SERIOUS actor Christopher Eccleston was confirmed as the new Dr Who last night.

Christopher, 40, is best known for BBC1 drama epic Our Friends In The North but has also starred in TV’s Clocking Off and Cracker and films Gone in Sixty Seconds and Shallow Grave.

He pipped transvestite funnyman Eddie Izzard, Richard E Grant and Alan Davies, who were all tipped for Dr Who.

Last night BBC head of drama Jane Tranter said: “We have chosen one of Britain’s finest actors.

“It signals our intention to take Dr Who into the 21st century as well as retaining its core, traditional values to be surprising, edgy and eccentric.”

Top TV writer Russell T Davies, who penned the shock Channel 4 gay drama Queer As Folk, is updating the Time Lord’s exploits for the new BBC1 series which will start next year.

He said: “Chris was our first choice. He can give the Doctor a wisdom, wit and emotional range as far-ranging as the Doctor’s travels.”