Christopher Eccleston Talks About Doctor Who Anniversaries, Steven Moffat Talks About Billie Piper Being Awesome

It was Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper who reintroduced me to Doctor Who as an adult so it’s safe to say I have a certain affinity for them. So I was interested to hear both were getting attention recently. Hit the jump to find out what Eccleston had to say about anniversary celebrations and what Steven Moffat thinks about Piper’s Doctor Who legacy.

The British Film Institute in London have been celebrating Doctor Who in anticipation of the 50th anniversary and this past weekend was dedicated to the 9th Doctor. Although Eccleston wasn’t in attendance, he did send along a special message for the audience:

I love the BFI. I love the Doctor and hope you enjoy this presentation. Joe Ahearne directed five of the 13 episodes of the first series. He understood the tone the show needed completely – strong, bold, pacy visuals coupled with wit, warmth and a twinkle in the performances, missus.

“If Joe agrees to direct the 100th anniversary special, I will bring my sonic and a stair-lift and – providing the Daleks don’t bring theirs – I, the ninth Doctor, vow to save the universe and all you apes in it.

The actor would be 99 years old come the 100th anniversary. I would totally watch. In my assisted living home.

Meanwhile, Moffat spoke at the Ad-Lib event in Edinburgh about Piper’s continued presence in the sci-fi series.

It was Billie Piper who brought it back. I think those first two years, that was Billie Piper’s show. It was all about Billie, and Billie as Rose. Russell [T. Davies] was so clever in creating that character and casting that character so perfectly…[Davis] allowed an audience who would not naturally have watched Doctor Who, which was practically everybody at the time, to find a way into the show, so she has an iconic status partly because it was a brilliant performance and a brilliantly written part but it was also the way back in…She has a bigger status than most of those companions and really seriously, for the first two years, that was Billie Piper’s show.

For a change, Moffat and I actually agree on something!

(via Doctor Who TV, Digital Spy)

Previously in Doctor Who

• Doctor Who’s k-9 Was The Ring Bearer At This Wedding
• Moffat Gives Answers On Regeneration, Accents, And Peter Jackson
• The World’s Creepiest Doctor Who Cosplay

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