This is one of those curiosities . Why would an actor leave a role that is successful and can further a career ? In the Dr Who universe we have seen them come and go. Matter of fact the series is on actor 11 and if you include the movies Peter Cushing starred in like Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965) and Daleks’ Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D.(1966) we would be up to twelve (I hope I am not missing any others). So an actor leaving is not a big surprise or of any concern. Sure you get hooked on one or the other. I still remember not really warming up to the actor who replaced Tom Baker but that is something one gets use to after a while especially after you come to terms that this show is not about an actor it is about the character and the plot. So seeing an article on why Eccleston left on Sci fi Wire was SOOOOO ok whats new about that ? What was new he thought the show was wrong to put in his words
“I was open-minded but I decided after my experience on the first series that I didn’t want to do any more,” he said. “I thought if I stay in this job, I’m going to have to blind myself to certain things that I thought were wrong. … I think it’s more important to be your own man than be successful, so I left.”
He however did go on to say that he was proud of the work he did also and does not regret doing it.
“I really feel that, because it kind of broke the mold and it helped to reinvent it,” he said. “I’m very proud of it.”
Can’t really hate on him for being honest. Some roles are not for everyone and not everyone are cut out for their roles or something like that.
for more on the story go to Sci fi Wire Eccleston left Doctor Who because it was “wrong” or you can go to the original article in BBC Christopher Eccleston talks about Doctor Who exit