Doctor Who: 15 Real Historical Characters The Doctor Has Met
11. Charles Dickens
The third episode of the revived series, 'The Unquiet Dead', sees Ecclestone's Doctor and companion Rose bump into the famous author at a rather bleak time of his existence. Brilliantly portrayed by Simon Callow, Dickens is a miserable old grouch who no longer gets any joy from his public appearances and rather shallow life, compounded by being stuck in Cardiff at Christmas with no family.
His bad mood turns on its head when a public performance is interrupted by a ghostly apparition, with Charles joined by the Doctor in pursuit of the 'phantoms'. Dickens' skeptical nature is at the fore throughout the episode, and while it could easily have gone into caricature, Callow does well to bring an authenticity to the performance, the back and forth quarrelling between he and Ecclestone the real highlight.
While the majority of the episode portrays Dickens as an old man out of his depth, the writers have the decency to give him a fitting conclusion, effectively saving the day through his quick thinking. His final farewell to the Doctor and Rose is also a treat, a bright smile and bellowing of "Merry Christmas" echoing out as the TARDIS dematerialises once more.
Callow returned for an unnecessary 'blink and you'll miss it' cameo as Dickens in the sixth season finale 'The Wedding of River Song', briefly appearing on a jumbo screen in a live TV interview with the BBC!