Actor Christopher Eccleston is set to reprise his role as Doctor Who for an audio series.

Eccleston played the Ninth Doctor when the show was revived in 2005 and will now voice the character again for 12 adventures which will be produced by Big Finish.

He said: “After 15 years it will be exciting to revisit the Ninth Doctor’s world, bringing back to life a character I love playing.”

And Big Finish’s chairman, Jason Haigh-Ellery, said: “I first talked to Christopher about returning to the role at a fan convention in February. He said he was enjoying meeting the fans and was pleased that his Doctor was remembered so fondly.”

While Eccleston is pleased to play the role again, his first experience on the show wasn’t a happy one. In his autobiography he revealed he was suffering with anorexia at the time.

“People love the way I look in that series, but I was very ill,” he wrote. 

“The reward for that illness was the part. And therein lies the perpetuation of the whole sorry situation.”

Eccleston was the only actor to play Doctor Who who did not take part in the 50th anniversary episode in 2013.

He played the Ninth Doctor for one season with Billie Piper as his companion. David Tennant then took the reigns, with Matt Smith succeeding him, and Peter Capaldi and Jodie Whittaker also being bestowed the role.

While fans may be excited to hear Eccleston back as the Doctor, the audio series won’t be available until May 2021.

The TV edition of the franchise will be back at Christmas in a special episode titled Revolution of the Daleks.