He is, he isn’t. He might be, he might not be. He’s in, he’s out. The BBC have finally laid to rest one of the biggest fan rumours regarding the currently in-production Doctor Who 3D Fiftieth anniversary episode – the appearance of ninth Doctor actor Christopher Eccleston. The BBC have today said that “Chris met with Steven Moffat (show runner and writer of the special episode) a couple of times to talk about Steven’s plans…after careful thought, Chris decided not to be in the episode. He wishes the team all the best.”

The BBC spoke up to counter various rumours circulating that Eccleston had in fact agreed to appear in the episode but had pulled out at the last minute causing production difficulties and necessitating emergency script rewrites. Whilst it would, of course, have been fantastic to see Eccleston back in the role – his success in his solitary season in 2005 led directly to the show’s ongoing popularity – it looks as if, with no other faces from the recent or even distant past of Doctor Who yet announced, fans will have to make do for now with the reappearance of tenth Doctor David Tennant and his companion Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), whose return was confirmed last weekend. The fan community will no doubt deride the BBC’s comments as a smokescreen but it seems pretty certain now that Eccleston’s famous battered leather jacket is destined to remain forever unworn by the actor who made it briefly so iconic.

The 3D Doctor Who Fiftieth Anniversary special is expected to air on 23rd November 013 on BBC1 and on BBC America.

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