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Former Doctor Who to play John Lennon

Last Updated: Friday, November 27, 2009 | 10:48 AM ET

CBC News

Former Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston is to play John Lennon in a new BBC drama covering Lennon's life from 1967 to 1971.

Lennon Naked centres on the effect on Lennon of the death of the Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, and the impact of re-establishing contact with his long-lost father Freddie. It also covers the period of his life when he breaks up with first wife Cynthia Lennon and meets Yoko Ono, to be played by Naoko Mori.

The 90-minute drama is scheduled to air on BBC 4, one of four channels run by Britain's public broadcaster, next year. It is currently being filmed in London.

Eccleston starred in Danny Boyle's 1994 film Shallow Grave and served a single season in the role of Doctor Who in the BBC revival of the show in 2005. He later appeared in NBC sci-fi show Heroes and Hollywood film GI Joe: The Rise of the Cobra.

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Eccleston quits new 'Doctor Who' series

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