Eccleston was requested to return for the fiftieth anniversary Physician Who particular, “The Day of the Physician,” which noticed earlier Physician David Tennant be part of then-current Physician Matt Smith, in addition to a particular cameo from Fourth Physician Tom Baker in a task referred to as “The Curator.”
“I used to be requested concerning the fiftieth anniversary episode, and it was written by Steven Moffat, so clearly I used to be actually ,” recounted Eccleston. “However, once I learn the script, I felt that it was mainly myself, Matt, and Dave riffing off the truth that we was the Medical doctors. I, personally, didn’t really feel the narrative was sturdy sufficient, significantly for the Ninth Physician, as a result of I had taken numerous abuse in my very own nation once I left. Because the present was being celebrated, I used to be being abused within the press, and that was arduous to take. And really complicated. So I checked out it and I assumed, ‘Is that this actually the way in which I wish to come again?’ And I made a decision it wasn’t.”
With Eccleston out, the challenge would go on to forged John Harm as The Conflict Physician, a task that presumably took place later within the script growth course of. Eccleston praised the tip outcome.
“I’ve learn quite a lot of scripts, so I perceive the strengths of scripts, and I used to be despatched the brand new draft, which was with out me and with the late, nice, and certainly one of my huge heroes John Harm,” mentioned Eccleston. “I simply thought that script was immaculate. And I feel it added to the canon of Physician Who in a approach that me coming again wouldn’t. I feel the Conflict Physician was an excellent working of Steven Moffat’s creativeness, and I cherished watching him do this.”
Eccleston spoke positively of Moffat’s expertise as a author on a number of events through the panel, calling his Season 1 two-parter “The Empty Little one” and “The Physician Dances,” which Moffat wrote underneath the Davies period, his favourite episodes to movie.
“They had been written by Steven Moffat, and I felt I actually understood what he needed from the Physician,” mentioned Eccleston. “I used to be by no means as certain what Russell needed. What I may see with Russell was precisely what he needed from Rose, Billie Piper, I feel that was his energy. I feel Steven’s writing of the Physician, or my Physician, was actually a present to me.”
