There was a period where Richard E Grant was the 9th Doctor. Very, very officially.
I can remember having to plug my computer into the phone line and make several attempts at using what eventually became Playwright.
God I feel old just typing that.
But he was the 9th Doctor. When the show returned in 2005 it took it's time dropping the numbering system back in. Even when it did there were still those of us who thought the Shalka might still exist as a proto-War Doctor. His appearance in The Tomorrow Windows along side the Valeyard did little to convince us otherwise.
He does seem to be cannon now. The actual 9th Doctor is also in Rogue, so God only knows where Shalka actually fits.
We may never know.
Isn't that a little exciting?
