ACTOR Christopher Eccleston is to star as music legend John Lennon in a TV film set during the demise of The Beatles.

Lennon Naked covers the period from 1967 to 1971, when tensions within the band reached a peak and the star turned to drugs.

Little Hulton-born Eccleston, aged 45, has started filming the 90-minute drama for BBC4.

The former Doctor Who star is 18 years older than the Lennon was in 1967 — and five years older than the musician was at the time of his death in 1980.