In September 2003, BBC1 controller Lorraine Heggessey announced the news some had suspected but few dared to believe.
The role was arguably the biggest on TV and inevitably would be life-changing.
Alan Davies, Stephen Fry and Alan Rickman were amongst the more sensible suggestions touted.
Eccleston was 40 years old, the same age as Tom Baker on his debut.
A few years of unemployment followed, when like Tom Baker before him Eccleston worked on a building site.
Then in 1991 Eccleston won his first film role Let Him Have It.
The film explored the desperately unfortunate case of Derek Bentley, whom Eccleston portrayed.
A slow-witted, somewhat naive young man, Bentley was convicted of killing a police constable.
Bentley meant it literally, assuming Craig would surrender the weapon to the policeman.
Craig fired the gun but being underage was spared the death penalty.
Bentley was hanged on 28th January 1953.
Bentleys family campaigned for an official pardon.
A partial one was granted in 1993 and a full one in 1998.
MacGregor and Kerry Fox played Ecclestons flatmates Alex Law and Juliet Miller.
Barbara Flynn, Ricky Tomlinson and Geraldine Somerville as starred.
Our Friends In The Northwas an epic drama written by Peter Flannery in the early eighties.
Hutchinson was a tenacious, politically-motivated photographer with strong ethics and a heavy social conscience much like Eccleston himself.
One which, arguably, the BBC has yet to surpass.
Eccleston knew he had to be involved.
Eccleston played Trevor Hicks, who lost both of his teenage daughters that day.
Six months later the new Labour Home Secretary, Jack Straw, ordered a scrutiny of new evidence.
In 2009, by way of thanks, Hicks invited Eccleston to be his best man when he remarried.
Twenty-five years on from the tragedy, an official investigation has yet to provide answers.
1996 also saw Eccleston play the title role inJude more about that film later.
Eccleston starred as Strayman inStrumpet, a short film made in 2001.
Eccleston followed this with a return to Elizabethan England forRevengers Tragedies(2002).
Eccleston has most recently been cast as Matt Jamison inTheLeftovers, an HBO series arriving on screens this summer.
The BBC suddenly had a huge hit on their hands.
Russell T. Davies was especially delighted having predicted maybe 4 to 6 million might tune in.
He could put his long-cherished plans for a second series into action.
David Tennant had already been signed up as replacement.
Eccleston rarely committed himself too long in any part.
As a consequence, Eccleston has remained relatively tight-lipped about his association withDoctor Who.
He enjoyed the role and especially enjoyed being an integral part of bringing the show back.
He began his professional acting career the same year as Christopher Eccleston 1988.
Two years later Tennant began his film career inJudeas discussed above.
He then appeared in a string of small films includingBite1997.
The same year, Tennant featured as Larry in the filmBeing Considered.
One Eyed Jacquesfollowed in 2001.
Tennant played Ginger Littlejohn.
The film was retitledBright Young Thingson its release in 2003.
Tennant also found time to make two short filmsOld StreetandThe Traffic Warden.
Breaking away fromWho(whilst still the incumbant Time Lord) helped Tennant avoid typecasting.
Tennant appeared as himself in Ricky GerviasExtrasChristmas Special in 2007.
In 2009, Tennant played Hector in the filmGlorious 39.
Set in the present day and 1939, the movie is about family secrets and their consequences.
Next came Christmas cash-in movieNativity 2: Danger in the Manger.
Next time: this series concludes with a look at the movies of Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi.
