Doctor Who enthusiasts buzzing over potential return of Christopher Eccleston

Former Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston's recent Instagram post has sparked speculation among fans that he may be hinting at a potential return to the franchise. Known for portraying the Ninth Doctor in the 2005 revival of the series, Eccleston left the show that same year due to conflicts with senior production members.

Due to the circumstances of his departure, Eccleston declined an invitation from former showrunner Steven Moffat to participate in the 2013 50th anniversary special, "The Day of the Doctor."

It is also unlikely that the English actor will be involved in this year's three 60th anniversary specials. However, the second special, "Wild Blue Yonder," does include a reference to his time in the TARDIS.

Doctor Who fans think Christopher Eccleston just teased his return

Eccleston's presence is still strongly felt among fans. A recent Instagram post by the star has even sparked speculation among Redditors about whether he will make an appearance in the third and final 60th anniversary special, "The Giggle."

Eccleston recently shared a post that has fans speculating about his potential return to Doctor Who. In the post, he is holding a copy of Big Issue magazine with the incoming Doctor Who headliner Ncuti Gatwa on the cover. This has led members of the r/doctorwho subreddit to wonder if Eccleston is hinting at a reprisal of his role in the show.

One Reddit user posted, "Eccleston just shared this. Any chance of him being in the specials or reprising the role in the near future?" Another replied, "Had this thought the other day. A Capaldi/Eccleston special would be fantastic," referencing Twelfth Doctor actor Peter Capaldi. However, the majority opinion among r/doctorwho members was that Eccleston won't make a surprise cameo in "The Giggle" due to his allegedly fractious relationship with current Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies, who also oversaw Eccleston’s run on the series.

New Doctor Who Christmas special stills spotlight Ncuti Gatwa’s arrival

“He's promoting a magazine, period,” argued one fan. “Given all the bad blood between him and the current showrunners, he’s not coming back.” “I believe he said just a few days ago during a panel with [former co-star] Billie Piper that he’d need [Davies], Jane Tranter, and Phil Collinson fired before he’d consider it,” added a second. “So I doubt it.”

Several Redditors also pointed out that Eccleston's post was a show of support for Gatwa prior to his debut as the Doctor in "The Giggle." The Sex Education actor will then appear as the Fifteenth Doctor in the highly-anticipated Christmas special "The Church on Ruby Road."

On December 1, the BBC unveiled important plot details of the Doctor Who Christmas special. Fans discovered that the Doctor and his new companion, Ruby Sunday (portrayed by Millie Gibson), will come across goblins in the holiday-themed episode.

For the latest Doctor Who news and updates, check out Dexerto’s full coverage here.

Editor's P/S

As a passionate Doctor Who enthusiast, I am thrilled by the possibility of Christopher Eccleston's return to the franchise. His portrayal of the Ninth Doctor was iconic and left an indelible mark on the series. The news of his cryptic Instagram post has ignited a spark of excitement within the Doctor Who community, and I can't help but indulge in the speculation surrounding his potential comeback.

While it's true that Eccleston's departure from the show in 2005 was marked by conflicts, I believe that time has the power to heal wounds and pave the way for reconciliation. The fact that he is openly acknowledging the current state of the franchise, as evidenced by his post featuring Ncuti Gatwa on the cover of Big Issue magazine, gives me hope that he may be open to revisiting his role as the Doctor.