6. Robbie Williams Is... The Ninth Doctor, But Only On The Internet! (2003)
With the failure of the US-produced Paul McGann pilot leaving the TV series in creative and rights limbo, it fell to other departments of the BBC to experiment with ways to revive the good Doctor. After the surprise success of a series of webisodes starring Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred, along with John Sessions and Stephen Fry (attempting to reset the continuity pre-Paul McGann), this resulted in several alternative BBC Online projects, first starring Colin Baker and then Paul McGann. However, in 2003, they attempted a more audacious experiment an animated web-based series with a brand new Doctor for the digital age. Recently revealed on a DVD extra was that, after discovering he had an interest in the part, the BBC Online team actively pursued none other than Robbie Williams, of Take That fame, for the Doctor. However, scheduling prevented this from occurring, and the role went to McGann's Withnail And I co-star, Richard E. Grant. The new Doctor's animated life was just beginning - alas, without Robbie - when BBC One suddenly decided to ask Russell T. Davies to revive the series for their Saturday night TV schedules. Richard E. Grant's Doctor was quickly retired...