10 Actors Who Turned Down Doctor Who
3. Alan Cumming
Scottish actor Alan Cumming, known for various London stage appearances and the character of Eli Gold on The Good Wife, has been offered the role of the Doctor twice and has rejected the character both times.
Cumming was initially considered for the role in Doctor Who by original series writer Russell T. Davies – a man who played a big part in reviving the show in 2005. It was a great opportunity for both the series itself and Alan, who was mostly willing to undertake the part. But as the actor was living in New York at the time, he wasn’t willing to re-locate to Wales. Later on, Mark Gatiss offered him the role again but Cumming turned it down for the very same reason of not wanting to live in Wales for such a long period of time.
Alan did eventually agree to a guest appearance on the science fiction show, as King James I, in Jodie Whittaker’s series.