Christopher Eccleston, who previously portrayed the Doctor in the long-running sci-fi series, is scheduled to appear at Oxford University this weekend.
The actor from Manchester revived the famous Time Lord character for television audiences in 2005, bringing the show back to prominence with a critically acclaimed run.
Working opposite Billie Piper’s character Rose Tyler, the two became household names across Britain as they confronted extraterrestrial threats and supernatural beings across various eras and planets.
Among Eccleston’s other notable screen performances was his portrayal of a central character in the acclaimed drama Our Friends in the North. His cinematic credits also include appearances in 24 Hour Party People, the zombie thriller 28 Days Later, and the Marvel blockbuster Thor: The Dark World.
This weekend, the celebrated performer will visit Oxford’s Sheldonian Theatre on Broad Street to engage in conversation with fellow actor Paterson Joseph, who is recognized for his work in Peep Show and the Timothée Chalamet film Wonka.
The discussion forms part of the Oxford Literary Festival programme, during which Eccleston will promote his memoir I Love the Bones of You: My Father and the Making of Me.
Born into a working-class household in Salford, the actor maintains strong connections to his origins. He has previously discussed his belief that his northern dialect and background created obstacles early in his career. His initial screen appearances included a teenage prisoner in the 1991 production Let Him Have It and the character of DCI Bilborough in the crime series Cracker.
His career-defining role arrived with the part of the left-wing campaigner Nicky Hutchinson in the award-winning BBC production Our Friends in the North. On the big screen, he took the lead in Jude, an adaptation of the Thomas Hardy novel, in addition to his roles in 24 Hour Party People and 28 Days Later.
In 2005, he assumed the ninth version of the Doctor in the opening season of the BBC’s revived science fiction programme, notable for featuring his authentic regional accent. The portrayal earned him the Most Popular Actor prize at that year’s National Television Awards.
His accolades additionally include an International Emmy for the series Accused and Best Actor recognition from the Broadcast Press Guild for Our Friends in the North.
Paterson Joseph has featured in recent television productions including Vigil, Noughts and Crosses, and Boat Story, as well as appearing in last year’s Wonka. His debut historical novel, The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho, recounts the true narrative of an individual born aboard a slave vessel who subsequently became a writer, abolitionist campaigner, and one of the earliest people of African heritage to participate in a British parliamentary vote.
The event runs from 4pm to 5pm on Sunday at the Sheldonian Theatre, with admission priced between £10 and £25.