Dr Who return hit by shortage of dwarf actors
FILMING of the new Doctor Who series has been hit by a shortage of midget actors.
Bosses wanted them to play tiny blue aliens - but most have been snapped up for the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie and to play Gringotts Bank staff in the new Harry Potter film.
Dr Who executive producer Russell T Davies said: "It's very difficult to employ persons of restricted growth when, as our producer Phil Collinson says, Bloody Gringotts and the Chocolate Factory are filming at the same time'."
Insiders on the BBC1 sci-fi drama admit it has proved a headache during shooting of the 13-part series, due to be wrapped up next month.
One said: "The two big movies have snapped up the talent. It's been hard to find who we want."
Peter Burroughs - whose Peterborough-based Willow Personal Management is one of just two UK agencies for dwarf actors admitted he had been unable to supply Dr Who with a 3ft 8in star.
He said: "That was very difficult to find, especially with the other productions going on."
The new series, with Christopher Eccleston as Dr Who and Billie Piper as sidekick Rose Tyler, is due to start in March.
Caption: ENEMY: Dalek
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