Doctor Who icon Christopher Eccleston criticises current lack of regional and working class actors such as himself and Jodie Whittaker

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Christopher Eccleston, famous for playing the Ninth Doctor in Doctor Who, believes he wouldn’t be accepted into drama school if he applied today. He’s highlighting a worrying trend: fewer and fewer young people from working-class backgrounds are pursuing careers in acting.

In a recent Radio 4 program called ‘Drama in Schools: An Unfolding Tragedy?’, actor Tom Eccleston discusses how much he benefited from studying drama and explains why similar opportunities aren’t currently available to many young people from working-class backgrounds.

Starting in 2010, Michael Gove, who was then the Education Secretary, brought in changes to education. These included the English Baccalaureate, which led to less focus on subjects like art and music.

According to an interview with The Times, Eccleston noted that participation in drama at both the GCSE and A-Level levels has decreased by half since then.

The actor discusses this in a Radio 4 program, pointing to his former Doctor Who co-star, Jodie Whittaker. They previously acted together in a National Theatre production of Antigone, and he wonders where actors from their working-class backgrounds – Whittaker is from Huddersfield and he is from Salford – will emerge in today’s entertainment industry.

In an interview with The Times, Eccleston stated that class is a sensitive topic in the UK that people avoid discussing. He believes there’s already a surplus of actors who come from privileged backgrounds – attending public or private schools and universities like Oxford or Cambridge – and he’d like to see more diversity in accents, particularly from regional areas.

The school curriculum is changing in 2025, and the current English Baccalaureate will be phased out. This change aims to give subjects like drama more focus, but the new curriculum won’t be implemented until 2028.

Eccleston welcomed the review, calling it “great news,” but also pointed out that many generations haven’t had the same opportunities to experience drama as he did.

I’ve been hearing a lot about bringing drama back into schools, and honestly, it’s not about creating a pipeline for future movie stars. It’s about fostering well-rounded individuals – drama offers so much beyond just acting skills, and that’s what’s really exciting.

Born in Salford to a working-class family, Eccleston had always been encouraged to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. With financial support from the Salford city council in the form of a grant, he was able to train at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London.

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He’s since appeared in films like Let Him Have It, Cracker, Shallow Grave, and Our Friends in the North. Most notably, in 2005, he became the Ninth Doctor in Doctor Who, bringing a fresh take to the iconic character.

After becoming known for his role in Doctor Who, Eccleston has appeared in several other popular TV shows like Accused, The Leftovers, and The A Word. He even had a part in the Marvel movie, Thor: The Dark World. Beyond television and film, he’s also a respected actor on stage.

He’s long been a champion for working-class actors. Back in 2018, Eccleston explained to TopMob that while class is a very real part of British society, people often avoid talking about it. He said, “People say I’m obsessed with class. But the whole country is obsessed by class. It’s like, it exists, but you’re not supposed to mention it.”

He also spoke about class prejudice, explaining, “I believe it’s real. I think Gary Oldman is just as talented as Daniel Day-Lewis, but Gary doesn’t have a fancy, upper-class name. Some might argue Daniel Day-Lewis has taken on better roles, but Gary Oldman’s Oscar win felt huge for people like me, who didn’t come from privileged backgrounds.”

He explained that he feels uncomfortable when he attends performances at the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company because the audiences are overwhelmingly white.

Our company is currently dominated by white men, with significantly fewer people of color and women. We need a major change – a complete shift away from our current, traditional ways of operating.

Drama in Schools: An Unfolding Tragedy? is on Radio 4 at 4pm on 10th February, then on BBC Sounds.

Doctor Who will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this Christmas.

Don’t miss Doctor Who! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV suggestions, articles, and more.

Authors

Louise GriffinSci-Fi and Fantasy Editor

Louise Griffin edits the Sci-Fi & Fantasy section at TopMob, where she writes about popular franchises like Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel, House of the Dragon, and Good Omens. Before TopMob, she was a Senior Entertainment Reporter at Metro and holds a degree in English Literature.

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2026-02-10 16:06