebooting a British classic."
Piper also admitted that she was going through personal struggles at the time, which may have clouded her perception of Eccleston's behavior. However, she emphasized that she remains close with her former colleagues and the production team.
When asked if she would ever consider reprising her role as Rose Tyler, Piper revealed that she wouldn't want to commit to a full-time return, but she would love to make a guest appearance. She then shifted the conversation to her current project, the Netflix show Scoop, where she plays a Newsnight interview booker involved in the events leading up to Prince Andrew's controversial interview.
"I was initially unsure about taking on the role, but then I realized there was a bigger story to tell about the unsung women behind the scenes," Piper said. "It's slightly depressing that no one really knew about my character and her role in the whole situation."
Meanwhile, in the world of Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa has taken over the role of the Doctor, and Eccleston has publicly shown his support for the young actor. In an Instagram post from 2022, Eccleston shared photos of his many roles throughout his career, including a shot from Doctor Who, and wrote, "The Doctor. I loved playing Him. Much love to NCUTI GATWA."
Speaking about his departure from the show, Eccleston cited his strained relationship with Russell and producers Julie Gardner and Phil Collinson as the main reason for leaving. He explained that the "politics were raging" during the first series and that their trust in him had broken down.
Despite his negative experience, Eccleston still has a fondness for the show and has given his blessing to Gatwa to take over the role. As for Piper, she is currently focused on her role in Scoop and has no plans to return to the world of Doctor Who at the moment.
If you have a story to share, the entertainment team at The Agency would love to hear from you. You can email us, call us, or visit our Submit Stuff page. And be sure to keep an eye out for Piper's upcoming show, as well as the possibility of a 90s boyband documentary and Jeremy Clarkson's potential engagement.
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