Doctor Who: 10 Actors Who Almost Played Different Characters
1. Simon Pegg
Who He Almost Played: Pete Tyler
Who He Actually Played: The Editor
Perhaps the most intriguing 'what-if?' casting story in Doctor Who history revolves around Simon Pegg, whose sole onscreen appearance in the show was in the Series 1 episode The Long Game, where he played the scenery-chewing villain The Editor.
But reportedly, Pegg was originally up for a completely different role in the same series: Rose Tyler's dad, Pete Tyler, who first appeared in Father's Day.
It's said that Pegg had to pass on the role due to being unavailable while Father's Day was being filmed, but just imagine if he'd accepted it. Pete Tyler wasn't just a one-and-done role like The Editor: it was a recurring role, with actor Shaun Dingwall returning a few more times throughout Series 2.
But considering the fact that Pegg's Hollywood career blew up around this time (he had Shaun Of The Dead, Mission Impossible 3, and Hot Fuzz all within a three-year span), would he have been available to play Pete in Series 2? Probably not, which would've forced the producers to recast the part.
Alternatively, if Pegg had continued to play Pete, then his star power might have demanded that the role be expanded even further, which could've affected the structure and storylines of Series 2 in a big way.
It's interesting to think about, but unless we discover a TARDIS and can visit alternate realities, we'll never know for sure.
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