Frazer Hines
Hines' "Doctor Who" debut came in 1966, when he was cast to play the part of Jamie McCrimmon, the companion of the Second Doctor (played by Patrick Troughton). Originally intended as a one-off guest character, Jamie joined the regular cast and appeared in the series from 1966 to 1969. Hines reprised the role in a cameo in the 20th anniversary serial "The Five Doctors" (1983) and as a guest star in "The Two Doctors" (1985). Hines would appear in 117 episodes of "Doctor Who" in all—more than any other "companion" actor in the history of the series. The only actors appearing in more episodes are those who played the first four Doctors. Many of the episodes featuring Jamie no longer exist in the BBC's collection.
List of actors considered for the part of the Doctor
Actors who auditioned for the role in the 1996 film included Rowan Atkinson (who played a spoof version of the Doctor in "Curse of Fatal Death"), Liam Cunningham (who appeared in the 2013 "Doctor Who" episode "Cold War"), Mark McGann (whose brother Paul McGann eventually got the role), Robert Lindsay, Eric Idle, Tim McInnerny (who appeared in the 2008 "Doctor Who" episode "Planet of the Ood"), Nathaniel Parker, Peter Woodward, John Sessions (who later played Tannis in the audio drama "Death Comes to Time", and voiced Gus in the 2014 "Doctor Who" episode "Mummy on the Orient Express"), Anthony Head (who appeared in the 2006 "Doctor Who" episode "School Reunion", narrated episodes of the "Doctor Who Confidential" behind-the-scenes series, and provided voice-acting work for both the televised "The Infinite Quest" and the "Excelis" story arc from Big Finish Productions), Rik Mayall and Tony Slattery. Billy Connolly has stated that he was also considered for the part. Peter Capaldi was invited to audition, but declined, as he "didn't think [he] would get it, and... didn't want to just be part of a big cull of actors." Capaldi was eventually cast as the Twelfth Doctor.