A place to update visitors with the latest news and information about Christopher Eccleston and his work and also to inform visitors about any updates/additions to my Chris related website.
Christopher Eccleston, says his Northern accent held him back when trying to secure Shakespearean roles on stage.
The actor star says there is a perception in the industry that "people like me can't be classical".
Eccleston was born into a working class family on a council estate in Salford in Lancashire in 1964.
He will appear as Macbeth in a new production at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford Upon Avon, but he had to ask for the role.
"I'm never offered Shakespeare," he says. "I went after this. Nobody offered it me. I went after it."
He wrote "an old-fashioned letter" to the artistic director of the RSC, Gregory Doran.
"I said, since I was 17 I've always wanted to play Macbeth at the Royal Shakespeare Company. So can I do it?"
But the 54-year-old resents having to ask for roles.
"I should have been offered more but I didn't go the right university or the public schools. It needs to change," he adds.
He has played one other Shakespeare role on stage - Hamlet at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2002.
But nothing since. And he is convinced his background is to blame.
"I think the people who run some of the big established theatres, particularly in London, they associate Shakespeare with white, middle-class men.
"It's discrimination and I loathe it."
And for fans of his work on television, including Cracker and Our Friends in the North, and on film in Shallow Grave and 28 Days Later, Christopher Eccleston has a surprising confession.
"I became a television actor and a film actor by default. But if I'd been offered the big classic roles which I wanted to do, I'd have done them.
"I've had a passionate love of Shakespeare since I was 17, but in a way, it's like the love that dare not mention its name."
Nonetheless, despite the fact it makes him "very angry", Christopher Eccleston says he is "fortunate" because he is white and male.
"It's a lot more difficult for women," he adds.
And for that reason he thinks gender blind casting is "the greatest thing to happen to British theatre since William Shakespeare wrote his plays".
"The fact that there are women who will one day play Macbeth and play Hamlet, with no second thought, is the most wonderful thing," he says.
"But women still struggle. The roles are not there. There is still a long, long way to go."
Christopher Eccleston played the ninth incarnation of the Doctor when the show returned to BBC One after 16 years.
He welcomes the casting of Jodie Whittaker as the first female star of Doctor Who.
"She will be the best Doctor. I mean why did they have to wait so long?"
He says the role has been played by "too many skinny white men like me," before adding: " I absolutely loved playing the character and I'm so glad it's being reinvented."
It's all change aboard the TARDIS as a woman takes over the BBC's Doctor Who for the first time ever. However, before we get to that, let's head back to the earlier days of the sci-fi spectacular under the tenure of Christopher Eccleston.
While the modern generation struggle to decide who is their favourite "new" Doctor, it seems that even the previous Doctors themselves have their own choices for the top spot.
Tom Baker famously played Doctor No.4, but in an interview with GQ, he spoke about those who have come after. In particular, he focussed on the show's revival with Eccleston in 2005.
"I thought it was amazing that Eccleston stayed so little time [just one series]," reflected Baker. "I think that was [due to] a wonky contract that didn't take an option for an extra season."
While Baker blames the contracts, Eccleston previously claimed it was the politics of the BBC and the fact that he "didn't fit" which forced his timely departure from the TARDIS.
Revealing what it was about Eccleston that impressed the former Doctor, Baker confessed it was his talent.
"He's very rare. I caught a glimpse of him," said Baker. "He was a very powerful actor. A very powerful actor."
Eccleston led the "rebooted" series with Billie Piper's Rose Tyler as his assistant, but the 28 Days Later actor only stepped into the iconic box for a single season.
Followed by David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi and now Jodie Whittaker, Doctor Who admittedly wouldn't be the show it is today without Eccleston's somber doctor having given it a new lease of life.
As for a whole new era of Time Lords (and ladies), Eccleston himself recently had strong words for the BBC and said it was about time the long-running show had a reinvention.
CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON took a pop at the BBC on today's Lorraine as he addressed the casting of Jodie Whittaker in the upcoming Doctor Who.
The 53-year-old played the ninth incarnation of the famous science fiction hero and was the actor who helped bring the show back after its 16 year hiatus.
However, when speaking to Lorraine Kelly, he seemed to have a little swipe at bosses when discussing Doctor Who.
When asked what his thoughts were about incoming Jodie, 35, Christopher said: "Hurrah! The BBC have gone as far as they can with skinny white men.
"God knows how much money they make from it. They needed to reinvent it and they could not have chosen someone better."
What's more, he didn't seem keen on the idea of conventions about the show, which are certainly favourites with fans.
"I've never done conventions. But there's a lot of money there - not that I'm saying anything about those who do attend," he said.
Christopher explained: "I've always wanted to earn my money from acting, but who knows what will happen."
The actor is currently starring in BBC's The A Word and plays kind-hearted father Maurice Scott.
However, he has hit out at critics, saying that he feels the programme should be getting more attention for its portrayal of a young autistic boy.
A star of the hit TV drama The A Word has thrown his support behind plans to create a specialist school in Cumbria for children with autism.
Actor Christopher Eccleston has warmly welcomed news that plans for the Cumbria Academy for Autism are being developed.
Mr Eccleston was among the cast and crew of the BBC 1 show who were on location in the Lake District in June as the filming for season two came to an end.
The acclaimed drama's new series returns to our screens tonight.
Set in the Lake District, The A Word tells the story of Joe and his family.
Now two years on, this second series explores the continuing challenges Joe and his family face.
Mr Eccleston, who plays Joe's grandfather Maurice Scott in the show, said of the new school plans: "Hopefully it will raise awareness that there are special challenges in raising children with special needs. We're very supportive of news like this."
The former Dr Who actor was speaking as he joined cast and crew on location near Keswick in June as they filmed the finishing touches to the drama's second series.
Bridge End Farm at Thirlmere was transformed into a scene of a summer fete and fictional fell race.
Members of local running clubs were invited to be extras during the production.
Last week Cumbria hosted a special preview screening of the first episode at the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal.
The series also stars Lee Ingleby, Morven Christie, Greg McHugh, Vinette Robinson and Molly Wright.
The new six-parter has been penned once again by BAFTA-winning Peter Bowker.
The first series regularly attracted more than four million viewers.
