Doctor Who
Thirteen actors have headlined the series as the Doctor. The transition from one actor to another is written into the plot of the show with the concept of regeneration into a new incarnation, a plot device in which a Time Lord "transforms" into a new body when the current one is too badly harmed to heal normally. Each actor's portrayal is unique, but all represent stages in the life of the same character. Together, they form a single lifetime with a single narrative. The time-travelling feature of the plot means that different incarnations of the Doctor occasionally meet. The Doctor is currently portrayed by Jodie Whittaker, who took on the role after Peter Capaldi's exit in the 2017 Christmas special "Twice Upon a Time".
Christopher Eccleston
Eccleston garnered widespread attention and acclaim for portraying the ninth incarnation of the Doctor in the 2005 revival of the BBC science fiction series "Doctor Who", becoming the first actor to play the role since 1996. He departed the role after a single series, winning a National Television Award and receiving Broadcasting Press Guild Award and BAFTA Cymru Award nominations for his performance. Eccleston has since appeared in the television series "Heroes", "The Shadow Line", "Blackout", "Lucan", "The Leftovers", "Safe House", "Fortitude" and "The A Word" and films including "", "" and "Legend". He won an International Emmy Award for his performance in an episode of the anthology series "Accused". Onstage, Eccleston has played the title roles in productions of "Hamlet" and "Macbeth" as well as starring in productions of "Miss Julie", "A Doll's House" and "Antigone". Since 2017, Eccleston has narrated the documentary series "Ambulance".