For the first time in the history of BBC’s classic science fiction program, fans saw a doctor morphing into a former incarnation.
“Whittaker unexpectedly regenerated into Tennant at the end of the 90-minute special The Power of the Doctor.” – BBC.
It has been confirmed that Tennant, who previously played the role between 2005 and 2010, has officially returned to the long-running and immensely popular series as the 14th Doctor.
“What a lovely, lovely thing to get to revisit something that was such a wonderful, happy, significant time in my life,” David told BBC News.
“You move on from it with a whole mixture of emotions,” he said, speaking of his exit from the series in 2010.
“And one of those is sadness and regret. So to be able to revisit that and to get another shot was a total joy from start to finish.”
The first episode of the series premiered in November 1963 and is based on the adventures of a Time Lord known as The Doctor, an extraterrestrial who’s apparently human.
The 51-year-old Scottish actor temporarily reprised his role in the series and will appear in three episodes along with Catherine Tate.
“Doctor Who runs through my life,” said David. “As if through a stick of rock really. It’s a show that I loved as a small child, I grew up obsessed with it. I went to get [fourth Doctor] Tom Baker’s autograph in Glasgow, John Menzies.”
He said that he didn’t think he’d return to the show but now that he does, he is very thrilled and excited.
“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 we’ve got to tell.”
According to Variety, the showrunner Russell T. Davies said, “If you thought the appearance of David Tennant was a shock, we’ve got plenty more surprises on the way.”
“The path to Ncuti’s 15th Doctor is laden with mystery, horror, robots, puppets, danger, and fun. And how is it connected to the return of the wonderful Donna Noble? How, what, why? We’re giving you a year to speculate, and then all hell lets loose.”
American actress Yasmin Finney also joined the cast of the sci-fi series to play a special character, Rose. It was also announced in May 2022 that the How I Met Your Mother alum Neil Patrick Harris will also play a new mystery character.
“Life on ‘Doctor Who’ gets brighter and wilder, how can there be another Rose? You’ll find out in 2023, but it’s an absolute joy to welcome Yasmin to the ‘Doctor Who’ set. We all fell in love with her in ‘Heartstopper,’ one of those shows which changes the world – and now Yasmin can change the Whoniverse,” said Tennant.
Speaking of his character’s relationship with Donna Noble, that will be played by Catherine Tate, who’s also returning to the show, the actor said,
“Of course, there’s a big mystery there. Because she’s, as eagle-eyed viewers will know, when we last left Donna Noble, she could not remember the Doctor’s existence, or her brain would melt. So there’s a bit of an issue there.”
After the regeneration episode, fans of the show went wild by watching David Tennant on their screens.
“I started crying,” one wrote on Twitter.
“OMFG THE DOCTOR ACTUALLY REGENERATED INTO DAVID TENNANT HE’S BACK AS THE DOCTOR I HAVE CHILLS,” wrote another.
“GOODBYE, JODIE WHITTAKER! THE BEST DOCTOR IS HERE AGAIN! WELCOME BACK DAVID TENNANT!” exclaimed another.
What are your thoughts on David Tennant’s return to the series? Let us know in comments.
