Christopher has opened up about his battle with anorexia and depression in his new autobiography (Picture: Rex/BBC)

Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston has revealed that his anorexia and depression almost drove him to suicide in his new autobiography.

The actor, best known for playing the 9th incarnation of The Doctor in the sci-fi series, revealed the harrowing details in his forthcoming autobiography, I Love The Bones Of You, and admitted he was struggling with his mental health while filming the popular BBC series in 2005.

‘Many times I’ve wanted to reveal that I’m a lifelong anorexic and dysmorphic,’ he revealed.

‘I never have. I always thought of it as a filthy secret, because I’m Northern, because I’m male and because I’m working-class.’




The actor continued: ‘The illness is still there raging within me as the Doctor. People love the way I look in that series, but I was very ill.

‘The reward for that illness was the part. And therein lies the perpetuation of the whole sorry situation.’

The 55-year-old revealed he was eventually diagnosed with depression following the breakdown of his marriage to Mischka in late 2015, and contemplated suicide while filming the BBC series The A Word in 2016.

Christopher later admitted himself to a psychiatric hospital and was ‘sure’ that he was going to die.

Christopher was diagnosed with depression following the breakdown of his marriage in 2015 (Picture: AP Photo/BBC)

‘I was in a state of extreme anxiety, convinced I was either going to die or I was going to kill myself. In my despair I reached for my phone and looked up a psychiatric hospital, I rang ahead, grabbed my bag and ran,’ he continued.

‘I was 100 per cent sure I was in the last few weeks of my life.’

Christopher was subsequently diagnosed antidepressants, admitting that he ‘could be on them for the rest of his days’.

However, he did stress that he would like to attempt to ‘slowly’ reduce the amount taken.

Christopher Eccleston’s autobiography, I Love The Bones Of You, will be released on 19 September.

Need support? Contact the Samaritans For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.

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