Attempts to farm outDoctor Whoto an independent production company had come to nothing.
Philip Segal saw huge potential in two of the brothers performances.
Eric Roberts won the role.
McGann has a fine acting pedigree.
He made his TV acting debut four years before as Norman in the Play for Today: Whistling Wally.
Only one series and a special (transmitted on New Years Eve 1984) were made.
McGann played Marwood, the I in the eminently quotableWithnail And I.
1989 saw McGann play Daniel Pascoe inDealerswhich in turn, was very significant in his casting as the Doctor.
The movie, which was part financed by Euston Films, was reworked for television as Capital City.
From the mid-Nineties, McGann began to concentrate on his TV work.
Many of his films in this era were TV movies,Doctor Whoincluded.
Crewman Kane was played, of course, by John Hurt.
Christopher Eccleston, however, was reluctant.
He met with Moffat on a couple of occasions to discuss his potential involvement.
He agreed to think about it.
Whilst he saw the show as iconic, unlike Tennant, he was never much of a fan.
Also he felt compromised by the huge attention the series brought him.
Steven Moffat had admiredThe Three Doctorswhich was successful in the face of adversity ie.
the necessary limited use of William Hartnell.
In a real coup, Moffat was delighted to cast John Hurt as The War Doctor.
John Vincent Hurt, CBE was born on 22nd January 1940 near Chesterfield in Derbyshire.
Hurt plays Timothy Evans, one of the last men hanged in England in 1950.
Evans daughters death was later attributed to Christie and in 1966 Evans was posthumously pardoned.
This film is highly recommended for its realism, claustrophobia and chilling atmosphere.
Hurts next notable role was inThe Ghoul,a 1975 horror which also starred Peter Cushing.
Hurt also recieved praise and several awards for his role as Max in the classic filmMidnight Expressin 1978.
John Hurt began the Eighties in upcoming director David Lynchs 1980 masterpieceThe Elephant Man.
The film starred Anthony Hopkins and saw Hurt play arguably his most challenging role to date John Merrick.
Hurt won much praise for his sympathetic portrayal.
1984 was a busy year for Hurt.
Hurt played Gilbert Colville alongside Joss Ackland, Greta Scacchi, Charles Dance and Sarah Miles.
Hurt played Stephen Ward, a very well-connected society osteopath who numbered Sir Winston Churchill amongst his clients.
The media uncovered Keelers link to Profumo.
The ensuing scandal engulfed the Conservative Goverment, Profumo resigned and the affair hastened Harold Macmillans departure.
Ward took matters into his own hands with tragic consequences.
The same year he was the narrator Dr Joe Buchanan inFrankenstein Unbound.
1991sKing Ralph,a somewhat below par movie, suggested he needed to pay the bills.
In 1995, Hurt played two marquises.
He was John Graham, the Marquis of Montrose inRob Roy.
He also played the Marquis de Prey in the highly controversialTwo Nudes Bathing.
In 1997, Hurt appeared inContactwhich followed the work of scientists trying to prove the existence of extra-terrestial life.
John Hurts next major role was an award-winning part as Giles DeAth inLife And Death On Long Island.
Hurt played the magic wand maker Mr Ollivander.
The same year he was seen in the much praised movie version ofTinker Tailor, Soldier, Spy.
In 2013, Hurt filmed the much-anticipatedSnowpiercer.
He played a character called Gilliam.
Hurt then received a call from Steven Moffat.
He currently has a couple of movies in post production:HerculesandThe Absinthe Drinkers.
Next time: the film careers of Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant.
