Christopher Eccleston has taken on one of television's most prized roles, the Doctor in DOCTOR WHO.

He follows in the footsteps of William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann as the space-time travelling Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey.

His appointment to take the helm of the TARDIS was confirmed on 22 March 2004.

The 40-year-old has starred in FLESH AND BLOOD, THE SECOND COMING, and TV series OUR FRIENDS IN THE NORTH.

The BBC hoped that the Salford-born actor would take "a fresh, modern approach". Jane Tranter, BBC Controller of Drama Commissioning, said: "We are delighted to have cast an actor of such calibre in one of British television's most iconic roles. It signals our intention to take Doctor Who into the 21st century, as well as retaining its core traditional values - to be surprising, edgy and eccentric."

Born on 16 February 1964

What has Eccleston said about his lead role in DOCTOR WHO?

"I just wanted to work with Russell T Davies."

"It's a fantastic series and I am proud to be a part of it."

Eccleston admitted his role of the doctor could have been "a poisoned chalice".

"You have to deliver a lot of pseudo-scientific jargon and give it some charisma and wit. I watched Tom Baker do it and thought he was brilliant."

"This is the closest I have ever been to playing myself," said the 41-year-old actor. It's a version of me as a child, the way I feel about the world and everything in it."

"Children are watching so you have to take it seriously. Death happens in every episode - the world of DOCTOR WHO is tough."

"It's an escape, it's a romp."

"It's the mystery of the Doctor and the mystery of the relationship between the Doctor and his companion."

On 31 March 2005, Christopher Eccleston left the role in DOCTOR WHO.

Sadly, he will not film a second series of the hit BBC1 family-series.

A new, TENTH incarnation (as a Time Lord he can regenerate 12 times and then...that's it!) to join Rose Tyler in the TARDIS.