Doctor Who fans received the surprise of a lifetime when it was officially confirmed that David Tennant would be returning to play the 14th Doctor.
As viewers bid farewell to Jodie Whittaker’s 13th doctor, they were ecstatic but equally confused to see her regenerate into the 10th incarnation of the Doctor, dressed in his signature pinstripe suit and trainers. Initially, it was expected Whittaker would regenerate into Ncuti Gatwa, after it was previously announced that he would be her successor.
In the days since The Power of the Doctor premiered on 23 October, returning show-runner Russel T Davies has officially confirmed that Gatwa will actually play the 15th Doctor, meaning that Tennant will be returning as the 14th incarnation.
If that weren’t enough to whet our Whovian appetites, shortly after this jaw-dropping cliffhanger, the BBC released a teaser trailer for the Doctor Who 60th-anniversary specials set to air in November 2023. The ten seconds of footage is jam-packed full of intrigue and thrill, featuring the return of fan-favourite companion Donna Noble, played by Catherine Tate, and an undisclosed but likely villainous character played by Neil Patrick Harris. Viewers also get a small glimpse of Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th doctor, speaking for most of us when he says: “can someone tell me what the hell is going on here?”
While it was announced earlier this year that both David Tennant and Catherine Tate would be reprising their respective roles at the 10th Doctor and Donna Noble, details surrounding the nature of their return were kept firmly under wraps.
Russel T Davies is still hesitant to reveal any details surrounding the iconic duo’s return: “Maybe this is a missing story. Or a parallel world. Or a dream, or a trick, or a flashback. The only thing I can confirm is that it’s going to be spectacular, as two of our greatest stars reunite for the battle of a lifetime.”
Tennant also shared his excitement about returning to Doctor Who after leaving the role in 2010: “You move on from it with a whole mixture of emotions. And one of those is sadness and regret. So to be able to revisit that and to get another shot, it was a total joy from start to finish.”
“I thought it was something that I would certainly never be as involved in again… it’s like being given the loveliest present. And I’m very, very excited. I’m thrilled and I hope people will enjoy the stories,” he added.
The Power of The Doctor is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.
Words by Katie Heyes
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