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‘Day of the Doctor’ aired in 2013 in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of ‘Doctor Who’.  It wasn’t just a fun celebration of that milestone, but a key episode that actually answered some lingering questions and smoothing over some story wrinkles.  But perhaps best of all, it brought two of the most popular Doctors face-to-face, the Tenth (David Tennant) and Eleventh (Matt Smith) while also throwing the new War Doctor (John Hurt) into the mix.  (And provided the first look at the Twelfth Doctor, Peter Capaldi.)

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Christopher Eccelston as the Ninth Doctor

It was reported at the time that the Ninth Doctor, Christopher Eccleston, the first Nu-Who Doctor, had spoken to showrunner Steven Moffat, who wrote ‘Day of the Doctor’ about appearing in the special, but declined.  That’s where the War Doctor entered the picture.

Storyboard artist Andrew Wildman recently collected his original breakdowns for that episode and reveals some pretty nifty revelations.  For one thing, not only does it reveal that the Ninth Doctor was indeed originally slotted into the episode, but apparently Moffat and the other creators seemed to be banking on Eccleston’s return.

Not just that, but someone who WAS in the special, originally wasn’t planned for inclusion.

First take a look at Wildman’s storyboards for one sequence in the episode:

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First of all, Wildman’s art, though just simple sketches, actually does capture both Eccleston and Tennant’s likenesses.  The Tenth Doctor barely even has a face, but the pose, the skinny suit, the hair?  Unmistakably Tennant!

Obviously, the Ninth Doctor was swapped out for the War Doctor, but notice his companion, The Moment, is a little girl.  But as anyone who has seen this episode knows, that function was assumed by Billie Piper, who played Eccleston’s first companion, Rose Tyler.  (Meaning she was the first nu-Who companion.)  Of course, in the story it was explained that this was NOT Rose, just an entity that has assumed her appearance.

(If you are interested in seeing the rest of Wildman’s storyboards, he sells them in a collected volume which you can purchase directly at conventions.)

Are you bummed that Eccleston passed on ‘Day of the Doctor’?  Or do you think it worked out just fine?  Would you have been happy if the Ninth Doctor had appeared, but Piper as The Moment hadn’t?  Comment below!

Source: Bleeding Cool