Helena Bonham Carter once turned down a role on Doctor Who (Picture: ITVX)
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has revealed he urged Helena Bonham Carter to turn down a role on the beloved series.
Back in 2005 Russell revived the sci-fi series, which had first launched back in 1963 but had not had a TV episode air since 1989.
During his tenure at the helm of the show, Russell lead four seasons, with Christopher Eccleston starring as the Doctor for 10 episodes before David Tennant took over the role.
After a 13-year break from the series, he is now back leading and has bought plenty of stars on board for the recent 60th anniversary specials, as well as the upcoming season starring Ncuti Gatwa.
However, Russell, 60, has now shared he once told actress Helena, 57, to reject an offer to star.
On tonight’s episode of Jo Wiley’s BBC Radio 2 show, An Evening In with Helena Bonham Carter and Russell T Davies, he explained his thinking.
Showrunner Russell T Davies might be in hot water for discouraging her (Picture: PA)
When asked by the host if she’d ever been offered a role in the series, Helena said she ‘couldn’t’ as she had ‘other things’ on after Russell revealed she’d been asked.
‘She’s been offered, and madam was too busy,’ he laughed.
‘” Not this time” came back the answer.’
She went on to explain: ‘I couldn’t, I couldn’t. I’ve had other things.’
Helena was told there was a ‘better part coming’ (Picture: PA)
However, the showrunner said there were ‘better parts coming’, after which Helena reminded him of a previous interaction.
‘You said, you actually said “This isn’t quite good enough”,’ she said.
‘I did, oh gosh,’ he replied.
He continued: ‘Actually it wasn’t no, I mean it wasn’t big enough, it wasn’t good enough for you. It was a lovely part and they offered it, but I secretly sent you a note saying turn this down. We’ll get you something better.’
Helena then confirmed their past conversation and said he’d told her there was ‘no pressure’ to say yes.
However, Russell made it clear he was slightly concerned he might now be in hot water after the admission.
The next episode of the series will air on Christmas Day and mark Ncuti Gatwa’s first full episode in the lead role (Picture: BBC/Bad Wolf)
‘Oh god, I never told the team that. I am completely hung and drawn and quartered now. I said “don’t do this!”.’
Then teasing more details of Helena’s eventual role, Russell said he ‘knows what’s coming up in the future…and there’s a better part coming’.
The actress then said she would jump at the next offer before they both said she would have to run it past her agent.
Although we might have to wait awhile yet to see Helena grace our screens on the long-running series, other recent cameos have come from Miriam Margolyes and Neil Patrick Harris, while Davina McCall is set to appear in the Christmas Special.
Doctor Who’s 2023 Christmas Special airs on December 25 from 5.55pm on BBC One.
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‘I secretly sent you a note saying “turn this down”.’