I'm sure he did. And there he was, giving something to the fans that he didn't have to do. He doesn't hate the DW fans, but he had a bad experience with the producers and the BBC, and doesn't really want to get pulled back into the world. But something that was specifically honoring his time as the Doctor? Yeah, he turned out for that. But because he wanted to, not because he owed us anything.

He's not being petty or vindictive or hateful towards Doctor Who. Not doing the BFI would have been petty.

He's not being petty or vindictive or hateful towards Doctor Who. Not doing the BFI would have been petty.

Click to expand...

He didn't. He recorded a message in which he said (I paraphrase): "You'd have liked to see me in the 50th anniversary special? Sorry, see you in 2063! Oh and I should probably mention that one guy I worked with on Doctor Who that I liked"

He can do and say whatever he wants and I don't feel that he owes us anything, but yes, I think that as talented as he is, he's a passive agressive jerk.

^He has nothing against the show though, but some of the people who make it.

Click to expand...

Yeah, it absolutely amazes me that people have such frustration with Eccleston, but seem to have NO frustration with the the people in charge who are being jerks enough to make Eccleston NOT want to return.

They should have courted him. yes, he's a deeper more intense actor who takes things a bit more seriously than others. Some actors are like that, not just Eccleston. Some of the best, in fact.

You go after them. You treat them right, and try to meet them on THEIR terms so that they WANT to work with you.

You don't mistreat them, or dismiss them, or offer them fleeting ultimatums. You court them, you woo them, you wow them.

Reading between the lines, it sounds more like the folks in charge never really gave a damn about him, created a venomous atmosphere, and did very little to give him reason to come back.

Supposedly, his problem was with some production people when he was on DW. I believe almost all of the production team has turned over, at least once. He also stated his favorite episodes were Moffatt penned. He also supposedly met with Moffatt recently to discuss the 50th but declined. So using the "problem with someone in production" is now an invalid defense.

Supposedly, his problem was with some production people when he was on DW. I believe almost all of the production team has turned over, at least once. He also stated his favorite episodes were Moffatt penned. He also supposedly met with Moffatt recently to discuss the 50th but declined. So using the "problem with someone in production" is now an invalid defense.

Click to expand...

Why is it an invalid defense? By your own admission, he took the meeting, he gave it a shot, and for whatever reason, whatever bothered either hasn't changed or the part didn't appeal to him.

You might have a point if he hadn't even been willing to take the meeting. We still don't know exactly what the problem was. he hasn't pointed at someone in Production and blamed them. He has complained about the Politics of the show generally and the ass kissing at parties. It could have nothing to do with a specific person, it could simply be "the faces on the lunchboxes" which he has a great distaste for that kind of Celebrityism, and has even been quoted as saying he didn't want his face on a lunchbox, he considers that nothing more than prostitution of the art of acting. You keep assigning habits of "Famous Popstars" for him to emulate, and he wants nothing to do with that end of acting, he just wants to do the best performance he can in his art, and move on to the next role and give that his all. It's art and a job to him, he's not interested in the trips down the red carpet and the other trappings of being a Celebrity

Supposedly, his problem was with some production people when he was on DW. I believe almost all of the production team has turned over, at least once. He also stated his favorite episodes were Moffatt penned. He also supposedly met with Moffatt recently to discuss the 50th but declined. So using the "problem with someone in production" is now an invalid defense.

Click to expand...

Well the event, where he sent the letter was about the time he was on the show.

Whether to appear in the episode or not, is a separate matter.

Seems like he didn't like what he heard was planned for the episode, unless he went there just to get some spoilers.

At the very least, he must have been very naive to play an iconic family/children's-orientated role like The Doctor and not think about things like having his face on merchandise. There have been DW toys for as long as I remember.

Some crossed wires here, I think-- it was Benedict Cumberbatch who said that he wouldn't want to play the Doctor because of the "face on a lunchbox" effect. And he was making a general comment about the amount of attention and publicity given the actor in the role, not complaining about the mere existence of merchandise.

Some crossed wires here, I think-- it was Benedict Cumberbatch who said that he wouldn't want to play the Doctor because of the "face on a lunchbox" effect. And he was making a general comment about the amount of attention and publicity given the actor in the role, not complaining about the mere existence of merchandise.

Click to expand...

Ah, yea, you're right, my mistake. However, Eccelston does seem to ascribe to the same resistance of "prostituting" his work like that.

At the very least, he must have been very naive to play an iconic family/children's-orientated role like The Doctor and not think about things like having his face on merchandise. There have been DW toys for as long as I remember.

Click to expand...

I don't know that that was ever an issue with Eccleston.

It was certainly an issue with Benedict Cumberbatch, as he cited that as a reason for not taking the role after Tennant's departure.

^Yes, Brendan Moody has corrected that. I didn't actually introduce the merchandise point though, I simply made that remark in response to Sindatur's reference to lunchboxes (which he's admitted was crossed wires in his part).

I think a lot of people have ascribed similar motives to Eccleston, in the period when he refused to say anything and all anyone could do was make wild guesses (or accept ignorance, but when has fandom ever done that?). But I don't know that he's ever suggested he felt a mainstream, highly visible role was inherently undesirable. He takes on material that interests him, or that pays the bills so he can do the stuff that interests him.

On the subject of the anniversary special, I don't think he was ever likely to appear in it, given that a nostalgic event episode in which he's one of three lead actors is unlikely to offer much if any new and interesting dramatic material. His turning it down (if he did; I'd remind people that the original article behind this thread, despite misleading wording, cites an unnamed BBC source rather than an official spokesman) probably isn't a comment on the plot.