Surprising Christopher Eccleston Callback Unveiled in the Exciting Adventure of Wild Blue Yonder

The Doctor Who fanbase recently discovered a subtle reference to Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor in the second 60th anniversary special, “Wild Blue Yonder.“ Eccleston was instrumental in the BBC’s Doctor Who revival in 2005, but his time on the show was short-lived due to conflicts with the BBC.

Steven Moffat, the former showrunner of Doctor Who, extended an invitation to Eccleston to reprise his role as the Ninth Doctor in the 2013 50th anniversary special "The Day of the Doctor," but Eccleston declined. His decision led to the introduction of the previously unseen incarnation of the Doctor, The War Doctor, portrayed by John Hurt.

Eccleston has also not participated in the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials so far, although "Wild Blue Yonder" does include a subtle reference to the Ninth Doctor.

Doctor Who fans discover Christopher Eccleston callback in Wild Blue Yonder

Fans of Doctor Who recently pointed out a reference to Eccleston's time in the TARDIS in the second 60th anniversary special on Reddit. It occurs in an early scene in "Wild Blue Yonder," where the Fourteenth Doctor (David Tennant) calls an unnamed robot "Jimbo."

This subtle nod refers to the Ninth Doctor’s habit of giving nameless machines the moniker Jimbo, a practice famously showcased in Doctor Who Series 1, Episode 2, “The End of the World.” During the episode, the Ninth Doctor affectionately calls a robot spider Jimbo as it scurries around his feet.

The 1-hour runtime of Wild Blue Yonder also discusses the stints of other former Doctor Who headliners, not just Eccleston. Additionally, the second 60th anniversary special addresses controversial plot points from Jodie Whittaker's time as the Thirteenth Doctor, such as the Timeless Child and the Flux. This aligns with recent statements from showrunner Russell T Davies, who has stated that he will not be retconning any changes to the Doctor Who canon made by his predecessor, Chris Chibnall.

Russell T Davies shoots down Doctor Who reboot rumors

Davies’ recent assurance that broader Doctor Who continuity will stay unaltered when Ncuti Gatwa assumes the role as the show’s lead after the third and final special, “The Giggle,” is also evident. “It’s a complete reinvention… brand new, but not a reboot,” clarified Davies.

Davies has emphasized multiple times that Gatwa’s arrival will "reset" the franchise, extending to rebrand Doctor Who Series 14 as "Doctor Who Season 1." Doctor Who: Wild Blue Yonder is now available for streaming on BBC iPlayer (UK & Ireland) and Disney+ (elsewhere). For the latest Doctor Who news and updates, visit Dexerto’s full coverage here.

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic fan of Doctor Who, I was thrilled to learn about the surprising Christopher Eccleston callback in the second 60th anniversary special, "Wild Blue Yonder." The reference to Eccleston's Ninth Doctor, who played a pivotal role in the revival of the series in 2005, was a delightful nod to his contribution to the show's rich history.

The fact that the reference was cleverly woven into the storyline, with the Fourteenth Doctor (David Tennant) calling an unnamed robot "Jimbo," a moniker famously used by the Ninth Doctor, added a layer of excitement and nostalgia for fans. This subtle callback not only acknowledged Eccleston's time on the show but also demonstrated the interconnectedness of the various Doctors and their shared experiences.