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In today\u2019s era of Doctor Who<\/a>, we have returning Doctors aplenty \u2013 from <\/span>David Tennant\u2019s mysterious return<\/span><\/a> for the 60th anniversary to a host of previously unseen incarnations like Jo Martin\u2019s <\/span>Fugitive Doctor<\/span><\/a> and John Hurt\u2019s War Doctor, it seems the BBC is always keen for a return or a new take on the role. <\/span><\/p>\n However, that wasn\u2019t always the case, as Sylvester McCoy found out the hard way on production of the <\/span>1996 Doctor Who TV Movie<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Speaking to <\/span>RadioTimes.com<\/span><\/a> ahead of the release of new documentary <\/span>Doctor Who Am I<\/span><\/a> about the legacy of the film, producer Philip Segal discussed his desire to involve McCoy and the difficulty he faced.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe BBC were absolutely putting their foot down and said that under no circumstances will Sylvester McCoy be allowed to start the film as the Doctor and regenerate into Paul McGann \u2013 under <\/span>any <\/span><\/i>circumstances,\u201d Segal said.<\/span><\/p> McCoy took on the role of the Seventh Doctor in 1987, playing the part until Doctor Who was ultimately cancelled two years later \u2013 leaving the fate of his incarnation unresolved.<\/span><\/p>\n Thus, Segal made it a priority to finish this Doctor\u2019s story. \u201cIt was very important to me that Sylvester had a chance to have a conclusion \u2013 he deserved that, and he deserved more,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n Thankfully, McCoy got the proper send off that he deserved in the opening of the TV Movie, and was thrilled that he had the opportunity to do so.<\/span><\/p>\n Though the film did not reveal what had happened to the Seventh Doctor\u2019s companion Ace<\/a> (Sophie Aldred), who\u2019d likewise made her final appearance in 1989, Doctor Who\u2019s upcoming feature-length episode The Power of the Doctor<\/span><\/a> is also set to revisit that character after more than three decades.<\/p>\n