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Who suggested David Bradley to play the first Doctor?

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

From Digital Spy

Do you know who first recommended David Bradley to play William Hartnell?

Doctor Who fans might've heard the story of how Peter Capaldi suggested to Steven Moffat that Bradley could step into Hartnell's shoes as the first Doctor, after he'd played the actor himself in 2013's An Adventure in Space and Time.

But who was responsible for casting Bradley as Hartnell in the first place? None other than Edgar Wright.

Photo credit: Victor Chavez/Getty Images
Photo credit: Victor Chavez/Getty Images

Mark Gatiss, who wrote Adventure, revealed at a screening of this year's Doctor Who Christmas special that Wright recommended Bradley to him, having worked with the actor on his films Hot Fuzz (2007) and The World's End (2013).

"It was actually Edgar Wright's idea... a long, long time ago when I was gestating it. So it's all come full-circle."

Related: David Bradley says Jodie Whittaker has the "playfulness" to be a "fantastic" Doctor Who

Bradley will now play the bona-fide first Doctor in festive episode 'Twice Upon a Time' and has suggested that the special will give the character "a proper exit".

Photo credit: Simon Ridgway / BBC
Photo credit: Simon Ridgway / BBC

"Of course, [Hartnell] wasn't well when it finished," he told press including Digital Spy. "I think by doing this, it does give him a proper exit, and it's a way of honouring his performance, hopefully."

It was recently revealed that Bradley greeted none other than Peter Capaldi on the Adventure in Space and Time set, with the actor visiting as a Doctor Who fan months before he was cast as the new Doctor.

Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time will air on BBC One on Christmas Day at 5.30pm.


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