'Doctor Who' Pulls Shock Change as Lead Actor Makes Unexpected Exit

Newsweek

2 days ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Long-running sci-fi franchise Doctor Who will make a shocking change as lead actor Ncuti Gatwa exits the series after just two seasons in the lead role, with the BBC tapping fan-favorite Billie Piper to return once again, but this time as the Doctor...or is she?
Why It Matters
Doctor Who premiered in 1963 and ran continuously until 1989, at which point it went on hiatus before a major and high-profile revamp in 2005 led by writer Russell T. Davies. The franchise has remained fresh throughout its many iterations due to the main character, The Doctor, "regenerating" - i.e. turning into an entirely new person after fatal incidents that would normally kill them.
Fourteen actors have held the role as a numbered Doctor, with David Tennant the only actor to play the role twice, as the Tenth and Fourteenth Doctors, and the late John Hurt playing the "War Doctor" in a special 50th anniversary special celebrating the franchise.
Gatwa is the first non-white actor to hold the title role, following on from Jodie Whittaker's turn as the first female Doctor, and Jo Martin's four episodes as the "Fugitive Doctor," making her the second woman and first Black woman to hold the role, although not as the principle Doctor.
What to Know
The BBC announced Gatwa's departure from Doctor Who on Saturday following months of rumors that the actor would look to exit after just two seasons, marking the second-shortest stint in the role after Christopher Eccleston's one season as the Ninth Doctor, not counting Paul McGann, who was the Eighth Doctor in a TV movie, Hurt's "War Doctor," and Martin's "Fugitive Doctor."
However, the more shocking element of the announcement is that Gatwa will be replaced by another returning face: Fan-favorite and former sidekick Billie Piper, who played the Doctor's companion Rose Tyler over two seasons, with two subsequent appearances. Piper will be the third woman to hold the role - if confirmed she is actually the Doctor.
Piper made her debut in Saturday's finale in the current season, appearing at the very end as Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor regenerated. The BBC teased a mystery behind the major twist, writing in a press release: "Just how and why she [Billie Piper] is back remains to be seen..."
The finale credits read: "Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor. Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor. And introducing Billie Piper," which leaves it a mystery as to whether she will actually be the Sixteenth Doctor, though fans may see this as a distinction without a difference depending how the show portrays it.
Piper, a former pop star who later turned to acting, has enjoyed a successful career on TV and stage, including her headline-grabbing role as sex worker Belle de Jour in Secret Diary of a Call Girl.
In a press release published on the BBC website, the agency wrote that "there is still uncertainty about when the drama will return," with no decision made on commissioning the next season until the current season ends its broadcast, which occurred on Saturday.
Following a relatively lackluster run under head writer Chris Chibnall, the BBC sought to revive interest in the franchise by bringing back Davies as showrunner. Davies pulled Tennant back into the role as the Fourteenth Doctor for three TV specials, followed by Gatwa's tenure.
The BBC co-produced the last two seasons of the show with Disney+, which also broadcast the show internationally and helped the show expand its budget.
Discussions about whether that partnership will continue remain under discussion and "are likely to take some time," according to the BBC.
"For a new series to be ready for 2026, production would need to get under way relatively soon. So at the moment a new series or a special starring Billie Piper before 2027 looks unlikely," the BBC wrote in its press release.
The BBC directed Newsweek to the statement on its website when asked for comment on Saturday.
Ncuti Gatwa attends the 2025 Met Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5 in New York City.
Ncuti Gatwa attends the 2025 Met Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5 in New York City.What People Are Saying
Ncuti Gatwa in the BBC press release said: "You know when you get cast, at some point you are going to have to hand back that sonic screwdriver and it is all going to come to an end, but nothing quite prepares you for it. This journey has been one that I will never forget, and a role that will be part of me forever. There are no words to describe what it feels like to be cast as the Doctor, nor are there words to explain what it feels like to be accepted into this iconic role that has existed for over 60 years and is truly loved by so many across the globe.
"The fans are truly the final character and beating heart of this show and I can't thank the Whoniverse, and the Whovians, enough for welcoming me in, and making this such a touching experience," Gatwa added. "I've loved every minute of it, but now is the time to hand over the keys to that beloved blue 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 to it, and everyone that has played a part in my journey as the Doctor."
Russell T. Davies in the BBC press release said: "What a Doctor! Thank you, Ncuti! As his final words say, this has been an absolute joy, and the team in Cardiff and everyone who has worked on this show for the past few years, are so lucky to have been part of Ncuti's great adventure as he shoots off to stratospheric new heights."
Billie Piper in the BBC press release said: "It's no secret how much 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, 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."