GMTV ITV April 28, 2006 Download Screencaps

Interviewers: Jenni Falconer and Michael Underwood

Jenni: Thank you very much for taking a break from Number 10.

Anthony: (laughs) Don't think we'll go there.

Jenni: But you are - you're actually here because you’re in Doctor Who.

Anthony: Yeah, yeah. Tomorrow... tomorrow night.

Jenni: That a bit of a dream of yours?

Anthony: Um, I've always, sort of, somehow been connected with it for a while now in one way or another. I did some...I read some stories on tape and various bits and pieces and there was a point when I think the Radio Times readers voted me the man they'd most like to and all that stuff.

Jenni: That was a few years ago.

Anthony: Yeah, but I mean, I think all sorts of people have been voted as they man they'd like -

Jenni: Have you - were you offered it ever?

Anthony: No No. Years ago I talked to - when they were sort of first started talking about revamping it, and the Americans were involved and I talked to a producer then - it wasn't Russell then, Russell T Davis, but then I was seen at the same time as Paul McGann was seen and then Paul got it. And then when I got back from Buffy, you know, I was asked if I wanted to go up for it and I thought one iconic sci-fi character per decade was probably enough. Um, and then when Chris Eccleston decided not to do it anymore, I was, my agent said "Do you want to go up for it" and I said "Yeah, maybe." But by that time they’d already got David. David is so spot on. He's absolutely spectacularly good as the Doctor so I wouldn't want to fill his shoes.

Michael: In this episode, you play a character called Mr. Finch. Tell us a bit about Mr. Finch because he's a devilish one, isn't he?

Jenni: You look evil.

Anthony: Do I?

Jenni: I think so.

Michael: It's the slicked back hair.

Anthony: Well he's described in the script as sort of a New Age headmaster basically. He's just very...he has an agenda. He's very keen on achieving results and will basically stop at very little to get them. And it's principally about diet. There's a nod, I think possibly even in the scene we're going to see, there's a nod to Jamie Oliver - there's a poster of Jamie on the wall, about you know, because you can get good results out of children if you give them the right diet.

Jenni: All right then, let’s have a look and see if we can see the Jamie Oliver poster. Let's have a look.

Doctor Who clip

Jenni: You do look evil

Anthony: Yes, I think....yes, I'm very keen to get results, I suppose - I'm trying to work out who I look like. There's somebody...

Jenni: I think it's Prince Charles in there

Michael: I'm not so sure that's the right thing to say (everyone laughs) Not entirely sure.

Jenni: Well, you know. Anyway, are we going to see Mr. Finch again? Or is he just in the one episode?

Anthony: To be honest, I have no idea. I had a whale of a time doing it so if they ask me, I mean I have no idea what, you know - because anybody can come back. They can do anything they like with it, it's time travel. So who knows is all I can say.

Michael: Now you mentioned Buffy a little earlier on. Of course that was such a major role for you over in Hollywood. How did that come about and how did that change your career?

Anthony: Um, well, I'd done this iconic advert, this coffee advert, that basically, it had this two-fold effect. One, it sort of...it opened up a lot of theatre doors for me but it kind of closed down a few TV and film opportunities because basically people saw me as this sort of smooth operator. And I just needed to change the parameters as they were and just change people’s perception. So Sarah my partner said maybe now is the chance, since it was so successful in the States as well to go out there and see what I could do with it. I went out there and I got - my first job was a series called VR.5 which was a sci-fi thing. Did twelve episodes of that, came back, went back out, did another pilot, it didn't go, came back, went back out and then did...got this mid-season replacement which was called Buffy and we did this really tacky half-hour presentation which I have seen and it's really not good. But you know, it was just the best and it gave me my second iconic break of my career. So basically I've used iconic a lot this morning.

Jenni: Iconic as well, Little Britain as well.

Anthony: That's the third one.

Jenni: Frank 'n' Furter.

Anthony: Frank 'n' Furter, yes. We're doing - I’m reprising Frank 'n' Furter - three songs of him on Wednesday night on the third. The Royal Court...it's fiftieth anniversary is doing a tribute to Rocky Horror. So me, all sorts -

Picture of Anthony as Frank 'n' Furter is shown

Jenni: That's not you.

Anthony: That is me.

Michael: I think we're popping down to see you actually next week so we'll chat. Will you be in the outfit just there?

Anthony: We haven't worked out dress code yet.

Jenni: Don't people that come have to dress up?

Anthony: Yeah, oh yeah. Absolutely. There will be a lot...

Michael: I'll try anything once.

Jenni: As long as it's only the first time Michael. Anthony thank you very much for coming.

Anthony: Thank you.

Jenni: We are going to catch up with you later because we have a bit of a doctor quiz for you.

Anthony: Yes, right you are.

Later in the show, Anthony and another guest from the show Casualty joined the hosts for a trivia game based on Doctor Who and Casualty. Tony lost by one point.