10 Big Stars You Forgot Appeared In The World Of Doctor Who

4. Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais Extras Doctor Who parody
BBC

This is probably more a case of a Doctor that you forgot appeared in something else. Given that the Extras Christmas special features Gervais' character playing a role in a fictionalised version of Doctor Who alongside David Tennant, it counts. Andy Millman (Gervais) takes on a part in Doctor Who when his career hits the skids. Watching the scene in question, it's clear that neither Gervais or Merchant have actually watched Doctor Who since the 1980s.

The slug-like character that Millman is playing, and the use of salt by Tennant's Tenth Doctor to defeat him are ripped directly from 1984's The Twin Dilemma. Clearly, Colin Baker's debut story had a profound effect on the pair. It's a surprise not to see a producer wandering around in a Hawaian shirt, ala 80's producer John Nathan-Turner.

It's an odd moment, given how many big stars had played villains in real-life Doctor Who by this point in the new series' history. The idea of playing a Doctor Who monster as a low-point feels outdated in 2007. It's almost as if Gervais is prone to making sweeping, simplistic generalisations in his comedy...

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Contributor

Citizen of the Universe, Film Programmer, Writer, Podcaster, Doctor Who fan and a gentleman to boot. As passionate about Chinese social-realist epics as I am about dumb popcorn movies.