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ROWAN Atkinson will be the ninth Doctor Who when he enters the Comic Relief television time zone for a tongue-in-cheek revival of the cult science fiction figure.
For one show only, the Mr Bean actor is donning the velvet drape jacket and sonic screwdriver of the Time Lord for the BBC in Britain.
Atkinson already knows about playing immortal time travellers; he took the sarcastic Blackadder across the centuries from mediaeval times to World War I.
The television sitcom series to feature Doctor Who was written in collaboration with Ben Elton and Comic Relief founder Richard Curtis.
Atkinson will be joined by actress Julia Sawalha (Saffie from Absolutely Fabulous) as his attractive, brainy assistant. Jonathan Pryce will play the sinister Master.
Generations of dedicated Doctor Who fans have borne a grudge against the BBC for axing the Dalek-battling Doctor in 1988 after 26 classic seasons.
Nothing has been seen of him since Paul McGann played the role in a critically disappointing feature film made with American co-production in 1996.
There was talk in 1998 of a new Doctor Who feature film made by the BBC, but since then, nothing.
But the fans never forget.
A Comic Relief spokeswoman said: "We have never had so many odd calls since the Rowan Atkinson special was revealed."
Doctor Who Appreciation Society spokesman Andrew Eaton agreed that Atkinson was good news for Dr Who's fans.
"I think Rowan Atkinson will make a great Doctor, and anything that keeps the programme in the public eye is good news," he said.
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