Grant takes on Dr Who role

The ninth incarnation of Dr Who is played by Richard E Grant

Richard E Grant is to take on the role of Dr Who in an animated adventure to be released in November.

The actor will become the ninth person to play the famous sci-fi hero since the series was launched in 1963.

The last actor to take on the role was Paul McGann, who starred in a Dr Who television movie in 1996.

This time, the adventure will be shown on the internet by BBCi, to mark the 40 anniversary of the programme.

Grant is well known for his roles in the cult film Withnail and I - in which he starred with McGann - and the television series The Scarlet Pimpernel.

He described his interpretation of the timelord as something of a "Sherlock Holmes in Space", and said he immensely enjoyed recording the story.

The new Dr Who adventure has been written by Paul Cornell, who is also an established television writer, working on shows like BBC One's hospital drama Casualty.

"I'm honoured to have the chance to set the Doctor off on another 40 years of adventures," he said.

"Just wait until you hear Richard! He is the Doctor!"