Doctor Who’s TV movie at 30: Sylvester McCoy delivers verdict on Paul McGann’s Time Lord

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A condensed version of this article first appeared in TopMob magazine.

Let’s rewind to May 27, 1996. Doctor Who hadn’t been on television for almost seven years after it was cancelled, so fans were incredibly eager for any news about a possible return. The actors and crew involved were also feeling optimistic. As Sylvester McCoy recalls, “We were very excited…”

Sylvester McCoy played the seventh Doctor for two years, until 1989. He recalls that after his run ended, many people thought the show was over for good, but he believed it would return, largely because the dedicated fans wouldn’t allow it to be forgotten.

Sylvester McCoy was asked to return as the Doctor for the 1996 movie, Doctor Who, which brought his Time Lord to San Francisco on New Year’s Eve 1999. The movie ended with his character changing into Paul McGann’s version of the Doctor – a process called regeneration. McCoy especially enjoyed this moment because Paul McGann was a friend. As he puts it, it was good to pass on the responsibility of the TARDIS to someone he knew and liked.

He shared that Paul was hesitant about attending fan conventions at first, but I encouraged him to try it. He ended up really enjoying it and is now fantastic at it.

McCoy praised Paul’s performance, calling it terrific. He noted an interesting religious quality in the early scenes, describing Paul as almost Christ-like. McCoy then connected this to the nature of science fiction itself, suggesting that both science fiction and religion explore similar themes – and that religion can even be seen as an older form of science fiction.

I was really surprised when, in one episode, the Doctor actually landed in America and was immediately shot after stepping out of the TARDIS! It struck me as a clever bit of social commentary, like the show was making a point about something.

“My favourite bit was when the motorbike rode into the Tardis. I didn’t know it was that big!”

How did McCoy end up on Doctor Who? His agent received a call asking if he’d be interested in filming the regeneration scene with Paul McGann, and he immediately agreed. He’d never participated in a regeneration scene before, so it was a unique opportunity.

He’s talking about his time as the Doctor in the 1980s, which concluded with him and his companion Ace (Sophie Aldred) walking into the sunset together. This era began with a difficult transition. When Sylvester McCoy first played the Doctor in the 1987 story ‘Time and the Rani,’ his predecessor, Colin Baker, refused to appear. So, McCoy had to act as though Baker was still present within the TARDIS before his own transformation into the Doctor.

They asked me to step into the role of the previous Doctor, and even put me in his original costume. It was a tight fit – the costume had been lost for three days before they found it! To make things even stranger, they gave me a wig like Harpo Marx. I looked pretty silly, honestly. But I always hoped I’d get a chance to return and regenerate into a new version of the Doctor, no matter what. So I was thrilled to be coming back as Doctor Who, to film my regeneration scene, and to pass the role on to my friend, Paul McGann.

The show was filmed in Vancouver, Canada, where it was very cold, according to one cast member who spent about two weeks there. Sylvester McCoy, who played the Seventh Doctor, wasn’t happy with his publicity photo. He explained that Paul McGann, who played the Eighth Doctor, was made to look taller by standing on a box, and the photo’s angle further exaggerated the height difference. However, McCoy jokingly admits he’s the shortest Doctor, and perhaps Jodie Whittaker, who played the Thirteenth Doctor, is even smaller.

This British and American co-production was meant to kick off a new TV series, featuring Eric Roberts as the Master and Daphne Ashbrook as Dr. Grace Holloway, a cardiologist who shares a kiss with the Doctor (we’ll get to that shortly). Producer Philip Segal explained to TopMob that he was making the show because he was a fan himself and wanted to revive it respectfully, saying, “I don’t want to ruin what already exists.”

The Movie attracted a good audience of 9.08 million viewers on BBC One, but it only reached 5.6 million viewers in the United States two weeks earlier. Executives considered this number too low, unfortunately leading to the cancellation of the series. It’s a shame, particularly as Paul McGann’s performance was widely praised and the show had potential.

He wonders why the movie wasn’t more popular. His answer? “Because I was in it.” He clarifies, “That’s just my theory, and I don’t mean it as self-criticism.” He explains that while Doctor Who had some recognition in America through PBS at the time, it wasn’t widely known. He believes the movie was confusing because it introduced a new Doctor alongside the existing one, and that was too complicated for most viewers to understand.

Another factor was the competition – it aired against a special episode of the popular show Roseanne, which didn’t help its ratings. Almost 21 million people tuned in to watch the sitcom that night.

It was a big hit when shown in the UK, likely because the story is so familiar to British audiences – it’s just part of our TV tradition. It’s similar to how pantomimes are popular here; they don’t really travel well internationally, but many of us grew up with them.

Compared to previous Doctor Who stories, the 1996 movie felt quicker-paced, more up-to-date, and had a bigger budget, with a greater focus on feelings and romance. It had many of the same qualities that made the show successful when it returned in 2005 and continues to have today. While Sylvester McCoy acknowledges the movie helped pave the way for the show’s revival, he wasn’t a fan of the romantic elements, stating he ‘disapproved of that’ part.

I mentioned to the actor his early television work on the beloved children’s show, Vision On, which he joined in 1975. He fondly recalled it as a wonderful time, his first real experience with a TV series, lasting three years. He especially enjoyed the freedom they had to improvise, invent, and create.

It definitely changed my expectations and made it hard to enjoy other acting roles. After working on something with so much creative freedom, I always felt limited when I took parts in shows like Casualty or The Bill.

Some fans are playfully calling it the “McGanniversary,” and it’s true that despite the 1996 movie not being a huge success, it ultimately helped make the current version of the show possible.

This also brought Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann back as the Doctor – both on television, in audio dramas, and at fan conventions. Because of this, each actor became the Doctor for a specific generation, and they continue to hold that place in fans’ hearts. How does that make McCoy feel?

I’m incredibly proud and humbled by all of this. It’s amazing to think how far things have come! This role has been endlessly rewarding, and the affection I’ve received from fans worldwide is incredible. I’ve had the chance to travel extensively, meeting Doctor Who enthusiasts in places like Latin America and India – everywhere except Antarctica, actually.

He really enjoys attending conventions. He remembers when conventions were rare, especially in the US, and lacked modern conveniences like wi-fi. Back then, they were incredibly important for young fans who felt isolated being the only ‘Doctor Who’ enthusiasts in their communities. Conventions provided a place where they could finally connect with others who shared their passion and understood them.

I remember walking through a long hallway filled with teenagers—some were even wearing costumes. They were all sitting in groups, really engaged in lively conversations and clearly having a great time. It made me feel incredibly happy to be among them, and it was wonderful to see how much joy it brought to everyone.

Sylvester Stallone’s autobiography, ‘Who Is the Real McCoy,’ will be released later this year. Meanwhile, the 1996 ‘Doctor Who’ movie is currently available to stream on iPlayer.

Explore our comprehensive guide to Doctor Who! We’ve reviewed every episode from 1963 to the present day, and included details on the cast, crew, behind-the-scenes facts, and rare content from the TopMob archive.

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Mark Braxton
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2026-05-18 19:39