Interviewer: And why did you want to be the Doctor?

Christopher Eccleston: Because Russel T. Davies wrote it and because it was an audience in an area of television I hadn’t worked in. I’ve not had the privilege to act for children, really. And because I’m constantly told I’m not funny and I’m not charming, and they were some of the demands in the role, so I wanted to…I felt it was a big gamble. There’s two reasons to do it, Russel T. Davies and the gamble. And I like a gamble. I think it’s important as an actor, in any sphere of life, to do the things that frighten you most.