Latest news with #TimeLord
The Sun
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
BBC announces new Doctor Who series – but with a huge twist
THE BBC have announced a new Doctor Who series - but there is a huge twist. Fans were left stunned last month when bosses replaced Ncuuti Gatwa with former star Billie Piper in a shock series ending. 5 5 Piper, 42, is a fan favourite on the long-running BBC series, and originally played sidekick Rose Tyler to Christopher Ecclestone's Doctor back in 2005. Fans were therefore shocked to see her make a surprising return as outgoing Gatwa 's Dr Who regenerated to reveal Piper as the new doc. Gatwa, 32, the show's 15th Doctor, left after just two series, amid widespread reports of plunging ratings and doubts over its future linked to woke storylines. It is unclear if Piper's role will be a permanent move. Her character remained with David Tennant 's Tenth Doctor, before becoming trapped in a parallel world. Showrunner Russell T Davies said it was "an honour and a hoot" to welcome Billie back to the show, though also played coy when it came to what this means for the Time Lord going forward. Instead, he just noted: "After 62 years, the Doctor's adventures are only just beginning!" And now the BBC is set to expand the Whoniverse as it launches plans for a brand new pre-school animation series which will see the Doctor's adventures come to CBeebies for the first time ever. The BBC is looking for a passionate production company to create and produce the series, which will run independently from the main show. It will see the Doctor travelling through time and space for the pre-school audience, solving mysteries and problems alongside their companions and other friends. David Tennant tells Doctor Who haters to 'f--k off' in hilarious new The Assembly trailer as he gets a grilling And, of course, they may come up against one or two challenges on their way. Speaking about the plans, Patricia Hidalgo, Director of Children's and Education said: 'Everyone is welcome at CBeebies, including the Doctor! "This much-loved franchise entertains millions around the world, so it is only right that our younger audience get to experience the wonder and the magic of the Doctor in a brand new format. "This is an extremely exciting opportunity, and we are looking forward to welcoming companies to pitch for this new project, as we continue our commitment and investment in the UK's animation industry.' Meanwhile, insiders say Billie Piper's shock return at the end of the latest series was understood to be teeing up a comeback for David Tennant as the Time Lord for a one-off special. A source said: 'The BBC brought Doctor Who back in 2005 and there is talk about a possible one-off project to celebrate the 20th anniversary. 'David and Billie were a hugely popular partnership and he brought in a golden age of Doctor Who. 'With the anniversary of the reboot this year there have been some ideas floated about, with the thought of maybe bringing David and Billie back together for one last hurrah. 'When David's Doctor bi-generated in the 60th anniversary special, his 'half' went on to live a normal life in an alternative universe while Ncuti Gatwa's carried on as the Time Lord. 'It wouldn't be beyond the realms of imagination for him to return with Billie as Rose for a one-off special to celebrate not only their partnership but the anniversary of BBC bringing back Doctor Who.' David, 54, played the tenth version of the Time Lord for five years until 2010. In a twist, he then returned as the 14th Doctor for three specials before handing the role over to Ncuti. The Sun revealed last month that Ncuti, 31, was leaving the Tardis. And after the final episode, Ncuti said: 'I've loved every minute of it, but now is the time to hand over the keys to that beloved box and let someone else take control and enjoy it every bit as much as I have. 'I'll truly miss it, and forever be grateful.' Doctor Who's future is still undecided, with the BBC now waiting to see if Disney+ — which pumped millions of pounds into the show — will renew its deal. Ratings for the sci-fi staple have plummeted since Tennant left, with overnight peak viewing figures dropping as low as 1.6million. Many fans of the show complained it had gone 'woke'. Meanwhile, Whovians are waiting to see if Billie is the new, 16th Doctor or is sidekick Rose again. Shame we can't jump in a Tardis and find out as only time will tell. 5 5
Metro
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
New Doctor Who rumours have fans worried show is 'out of ideas'
Fans of Doctor Who have shared their concern that the beloved BBC show is 'running out of ideas' following a new rumour that former Time Lord David Tennant is set to reprise his role on the show. As its two-part series finale concluded last week, The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) sparked a shock regeneration while tapping into the heart of the TARDIS to shift reality itself. In doing so, he succeeded in saving Space Baby Poppy, pulling her into a reality where Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) had always been her mother. However, this use of his Time Lord energy came at a cost – and, after bidding farewell to Belinda, the Doctor began to regenerate into his Sixteenth form. (Re)enter Billie Piper, whose face replaced Ncuti's in a blast of regeneration energy. 'Oh hello,' grinned the one-time Rose Tyler as the end credits rolled, seemingly taking his place as the Sixteenth Doctor. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. But is all as it seems? As speculation blazes on that this new 'Doctor' may not be all she seems, another rumoured return has fans worried that the show is becoming far too reliant on its own past. In a rumour reported by The Sun, Billie's casting is set to facilitate a return from another face from recent history – former Tenth Doctor David. 'There is talk about a possible one-off project to celebrate the 20th anniversary. David and Billie were a hugely popular partnership and he brought in a golden age of Doctor Who,' an insider told the tabloid. 'With the anniversary of the reboot this year, there have been some ideas floated about, with the thought of maybe bringing David and Billie back together for one last hurrah.' If (and it's a big if!) true, this would be the third time David has returned to the role since his exit in 2010. Following a crossover episode with Matt Smith in 2013, David officially regenerated back into himself in 2023, becoming the Fourteenth Doctor for three special episodes. Reacting to this speculative news on X, fans shared their fears for the show's future, with IanOTimelord writing: 'No, no, no. [series showrunner Russell T Davies] needs to go if true. He's run out of ideas. The brand is wounded.' 'The current show runners appear to have run out of ideas then?' said Squarepush33279. 'I wish the good writers made a comeback' joked and_catch_fire. 'Russell needs to move on!' exclaimed CHG3899. With Doctor Who's return date yet to be confirmed by either the BBC or its overlords at Disney, it remains unknown why Billie is back… or who she's really playing. In the end credits to Saturday's episode, both Ncuti and Thirteenth Doctor Jodie Whittaker were given their formal title, while Billie got a more cryptic 'introducing' credit. This has led to speculation that she may not be playing The Doctor at all… which is possibly for the best, if previous statements are anything to go by. 'I don't think the Doctor should be a woman,' she told HELLO! back in 2009. She added: 'Forgive me, I know it's not a feminist thing to say, but it's like saying, 'Let's make James Bond a woman'. It's a man's role.' Thankfully, she changed her tune eight years later, just in time for Jodie to take on the role. 'I think it would be great [to have a female Doctor] given the spirit of the world at the moment. I think it would be timely,' Billie said. A popular fan theory suggests that Billie/Rose's return to Doctor Who may have something to do with the 2005 episode The Parting of the Ways. In the series finale's climax, Rose unleashed the heart of the TARDIS to save the universe from Dalek extermination. With the energy she had absorbed set to kill Rose, The Doctor (played by Christopher Eccleston) took it into himself – causing his regeneration into David Tennant. Rose and her new Doctor quickly hit it off, sparking a romance between the Time Lord and his companion which was cut short when she became trapped in an alternate reality with only her mum and the Doctor's Meta-Crisis doppelganger for company. Since then, she has returned to the franchise for three spin-off audio adventures, as well as a surprise cameo (but not as Rose!) in 2013's Day of The Doctor crossover. Our Deputy TV Editor Tom Percival shares his thoughts… While David Tennant has shown an impressive dedication to Doctor Who (returning not once but twice), an imminent return seems unlikely. The Rivals star has been pretty emphatic that after the 60th anniversary, he's keen to take a break from the show, and to be honest, I think that's the right attitude. One of the big issues with the series in recent years is its reliance on nostalgia. With that in mind, I fear bringing him back for a third time risks making Doctor Who into the David Tennant show and robbing the series of its identity. As the 11th Doctor once said, 'We all change when you think about it… And that's okay, that's good. You've got to keep moving.' This has led some to wonder whether the events of The Parting of the Ways are still in play, leading to some residual 'Bad Wolf' energy in Ncuti's surprise regeneration. Billie herself has kept quiet on the specifics, instead celebrating her return to the franchise with a post on Instagram. More Trending 'A rose is a rose is a rose !!!' she wrote as she posted a series of pictures to her account – including snaps of herself as Rose Tyler. She then signed off with a cartoon wolf hidden among two rose emojis. Might this comment hint at her character's true nature? Only time will tell. View More » The BBC declined to comment when approached by Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 'Doctor Who's finale infuriated fans – but the next series will fix everything' MORE: Doctor Who fans fume that character was 'butchered' as actor speaks out on exit MORE: Rivals fans – prepare to go wild over first look at David Tennant in season 2
The Sun
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Iconic Doctor Who pair set to sensationally REUNITE for huge special after Ncuti Gatwa flop
DOCTOR Who's most popular pair could be coming back for a final turn in the Tardis. Insiders say Billie Piper's shock return to the show was understood to be teeing up a comeback for David Tennant as the Time Lord for a one-off special. 3 3 3 A source said: 'The BBC brought Doctor Who back in 2005 and there is talk about a possible one-off project to celebrate the 20th anniversary. 'David and Billie were a hugely popular partnership and he brought in the golden age of Doctor Who. 'With the anniversary of the reboot this year there have been some ideas floated about with the idea of maybe bringing David and Billie back together for one last hurrah. 'When David's Doctor bi-generated in the 60th anniversary special, his 'half' of the Doctor went on to live a normal life in an alternative universe. 'While Ncuti Gatwa, who carried on the mantle, carried on as the Time Lord. It wouldn't be beyond the realms of imagination for him to return with Rose for a one-off special to celebrate not only their partnership but the anniversary of BBC bringing back Doctor Who.' David, 54, played the tenth version of the Time Lord for five years until 2010. In a twist, he then returned as the 14th Doctor for three specials before handing the role over to Ncuti. The Sun revealed last month that Gatwa, 31, was leaving the Tardis. It was confirmed last Saturday when he surprisingly regenerated into Billie, 42, at the end of the series finale. After the episode, Ncuti said: 'I've loved every minute of it, but now is the time to hand over the keys to that beloved box and let someone else take control and enjoy it every bit as much as I have. David Tennant tells Doctor Who haters to 'f--k off' in hilarious new The Assembly trailer as he gets a grilling "I'll truly miss it, and be grateful to it, Doctor Who's future is still undecided, with the BBC waiting to see if Disney+ — who pumped millions of pounds into the show — will renew their deal. Ratings for the sci-fi staple have plummeted since Tennant left, with overnight peak viewing figures dropping as low as 1.6million. Many fans of the show complained that it had gone 'woke'. Meanwhile, Whovians are waiting to see if Piper is really the 16th Doctor or is sidekick Rose again.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Doctor Who' finale sees Ncuti Gatwa's 15th Doctor regenerate into a very familiar face, but what does it mean for the show?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Doctor is dead. Long live the Doctor! The era of Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor came to a surprise end on Saturday night, as the Time Lord regenerated at the end of "Doctor Who" season 2 finale "The Reality War". Massive spoilers ahead if you're yet to watch "The Reality War". You have been warned!!! With Time Lord supervillain Omega dispatched without hassle, both Ranis out of the picture, and reality on the way to being restored, the Doctor gradually realises that not everything is back to normal. Poppy, his daughter with Belinda Chandra in the "Wish World" fantasy, has been erased from history, so the Time Lord decides to sacrifice himself by firing a ton of regeneration energy into the time Vortex to "jolt it one degree" — and hopefully bring her back. It goes without saying that his madcap scheme saves Poppy, as we learn that, in this rewritten timeline, the little girl was always the reason Belinda had been desperate to get back home. But arguably the biggest talking point of the episode — and, indeed, the season — is saved until last, as the Doctor regenerates into a very familiar face… That's Billie Piper, the star of "Secret Diary of a Call Girl", "I Hate Suzie", "Mansfield Park" and the upcoming second season of "Wednesday". Much more relevant right now, however, is the fact she played the Doctor's companion, Rose Tyler, alongside Christopher Eccleston's Ninth Doctor and David Tennant's Tenth Doctor during the phenomenally successful first two seasons of the show's 2005 reboot. She's set to become the second female incarnation of the Time Lord after Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor. Or the third if you count Jo Martin's Fugitive Doctor — though the explanation of how she fits into the Doctor's history is a little bit timey-wimey. After two seasons of adventuring through space and time with the Doctor, Rose was trapped in the parallel universe where the Cybus Industries had created the Cybermen. She was presumed dead back home. The Tenth Doctor subsequently used the power of a supernova to make final contact through a tiny gap in the universe, "burning up a sun just to say goodbye". During their emotional farewell, Rose told the Doctor, "I love you". "Quite right, too," he replied. "And I suppose. If it's my last chance to say it. Rose Tyler…" And then the message cut off, leaving his answer a mystery — though he definitely shed a Time Lord tear or two back on the TARDIS. That wasn't the end of Rose Tyler's story, however, because she managed to find a way back to her home universe to help the Doctor fight the Daleks in series 4 finale "The Stolen Earth"/"Journey's End". The fact she was the first of the new "Who" companions gives Rose a special place in many "Who" fans' hearts, and Piper's performance set an extremely high bar for every subsequent TARDIS sidekick. But there was always the sense that this was one Doctor/companion relationship where the affection ran both ways. The "Meta-Crisis Doctor" — a quasi-regeneration of the Tenth Doctor who was essentially human — even settled down with Rose in the aforementioned alternative universe. Rose has a particularly deep connection to the TARDIS, having looked directly into its Time Vortex in series 1 finale "Bad Wolf"/"The Parting of the Ways". This briefly transformed her into the omnipotent Bad Wolf entity, but — despite effectively becoming a god — she'd absorbed too much energy for a human body to handle. The Ninth Doctor saved Rose by absorbing the Vortex energy into himself, triggering his regeneration into the Tenth Doctor. It was also no coincidence that Rose Noble (Yasmin Finney), daughter of later Tenth Doctor companion Donna, chose Tyler's name for herself after she came out as transgender — although all of Donna's recollections of her time in the TARDIS had been wiped, some residual memories had been passed down to her daughter. That's the big mystery, though it's not the first time the Doctor has regenerated into a familiar body. Most famously, David Tennant returned to play a Fourteenth Doctor who was the spitting image of the Tenth Doctor. Meanwhile, Sixth Doctor Colin Baker had previously played Commander Maxil in Fifth Doctor story "Arc of Infinity", and Twelfth Doctor Peter Capaldi had portrayed Caecilius in Tenth Doctor story "The Fires of Pompeii". (Capaldi also appeared in "Who" spin-off "Torchwood", though the Doctor was elsewhere during the events of "Children of Earth".) "Billie once changed the whole of television, back in 2005, and now she's done it again!" showrunner Russell T Davies teased after the big Billie Piper reveal. "It's an honour and a hoot to welcome her back to the TARDIS, but quite how and why and who is a story yet to be told. After 62 years, the Doctor's adventures are only just beginning!" Another excellent question, and it would be unwise to make any assumptions — in fact, even "The Reality War"'s end titles have been engineered to add to the mystery. Although the show's post-regeneration credits have traditionally featured the line "And introducing [insert name] as the Doctor", here it simply says "And introducing Billie Piper". The omission of "as the Doctor" is unlikely to be accidental, suggesting that Davies is playing a very elaborate game with "Who" fandom. (It's also worth noting that Piper played a personification of an ancient Gallifreyan weapon of mass destruction called the Moment in the 50th anniversary special "The Day of the Doctor". In other words, there's a precedent for the star playing new and unexpected roles in "Doctor Who".) Another mystery! The BBC and Disney+ are yet to confirm if and when "Doctor Who" will return for a third season of its current iteration. Davies told Radio Times back in April that, "There's no decision until after season 2," so the powers-that-be are presumably waiting to see the latest episodes' viewing figures before making a call. Hopefully, they'll be influenced by the fact that we still don't know why the Doctor's granddaughter, Susan, has been calling out to him. It's one hell of a loose end… In the meantime, it feels appropriate to leave the final word (for now) to the Doctor-elect: "I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return to the Whoniverse as I have some of my best memories there," said Piper. "So to be given the opportunity to step back on that TARDIS one more time was just something I couldn't refuse. But who, how, why and when, you'll just have to wait and see." Every episode of "Doctor Who" season 2 is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer in the UK and Disney+ in the US. All of Billie Piper's previous adventures in the TARDIS are currently available on BBC iPlayer in the UK.
ABC News
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Why did Ncuti Gatwa leave Doctor Who, and is Billie Piper the new Doctor?
After just two seasons as the iconic Time Lord, Ncuti Gatwa is leaving Doctor Who. To the shock of fans around the world, Gatwa regenerated in the series finale over the weekend, wrapping up his tenure as the 15th Doctor and opening the door for a new actor to take his place in the TARDIS. And in an even bigger surprise, it was the face of Billie Piper — best known for playing beloved companion Rose Tyler in the 2005 and 2006 seasons — who lit up the screen. While the how and why of this new Who are yet to be revealed, hints have been dropped, and fan reactions have been everything from "heartbroken" to ecstatic. Ncuti Gatwa became beloved by the world as Eric Effiong in Netflix coming-of-age drama Sex Education. The Rwandan-Scottish actor first appeared in Doctor Who's 60th anniversary special, alongside fan favourite David Tennant. He officially took the helm in earnest in the 2023 Christmas special, and the eight-episode series that followed. Featuring drag-queen villains and the Doctor's first gay kiss, the series was fun, imaginative and unafraid to confront the first black Doctor's race head-on. It was also the series' first collaboration with Disney, who acquired the global streaming rights in 2022. The reaction to the show becoming "woke" was swift, and Gatwa has received racist and homophobic backlash since the day he was announced in the role of The Doctor. But diehard fans were quick to point out that the series had always been progressive, and had amassed a legion of queer fans. From flirty queer icon Captain Jack Harkness in the 00s seasons to the changing role of female companions throughout the 60s and 70s, Doctor Who has always reflected the Zeitgeist. "I think that diversity has always been a part of Doctor Who," Gatwa told ABC Entertainment in April. "I think he's always explored social issues, and has travelled everywhere. "It's a universe where there's like, green lizard people walking around, so it's definitely part of Doctor Who to have everyone on screen." Rumours of the 31-year-old being "axed" for being the "wokest ever" Doctor ran rampant even before his second season aired. "I don't really know what the headlines are doing," he said at the season's launch. "I try to stay committed to the task at hand and just do my job. At the end of the day, it's all I can do." Meanwhile, the BBC fervently denied the claims: "Whilst we never comment on the future of the Doctor, any suggestion that Ncuti Gatwa has been 'axed' is pure fiction." Gatwa has since revealed it was always his plan to leave the role after just 18 months, alluding to the intense scrutiny as well as a desire to work on other projects. "It's a role that demands a lot of you, physically and emotionally and mentally. The actors playing The Doctor are only actors playing The Doctor; unfortunately, we are mere mortals. "I would love to have the energy and the youth to be able to do this full time for the rest of my life, but my knees are telling me it's time," he joked. Among fan communities, Gatwa was an overwhelmingly popular fixture, with "heartbroken" viewers expressing anger at his treatment and portrayal, directing anger at longtime showrunner Russell T Davies (RTD). Davies was behind the show's modern revamp from 2005 to 2010, taking a 13-year hiatus before returning for Gatwa's era in 2023. "Overshadowed and underused at every turn by RTD, given no chance to prove himself as The Doctor, and now he's leaving after only [19] stories," one fan wrote. "His introduction was about David Tennant and now his exit is about Billie Piper." Others called his quick tenure "disrespectful", and lamented him being the only Doctor not to face the show's iconic Cybermen or Daleks. "Ncuti Gatwa's brilliance as an actor was the saving grace of a lot of disjointed storytelling … I was beyond captivated by him and it meant the world to me for him to be The Doctor and so unapologetically himself. I'll miss him," one fan wrote. Viewers were also left disgruntled by the season's new companion Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu), who was seen as a strong but under-utilised addition. "Belinda Chandra. A character with so much potential — compassionate, uncertain, a little bit spiky, competent in a new and interesting way, compellingly distrustful of the Doctor," fan magazine Den of Geek said. "Potential that has, at this point, been mostly wasted." Chandra's role was overshadowed by returning predecessor Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) in the finale, and with Billie Piper set to return, her place moving forward seems uncertain. Billie Piper was integral to the relaunch of Doctor Who in 2005, starring alongside Christopher Eccleston and then David Tennant as 19-year-old Rose Tyler, a shop assistant living in a council flat with her mum. After two seasons of adventures with the Time Lord, Rose became trapped in a parallel universe, indefinitely separated from The Doctor. But, of course, Piper has made numerous guest appearances since then, last appearing in the 2013 50th anniversary special. While The Doctor usually regenerates into another version of himself, it seems that something timey-wimey occurred in the 2025 finale, and that Piper is more likely to return to her role of Rose. In an episode that also saw Jodie Whittaker reprise her role as the Time Lord, the credits stipulate: "Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor. Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor. And introducing Billie Piper." Piper also took to Instagram to express her excitement about returning to the TARDIS, posing with a white rose and the caption: "A rose is a rose is a rose." The news has received mixed reactions from fans. While some are calling it "nostalgia bait" solely "to boost ratings", others are "here for" the return of their "favourite companion". Amid rumours of the show's cancellation, it's unclear how long fans will have to wait for a new episode, but the BBC appear to have confirmed its longevity, releasing a media statement quoting Russell T Davies: "After 62 years, the Doctor's adventures are only just beginning."
