Billie Piper Recalls 'Very Last-Minute' Invite For ‘Doctor Who' Return: 'Really Fun To Film'
Following the Season 15 finale of the rebooted BBC One/Disney+ series, in which the Ncuti Gatwa's 15th Doctor regenerates to take the form of Piper's Rose Tyler, the actress recently recalled how she came to return to the TARDIS.
More from Deadline
Ncuti Gatwa Bids 'Bittersweet' Farewell To 'Doctor Who' After Two Seasons: 'Time To Hand Over The Keys To That Beloved Blue Box'
BBC Pledges To Be 'Mindful' Of Spoilers After Irate Viewers Complain About 'Doctor Who' Reveal
BBC Faces Pressure To Pull Last Season Of 'MasterChef' Featuring Wallace & Torode Before August 6 Launch Date
'This is such a minefield, I have to really engage with how I answer this,' she said at Florida Supercon. 'All I can say is, I was approached very last-minute, and I can't talk about in what capacity, but I found it very emotional to film, and I think it's a really great ending.'
Noting she had to keep the finale twist a secret, Piper explained, 'I just found it quite moving, and it was really fun to film because it had such a sort of cloak-and-dagger feeling about getting it made. So, yeah, I have to lie a lot about anything to do with Doctor Who, it seems.'
Since her original run in the first two seasons from 2005 to 2006, Piper has reprised the role of Rose on several occasions, most recently being the 2013 episode 'The Day of the Doctor', as well as the podcast series Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor Adventures in 2017.
Following Piper's return in the May finale of Season 15 (Season 2 under Disney's leadership), Gatwa announced his exit from the show, explaining that the role was a 'real pleasure and honor,' but the departure 'felt like the right timing and the right energy, and it's felt melancholic and bittersweet.'
'It was always the plan to do this amount of seasons, because it's a role that demands a lot of you, physically and emotionally and mentally,' said Gatwa in a behind-the-scenes featurette. 'The actors playing the Doctor are only actors playing the Foctor; 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.'
Doctor Who has not yet been renewed for Season 3 at Disney+ and BBC.
Best of Deadline
2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery
2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery
2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Emmys, Oscars, Grammys & More
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Alcopops are back in fashion, says Smirnoff Ice owner
The maker of Smirnoff Ice and Guinness has said alcopops are back in vogue as young people start to drink more alcohol after years of abstinence. Nik Jhangiani, interim chief executive of Diageo, said there was a 'huge opportunity' to win over Generation Z as it noted a boom in demand for premixed cocktails and alcopops. He said Gen Z customers who were drinking for the first time were doing so by consuming spirits and pre-made cocktails, reversing a previous trend where younger generations were introduced to alcohol through beer. It comes after data from drinks experts IWSR showed that 73pc of Gen Z have consumed alcohol in the previous six months, compared with 66pc two years ago. Ready-to-drink cocktails such as BuzzBallz have surged in popularity in recent months, with the brand one of the fastest growing drinks ranges in the UK. The drinks, which became popular after going viral on TikTok, are known for their brightly coloured packaging and quirky names such as Lotta Colada and Watermelon Smash. Mr Jhangiani said Diageo was seeing more young people buying spirits, with the drinks giant well placed to 'offer a huge range of choices' including more flavours and calorie choices. He said Diageo had once been a leader in alcopops with its Smirnoff Ice brand, adding that the company would 'rightfully have the ability to gain that [position] back', with plans to boost sales of Smirnoff Ice drinks again. The company launched a new advertising campaign for the brand across more than 20 countries in June. Diageo has also previously credited younger people, particularly women, for boosting sales of Guinness. Mr Jhangiani's comments came as profits fell 28pc to $4.3bn (£3.2bn) in the year to July compared with a year earlier as it said it would take a $200m hit from Donald Trump's tariff war. The company is also battling a slowdown in consumer spending. Diageo said on Tuesday it would ramp up a cost-cutting programme to revive the business, removing $625m (£470m) of costs over the next three years, $125m higher than previously planned. Last month, Diageo appointed Mr Jhangiana as its new interim chief executive, after abruptly parting ways with previous boss Debra Crew. Diageo shares rose as much as 6pc as investors were buoyed by the cost-saving plans. 登入存取你的投資組合
CNET
27 minutes ago
- CNET
'Lilo & Stitch' Gets a Streaming Release Date on Disney Plus
Disney is set to welcome one of its most beloved characters to its streaming home on Disney Plus with the arrival of Lilo & Stitch next month. The live-action release has raked in just over $1 billion at the box office and will make its way to your TV screen, finding a seat next to its animated predecessor on the streaming platform. Lilo & Stitch revisits the original story of 6-year-old Lilo, a Hawaiian girl being cared for by her older sister Nani, and Stitch, a little blue fugitive alien. Their paths cross when Lilo adopts him as her pet dog, and they soon learn he's no ordinary creature but an extraterrestrial named Experiment 626 on the run. He's chaotic, mischievous and a little unpredictable, but he's also the best friend Lilo never had. Standing in the way of them fully becoming o'hana (family) are social services, who doubt Nani's abilities as a caretaker, and Peakley and Jumba, Galactic Federation representatives trying to capture Stitch and take him back to Planet Turo. If you're a fan of the animated adventure Lilo & Stitch but haven't watched this version yet, read on to learn when you can stream the movie on Disney Plus. Lilo & Stitch streaming release date Catch a wave to the shores and sands of Hawai'i when Lilo & Stitch hits Disney Plus on Wednesday, Sept. 3. Make it a double feature and watch this live-action take along with the animated version on the platform.
Forbes
28 minutes ago
- Forbes
Billie Eilish Hits A Rare Albums Chart Milestone
Billie Eilish adds another show of longevity to her already impressive list of wins this week as one of her most celebrated releases hits a landmark that only a relatively small number of albums ever come close to. More than three years after its release, Happier Than Ever is still connecting with listeners in the United Kingdom in a big way, and this frame is a special one for the Grammy-nominated set. Happier Than Ever Hits 150 Weeks This week, Happier Than Ever dips to No. 49 on the Official Albums chart, slipping from No. 35. As it declines outside the top 40, it reaches 150 weeks on the ranking of the most consumed full‑lengths in the U.K. Eilish first debuted the set at No. 1, and since then, it has remained a consistent performer in the country. Billie Eilish's Third Release to Stay This Long Happier Than Ever is Eilish's third release to live on the main albums chart for at least 150 weeks. Her debut full‑length, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, has racked up 259 weeks on the tally, while her breakout EP Don't Smile at Me has reached 247 stays. Happier Than Ever Rises on Some Rankings While Happier Than Ever declines on the main albums and streaming charts, it climbs on several other lists across the pond this week. The project improves to No. 31 on the Official Albums Sales chart, up from No. 46, and jumps to No. 30 on the Official Physical Albums ranking, rising from No. 42. It has previously peaked at No. 1 on nearly every major U.K. albums list, but it did miss the summit on the streaming tally by just one slot. Billie Eilish's Catalog Benefits From Her Tour All of Eilish's full‑lengths are currently charting in the U.K., and they recently surged as her ongoing Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour visited the nation. Hit Me Hard and Soft and When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? remain on the Official Albums chart and appear on several other rankings at the same time. Singles like 'Birds of a Feather' and 'Wildflower' are also holding on across various lists, powering her latest full-length, which she's promoting on her global trek.
