Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston coming to Oxford University

The Manchester-born actor brought the iconic Time Lord back to television screens in 2005 with a hugely popular revival series.

Starring alongside Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler, the duo became two of the UK’s most famous faces, battling aliens and monsters throughout time and space each week.

Another iconic role of Mr Eccleston’s was in Our Friends in the North, with the actor also starring in films such as roles in 24 Hour Party People, 28 Days Later and Thor: The Dark World.

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Billie Piper and Christopher Eccleston as Rose Tyler and the Doctor in Doctor Who back in 2005 (PIC: PA/BBC).

This weekend, the legendary star will be coming to Oxford University’s Sheldonian Theatre to talk to fellow actor Paterson Joseph, known for Peep Show and Wonka.

The pair will chat as part of the Oxford Literary Festival, which will see Mr Eccleston discuss his book, I Love the Bones of You: My Father and the Making of Me.

“One of Britain’s best-loved actors and star of Our Friends in the North and Dr Who, Christopher Eccleston, talks about his life and acting career in conversation with the Chancellor of Brookes University and fellow actor Paterson Joseph,” reads the event preview.

“Eccleston was born into a working-class family in Salford and strongly identifies with his roots.

“He has often spoken about a feeling that his northern accent and background held him back. Eccleston’s early roles included a teenage convict in the 1991 drama Let Him Have It and as DCI Bilborough in the crime drama Cracker.

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“His big breakthrough came in the role of left-wing activist Nicky Hutchinson in the award-winning BBC drama Our Friends in the North.

“His film work includes the title role in Jude, based on the Thomas Hardy novel, and roles in 24 Hour Party People and 28 Days Later.

“In 2005, he became the ninth incarnation of Dr Who in the opening series of the BBC revival of the science fiction programme, where he spoke with his natural northern accent.

“The role won him the Most Popular Actor award at that year’s National Television Awards.

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Paterson Joseph. (Image: Oxford Brookes University)

“Eccleston’s awards also include an International Emmy for Accused and Best Actor in the Broadcast Press Guild Awards for Our Friends in the North.

“He is the author of I Love the Bones of You: My Father and the Making of Me, a portrait of the relationship with his father, Ronnie, that he says shaped his entire career.

“Paterson Joseph has starred in recent television series, including Vigil, Noughts and Crosses and Boat Story and in the 2023 film Wonka.

“His recent debut historical novel, The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho, was based on the true story of the man born on a slave ship who went on to be a writer, leading abolitionist and one of the first people of African descent to vote in a British parliamentary election.”

The talk takes place from 4pm until 5pm on Sunday (March 29) at the Sheldonian Theatre on Broad Street with tickets priced between £10 and £25.