Filming of the new series of Doctor Who has been hit by a shortage of dwarf actors.

Producers needed them to play little blue aliens in the new BBC sci-fi drama, reports the Mirror.



But most midget actors have already been snapped up for the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie or to play Gringotts Bank staff in the new Harry Potter film.



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’.”



Peter Burroughs, whose 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 his sidekick, is due to start in March.



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