His turn as Doctor Who was among the shortest incarnations of the Time Lord in the programme ’ s 52-year-history . But Christopher Eccleston has now suggested he quit the show after falling out with bosses over his decision to play the character with a strong northern accent . The 51-year-old actor , who grew up in Manchester , played the Doctor for just 13 episodes during the first series of the show ’ s revival in 2005 . Scroll down for video . Too northern ? Christopher Eccleston ( pictured with Billie Piper on Doctor Who ) has suggested he quit the show after falling out with show bosses over his decision to play the character with a strong northern accent . He proved a huge hit with fans , but only stayed for one run after falling out with then show boss Russell T Davies . Asked about his controversial departure from the programme , he told Radio Times : ‘ I wanted to move him away from RP [ received pronunciation ] for the first time because we shouldn ’ t make a correlation between intellect and accent , although that still needs addressing . ‘ I hope I ’ ll be remembered as one of the Doctors . I have no ill feeling towards the character or the series. ’ He has previously hinted about a row with the show ’ s bosses , saying of his tenure in the role : ‘ I didn ’ t agree with the way things were being run , or like the culture that grew up around the series. ’ A total of twelve actors have played the Time Lord since the show first began in 1963 . They include William Hartnell , Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee , and more recently the likes of Paul McGann and Matt Smith . The 51-year-old actor played the Doctor for just 13 episodes in 2005 . The most recent incarnation is played by Scottish actor Peter Capaldi . The first Doctor Who episode was broadcast in November 1963 and the programme now attracts audiences of up to 16 million . The series has been sold to over 200 countries . The third son of working-class parents , Eccleston was brought up in Salford before going on to star in BBC drama series Our Friends in the North in 1996 . He has also delivered a withering verdict on privileged actors such as Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne and Benedict Cumberbatch , claiming an increase in privately-educated stars is leading to ‘ a milky , anodyne culture ’ . He added : ‘ I still feel insecure , like a lot of my working-class contemporaries . I had a sense acting wasn ’ t for me because I ’ m not educated . I was a skinny , awkward-looking bugger with an accent , as I still am . ‘ British society has always been based on inequality , particularly culturally . I ’ ve lived with it , but it ’ s much more pronounced now , and it would be difficult for someone like me to come through . ‘ You can ’ t blame Eddie Redmayne [ Eton ] , Benedict Cumberbatch [ Harrow ] and others taking their opportunities but it will lead to a milky , anodyne culture . To an extent that ’ s already happened . ‘ I confess I don ’ t watch much film or television drama but I ’ m aware of the predominance of white , male roles . It ’ s not just about the working class . There ’ s not enough writing for women or people of colour . ‘ It frustrates me when they insist on doing all-male Shakespearean productions – a wonderful intellectual exercise , maybe , but it ’ s outrageous because it ’ s putting a lot of women out of work . ’
Christopher Eccleston 's turn was among shortest incarnations of Dr Who . Actor , who grew up in Eccleston , played the Doctor for just 13 episodes . He was a huge hit with fans , but fell out with show boss Russell T Davies . The 51-year-old suggested he quit after a row over his decision to play character with a strong northern accent .