'Harry Potter' Actor Joins BBC's 'Doctor Who' TV Movie Cast

3:11 AM PST 1/30/2013 by Georg Szalai

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David Bradley and others have been cast in "An Adventure In Space And Time," which will look at the creation of the hit sci-fi show.

LONDON - David Bradley, who played Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch in the Harry Potter movies, has been cast in BBC TV movie An Adventure In Space And Time, which will tell the story of the genesis of hit sci-fi show Doctor Who.

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The 90-minute drama, which the U.K. public broadcaster said Wednesday will begin shooting next month, will be part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the evergreen series.

Bradley will play William Hartnell, who portrayed the first-ever Doctor in 1963, in the TV film written by Mark Gatiss.

Brian Cox (The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Identity) will portray the then-BBC head of drama who is credited with creating Doctor Who, the BBC also said. And the show's first producer will be portrayed by Call The Midwife star Jessica Raine.

Gatiss will also act as executive producer of the one-off alongside Steven Moffat and Caroline Skinner. BBC America is co-producing.

Said Bradley: "I'm absolutely thrilled. I first heard about this role from Mark [Gatiss] while watching the Diamond Jubilee flotilla from the roof of the National Theatre. When he asked if I would interested, I almost bit his hand off!"

He added: "Mark has written such a wonderful script not only about the birth of a cultural phenomenon, but a moment in television's history. William Hartnell was one of the finest character actors of our time and as a fan I want to make sure that I do him justice."

Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com

Twitter: @georgszalai