When asked if he would ever reprise his role of the First Doctor on television, David Bradley reveals that he would gladly return to Doctor Who. Bradley is the third actor to portray the first incarnation of the Time Lord on television, following original actor William Hartnell in 1963 and William Hurndall's appearance in "The Five Doctors" in 1983. Bradley's First Doctor has appeared in 2 stories in the revived series, beginning with the 2017 Christmas special "Twice Upon A Time", before appearing as a "Guardian of the Edge" in 2022's "The Power of the Doctor".

When speaking to RadioTimes, Bradley was asked whether he would be open to reprising the role of the First Doctor after his brief but impactful appearance alongside fellow former Doctors in "The Power of the Doctor". In response, the actor stated that he had enjoyed his time portraying both the fictional Time Lord and Hartnell in previous appearances and related projects, explaining that the character continues to fascinate him.

"Well, I enjoyed doing An Adventure in Space and Time, playing the actor who played Doctor Who, and then with Peter Capaldi I played Doctor Who itself and it still fascinates me. And yes, if ever I get the call, I would always love to, I would love to."

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How David Bradley Took On The Role Of The First Doctor

An Adventure In Space and Time David Bradley as William Hartnell playing the first Doctor

Prior to taking on the role of the First Doctor, Bradley had previously appeared in Doctor Who as a one-time foe in the 2012 episode, "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship". In the adventure, the actor played villainous intergalactic black market trader Solomon, who fought with Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor over the fate of a Silurian Ark carrying a number of prehistoric animals. In order to defeat Solomon and his robots, the Eleventh Doctor redirected missiles targeted at the ark to instead hit Solomon's spacecraft, putting a stop to the villainous trader and saving the creatures.

Bradley would return to the world of Doctor Who as part of the show's 50th-anniversary celebrations in 2013's An Adventure in Space and Time, a drama chronicling the creation of the sci-fi series and Hartnell's first seasons. Bradley portrayed Hartnell himself, as the then-somewhat cautious actor who would embrace the role before reluctantly stepping away due to rising concerns surrounding his health. An Adventure In Space and Time was positively received upon broadcast, and Bradley would step into the shoes of the First Doctor himself at Peter Capaldi's suggestion in, "Twice Upon A Time", where he grappled with his inevitable regeneration.

Bradley's portrayal of the First Doctor has been embraced by Doctor Who viewers, with his portrayal perfectly capturing the incarnation that Hartnell first played. With Doctor Who entering a new era under Russell T Davies, it has been reported that the returning showrunner is eager to establish new spin-offs within the universe alongside the ongoing main series. As such, with Bradley willing to return, a series exploring the First Doctor's unseen adventures starring the actor could be an ideal way to expand the franchise.

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Source: RadioTimes