Yeah, had to make sure the title was clear as other publications deliberately fudged that one but if 2020 wasn't crazy enough, this has actually happened.
Fifteen years since his departure in the first series finale of the 2005 series of Doctor Who, Christopher Eccleston is finally reprising the role of the Ninth Doctor and it's courtesy of Big Finish, who have recorded 12 new stories with Eccleston, due for release next year, with Eccleston commenting on his much hyped return.
“After 15 years it will be exciting to revisit the Ninth Doctor's world, bringing back to life a character I love playing.”
While details about other cast and stories are yet to be revealed, the Ninth Doctor will have a four boxset situation with each set containing three stories and a behind the scenes feature disc, titled Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Adventures, which can be preordered from the Big Finish site.
I have to say, I'm genuinely shocked by this. I know it took a while for Big Finish to get Tom Baker into the audio, but I didn't believe they would be able to persuade Christopher Eccleston. It's Fantastic (as the 9th Doctor would say) that they have. However on that note and sorry, but this bit is going to be rant at the actual series itself. Bear with me.
It's brilliant that over the last few months both Big Finish and Emily Cook through the watchalongs have managed to keep Doctor Who somewhat in the public eye but if anything, it's also highlighted that the BBC and Chris Chibnall themselves are failing to do this and that's somewhat a worrying thing to see.
Before anyone comes at me about COVID or the NMD crowd, it has been five months since The Timeless Children has aired and while we know that Chibnall and lead actor Jodie Whittaker are back for Series 13, we don't however know when filming is slated to begin or have any clue as to when it may actually air and given that other major productions have either restarted filming or are about to begin again, surely the BBC should be making some kind of announcement concerning one of their biggest shows?
We also still don't know if the upcoming Revolution Of The Daleks will air either at Christmas or New Year and while it's been rumoured that both Bradley Walsh and Tosin Cole are departing in the special along with Mandip Gill continuing into next series, it's still not confirmed.
I've seen some people online tangentially connected with the show defend Chibnall's overt secretiveness but for me, I genuinely think it's slowly killing the hype for the series and we're at a point where some new information concerning the series should be starting to be officially announced, if anything to at least curtail other 'sources' from spreading misinformation about the series.
I've already voiced enough of my own personal criticisms I have with the current era, but that doesn't mean I don't love the show or that I want it to do badly. I just want better storytelling and some proper marketing and excitement and right now, both the BBC and Chris Chibnall really need to pull their finger out on both counts. Hopefully something genuinely exciting concerning the show (perhaps some new companion casting) will emerge soon.
Big Finish News: https://www.bigfinish.com/news/v/christopher-eccleston-returns-to-doctor-who
Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Adventures will be released from May 2021. Revolution Of The Daleks airdate is yet to be confirmed for BBC1 and BBCAmerica as well as filming for Series 13.
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