FORMER Time Lord Christopher Eccleston has pledged his support to the town’s first Bolton Pride festival.

The actor, who played the ninth incarnation of Doctor Who, appears in a 17-second video on the official Bolton Pride website, where he says: “Hello, my name is Christopher Eccleston and I’m supporting Bolton’s first Pride event. Love Bolton, hate homophobia.”

The 51-year-old, who grew up in Little Hulton, is the second famous face to record a video for the cause after Eastenders star Jo Joyner, who plays Tanya Branning in the BBC1 soap.

Organiser and Bolton News columnist James Edgington says he is “overwhelmed” by the messages of support that the event has attracted.

He said: “It really is overwhelming to have the support of someone who is not only a big player in the acting world, but also someone who is local to the area.

“We got in touch with him and he didn’t even reply to say yes or no, he just replied with the video. It’s great that someone so busy can take a few minutes to lend their support to the event.”

To view the video and for updates visit BoltonPride.com.