Christopher Eccleston claims Doctor Who 'almost destroyed' his career: 'I was blacklisted by the BBC regime'

The actor says he was forced to move to America to continue his acting career

(Rex Features)

Christopher Eccleston has claimed that his career was almost destroyed by his tenure on BBC series Doctor Who.

The actor has stated he was “blacklisted” following his decision to quit the series after just one season by the “BBC regime” in a brand new interview with The Guardian.

He said: “What happened around Doctor Who almost destroyed my career. I gave them a hit show and I left with dignity and then they put me on a blacklist.

“I was carrying my own insecurities as it was something I had never done before and then I was abandoned, vilified in the tabloid press and blacklisted,” he added.

In 2005, Eccleston became the ninth person to play the titular Time Lord when the beloved series was revived by the channel. He starred opposite Billie Piper and Noel Clarke.

After making the decision to quit, he claims his agent warned him that “the BBC regime” was “against” him, which forced him to continue his acting career in America.

“I was told by my agent at the time: You’re going to have to get out of the country and wait for regime change,'” he said.

Eccleston has starred in several high-profile films, including Thor sequel The Dark World, and had a lead role in critically-acclaimed HBO series The Leftovers alongside Justin Theroux, Carrie Coon and Liv Tyler. He will next play Macbeth in the latest adaptation from the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Since he left Doctor Who, the character has been played by David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi and Jodie Whitaker who became the first female ever female incarnation of the role in the 2017 Christmas special.

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