10 Insane Doctor Who Rumours That Never Happened

5. Plastic David Beckham

Johnny Depp Doctor Who
John Shearer/AP

In the run up to Doctor Who's return to our screens in 2005, there was a tabloid report that claimed to know the plot of the opening episode. It correctly claimed that the Doctor would once again face off against the Autons, last seen in the 1970s.

From there, the story's accuracy promptly fell off a cliff. The plot, claimed the article, would involve the Autons replacing prominent celebrities with plastic duplicates in what would essentially be a remake of Spearhead from Space for the Heat magazine generation. One of the unfortunate duplicated celebrities would be David Beckham, in a bit of casting that was sure to draw the crowds for the show's return.

It's not quite clear where this rumour came from, whether it was a joke by Russell T Davies in a production meeting that leaked and was taken out of context or some mischievous fan over on Outpost Gallifrey. Either way, it's probably just as well such a potentially cheesy Children in Need sketch of an idea didn't actually see the light of day.

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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.