Crime & Safety
Christopher Eccleston verdict on Billie Piper as Doctor Who
The Manchester-born actor’s first major role came in the early 1990s, with his breakout performance in Let Him Have It.
He followed this up with the popular BBC drama Our Friends in the North, starring alongside Daniel Craig, Gina McKee, and Mark Strong.
The 62-year-old has also featured in multiple films, including Shallow Grave, 28 Days Later and Thor: The Dark World.
But Chris is perhaps best known and beloved by fans across the world for his iconic turn as the Doctor in the BBC’s Doctor Who.
Playing the ninth incarnation of the Time Lord, he helped relaunch the sci-fi series in 2005 after ‘the wilderness years’.
READ MORE: Matt Smith wants Doctor Who return after shock regeneration
Bringing a modernised show which had new generations hiding behind the sofa, Chris starred opposite Billie Piper, who played companion, Rose Tyler.
Hopping in the Tardis and fast-forwarding to the present, he was at the Oxford Literary Festival on Sunday (March 29).
Sitting down opposite fellow actor Paterson Joseph, the pair discussed their lives and careers at Oxford University’s Sheldonian Theatre.
The 61-year-old, who has been the Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University for more than three years, is known for his roles in Wonka, Peep Show and Julius Caesar.
Both actors have written books, with I Love the Bones of You by Chris, and Mr Joseph’s award-winning The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho.
Following their conversation and some questions from the crowd, the pair departed the historic venue to rapturous applause.
READ MORE: Colin Baker claims Billie Piper ‘can’t be the next Doctor Who’
After the event, Chris took some time to have an exclusive chat with the Oxford Mail about Oxford, Doctor Who and more.
“I think I’ve been to Oxford once before,” he said.
“When I arrived here this morning, the bells were ringing, and when I was in Cambridge about a year ago for the Folk Festival, the bells were ringing too.
“It made me think of when I played Jude in Jude the Obscure, who is the classic working-class guy who dreams of being a scholar and coming to Oxford or Cambridge, and it’s never left me.
“And I was walking around today just completely and utterly astounded by the architecture.
“I went into the Divinity School and stood in there and just looked because Jude was a stonemason.
READ MORE: Billie Piper becomes new Doctor Who after Ncuti Gatwa regeneration
“The irony of Oxford and Cambridge, of course, is that all these working-class men made this beauty, and a lot of them dreamt to be scholars themselves.
“So it makes me think how fortunate I was to play Jude.”
Speaking about appearing at Oxford Literary Festival 2026, Chris added: “My dad would be very proud that I’ve been asked to speak at a literary festival because my family were all voracious readers.
“Books are the gateway, that’s what I’d say to any young person – if you’re in trouble, and you don’t know anything, it will be in a book.
“So if I can support a literary festival, I’ll be there.”
Having already penned his autobiographical book about his relationship with his father, Ronnie, Chris revealed that he’s keen to write again.
READ MORE: Alex Kingston teases River Song return to Doctor Who
“Yes, I would like to write, but I think writing certainly within my industry is the hardest thing to do,” he said.
“I think it’s the most ignored and the most malign, and that’s deeply ironic because they’re the most important people in our industry, writers.
“So yes, I’d very much like to write again, but I don’t seem to have the discipline, especially with being alone with your thoughts for so long.
“Most of the writers I know working in television and film are lunatics because as soon as there’s a wrap party or a drink, they’re there because they spend so much time alone.
“But I should try more, and I really admire what Paterson’s done.”
In recent months, the 62-year-old has fronted a high‑profile campaign calling for a ban on gambling advertising, working with the Coalition to End Gambling Ads.
READ MORE: Former Doctor Who speculates on show’s future as BBC confirm new episode
A short film titled Stacking the Deck is available to watch on YouTube, and Chris spoofs the style of glossy betting commercials.
Criticising gambling ads, he has urged the government to curb promotions which are helping to destroy lives.
“We’ve addressed the advertising of alcohol, and we’ve addressed the advertising of tobacco, but we are not accepting that gambling is an addiction,” said Chris.
“It’s a disease. These gambling companies are making absolute fortunes, and they’ve got the government in their pocket.
“The government needs to clean that up, and I think the public would respect whichever government was in power if they said we’re going to take a lot of your money off you.
“People are committing suicide. I’ve interviewed a woman who lost her husband, and her two children have lost their father because of his addiction, which destroyed the family’s finances.
READ MORE: Doctor Who star spotted in restaurant on Oxfordshire border
“It’s being encouraged as you only need to have a mobile phone and you’re targeted. So it’s a moral question for me.
“Children are seeing these things. When you’re watching Premier League football, there are constant advertisements by people who should know better.
“It’s going in subliminally, and it’s rooting. It’s a huge addiction. So we start with the same strictures applied to the advertising of alcohol and tobacco.”
Moving on to music, Chris is known to be a big fan of The Smiths from his native Manchester, but the actor opened up on what else he likes to listen to.
“I like Black Grape, Happy Mondays, Joy Division, New Order, but really I’m a soul boy.
“The Smiths are an outlier for me. I was born in 1964, and I heard all the great Motown stacks, all of funk, hearing black American music made me realise that America is a country built on racial discrimination.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire actress starring in new Doctor Who spin-off series
It made me look at America in a very different way. It was really important in my education about racism, and also, you could dance to it.
“Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Curtis Mayfield, Betty Wright, people like that.
“At the same time, I was listening to all the Jamaican reggae and ska, but it’s that interesting thing that white guys of my generation, even the skinheads, were listening to black music.
“That’s what music’s supposed to do, to bring people together. So yeah, I’m a soul boy.”
Finally, on the topic of Doctor Who, Chris addressed his former co-star, Billie Piper, becoming the new Doctor, as previously suggested.
While appearing at the Fan Expo convention in 2022, the 62-year-old had said: “I was saying to somebody today in the green room that Russell T Davies is coming back, right, and who’s going to be his Doctor?
READ MORE: Doctor Who and Harry Potter star to meet fans in Oxfordshire
“I think it should be Billie Piper, actually. Catherine Tate’s great, but I think there’s your Doctor.
“And I’d like to see you all struggle with it. ‘How can she be the Doctor when she was an assistant?!’
“I like the idea of it blowing fuses in the canon, or whatever it’s called.”
Then last year, Ncuti’s Fifteenth Doctor regenerated into an incarnation played by Ms Piper, realising Chris’ own idea.
When asked if he really was a Time Lord after making the correct prediction, the actor laughed and joked: “Exactly, I’m a prophet!”
Reacting to his old co-star taking on the role that he previously held, Chris was utterly supportive and said: “Give it to Billie! Yeah, why not? Why not.”
You can catch Chris next in the new psychological thriller miniseries Unchosen, which premieres on Netflix on Tuesday, April 21.
Mourners, including members of the Royal Family, travelled to a small village in the county for the funeral of Lady Pamela Hicks on Saturday (June 13).
The service for the 97‑year‑old took place at St Bartholomew’s Church in Brightwell Baldwin, between Wallingford and Watlington.
Lady Pamela died last week at her home in the village, where she had lived for many years with her late husband, interior designer David Hicks.
READ MORE: Mourners arrive for Royal Family funeral in Oxfordshire village
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Among the mourners were Lady Helen Taylor, daughter of Prince Edward, and Penelope Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma.
There was no sign of King Charles or Queen Camilla, though, as the funeral came on the same day as Trooping the Colour, the King’s official London birthday parade.
Nevertheless, mourners paid their respects outside St Bartholomew’s Church as the coffin was carried inside, before following the procession for the service.
The small parish church is close to The Grove, the family house that became her long‑term base in Oxfordshire.
READ MORE: Legendary chef heralds shock return of closed Oxfordshire pub
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According to the published order, the funeral was arranged in line with Lady Pamela’s wishes, with rousing hymns but no formal sermon or eulogy during the service.
Lady Pamela was a first cousin of the late Prince Philip and a great‑great‑granddaughter of Queen Victoria.
She was also a bridesmaid at the 1947 wedding of the then Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten.
READ MORE: Christian Horner and Geri Halliwell to make £45m life decision
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The 97-year-old later served as a lady‑in‑waiting to Queen Elizabeth II and accompanied the then Princess on the 1952 tour of Kenya.
This was when news came through of King George VI’s death and Elizabeth’s accession to the throne.
Following her death on June 5, King Charles paid a warm tribute, saying he was “greatly saddened to learn of the death of Lady Pamela Hicks, a sorrow tempered by the fondest memories and deepest gratitude for her long life and loyal service to Queen Elizabeth.”
In the statement released by Buckingham Palace, he added that her “warmth, wit and perspicacity always made such an impression” and that she would be “so dearly missed by all those who knew and loved her.”
READ MORE: Award-winning UK private school to mark 75th anniversary with celebration
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Lady Pamela is survived by her three children, Edwina, Ashley and India, and several grandchildren, many of whom were expected to attend today’s village service.
Brightwell Baldwin is a small rural parish in South Oxfordshire, about four and a half miles north‑east of Wallingford and close to the foot of the Chiltern Hills.
The village, whose name comes from the Old English for “bright spring”, had a population of just over 200 at the last census and is centred around a handful of stone cottages, farms and the church.
St Bartholomew’s itself dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries, with later medieval additions, and is regarded as one of south Oxfordshire’s most interesting historic churches.
Led by manager Daley Cross, a renal and transplant youth worker at the Churchill Hospital, the England men’s side claimed the title with a 9-1 win over Scotland in the final.
The tournament, held in Dingwall at the Global Energy Stadium, brought together more than 60 transplant recipients from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with each team showcasing the life-changing impact of organ donation and the resilience of transplant recipients.
Mr Cross said: “While it’s fantastic to bring the trophy home, the most important thing is the message behind the tournament.
“This is about showing what organ donation makes possible. Every player is living proof of the difference it can make.”
Among the England squad were two kidney transplant recipients cared for at Churchill Hospital – defender Robert Collins, 23, who received a kidney from his uncle in 2009, and goalkeeper Adam Martin, 35, who received a transplant from his sister in 2023.
Mr Collins, from Bedfordshire, said: “I’ve always loved playing football. When I was ill, I couldn’t play at all and I really missed it.
“Having a transplant has given me the chance to get back on the pitch and enjoy the game again.
“Being part of this team makes it even more special. There’s a real bond between us, one that extends beyond football – we’ve all been given a second chance.
“Every time we play, it’s a celebration of that. Scoring goals and winning along the way also helps.”
Mr Martin, from Banbury, said: “Representing your country is always an honour, but doing it alongside all the other transplant recipients – and in recognition of our donors – means so much more.
“I’ll always be forever grateful for the support the team offers and also to my sister for giving me a second chance at life.”
England finished the tournament unbeaten, securing dominant group-stage wins against Scotland (10-0), Northern Ireland (8-2), and Wales (7-0) before winning the final.
Mr Cross, who has worked at Oxford University Hospitals for 11 years, said: “We’re proud of what we’ve achieved on the pitch, but above all we want to raise awareness and encourage more people to consider organ donation.
“It truly saves and transforms lives.”
The tournament also featured public outreach to encourage sign-ups to the NHS Organ Donor Register.
England’s transplant team will now set their sights on the Transplant Football World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, taking place later this year.
The competition will bring together teams from around the world to promote organ donation and celebrate the achievements of transplant recipients on a global stage.
The actress, who was born and grew up in the city, is well known to audiences around the world after starring as Professor Sprout in several of the Harry Potter films.
Known for her character actor work across film, television, and stage, she received the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mrs Mingott in Martin Scorsese’s 1993 film, The Age of Innocence.
Ms Margolyes was awarded an OBE in 2002 for services to drama, but there were calls for this to be taken back last year.
READ MORE: Oxford Union to host Tommy Robinson for debate despite outcry
The 85-year-old, who is Jewish, has said that “people don’t like Jews” whilst speaking at the Hay Festival in Powys.
Ms Margolyes added that her Jewish identity has shaped her “whole life” and added: “What your parents teach you and what you learn from the community you live in.”
Addressing concerns about rising antisemitism, she told the audience: “Nobody likes me to say this, but I’m going to say it – people don’t like Jews.”
She reflected on how, after the Holocaust – “when millions of Jewish people, and people from other backgrounds, were killed by the Nazis during World War Two” – there was a period when people “realised that they couldn’t say nasty things about Jews because terrible things happened to Jews and they must be sympathetic, so it stopped.”
However, she added that, over time, when “people with no morals who happened to be Jewish” appeared in public life, “the knives came out again, and they have never been put away.”
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