Christopher Eccleston to return to Doctor Who in Big Finish audio dramas

Prepare your emotions, Doctor Who fans: Christopher Eccleston is finally returning to his role as the Ninth Doctor, thanks to Big Finish audio dramas.

Well, Doctor Who fans, we probably never thought we’d see this day. How fantastic it is to be wrong?

Because it’s official: Christopher Eccleston is coming back. Yes, really. Granted not on the show itself – though keep those dreams alive for the next big anniversary special – but we’ll still get to hear a dozen new Ninth Doctor adventures, thanks to Big Finish and their ongoing series of audio dramas.

The Ninth Doctor Adventures will be comprised of twelve installments spread over four volumes,  released over a multi-month period beginning in May, 2021. Additional story information and guest cast (please please Billie Piper please) is still under wraps, but just the existence of this project is enough to make all Whovian hearts beat just a bit faster.

“After 15 years it will be exciting to revisit the Ninth Doctor’s world, bringing back to life a character I love playing.,” Eccleston said in a statement.

Apparently, the idea came up at this year’s Gallifrey One fan convention, where Eccleston was a marquee guest. (As someone who attended this year’s Gally, I can confirm Eccleston was an incredible guest – warm, funny, great with all us fans, and fully basking in how much his Doctor meant to all of us.)

“I first talked to Christopher about returning to the role of the Doctor at the Gallifrey One convention in February this year,” Big Finish’s Chairman, Jason Haigh-Ellery said. “Christopher said he was enjoying meeting the fans and was pleased that his Doctor was remembered so fondly.  He indicated he would be open to discussing a project with Big Finish.”

And thank goodness he did. We’ve only all been waiting for this for fifteen years.

Eccleston only played our favorite renegade Time Lord for a single season, but he’s had an outsize influence on what we understand as modern-day Doctor Who. He’s the one who started it, after all – bringing the show back from the wilderness and introducing an entirely new audience to the concept of a time-traveling alien who could change his face.

Big Finish has used its many audio stories to fill in gaps in Doctor Who lore and just give us more time with some of our favorite characters. Eighth Doctor Paul McGann, for example, only appeared onscreen as the Doctor in the 1996 TV movie but has gone on dozens of adventures for Big Finish. The company has crafted secondary story tracks for favorite companions like Rose Tyler and River Song and reunited Tenth Doctor David Tennant with former co-stars Piper and Catherine Tate. The Ninth Doctor Adventures is in good hands, is what I’m saying.

We just have to wait until next year to hear them.

Are you looking for to the Ninth Doctor’s audio adventures? What’s your favorite Big Finish story?