Doctor WHO? Billie Piper makes sensational return to BBC sci-fi show after twelve years replacing Ncuti Gatwa as THE Doctor

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

Billie Piper has replaced Ncuti Gatwa as Doctor Who, with the character regenerating during the BBC show's season finale.
Piper, 42, first starred as the companion to the ninth Doctor in 2005, playing Rose Tyler alongside Christopher Eccleston's Time Lord.
She will now be the second woman to take on the role as the Time Lord after Jodie Whittaker portrayed the 13th doctor.
Piper replaces Gatwa, who leaves Doctor Who after two seasons in the science-fiction series.
The actor's time on the long-running programme came to an end as The Reality War episode brought this season to a close on Saturday.
The two-part season finale saw the Doctor face the Rani in a battle to save the world after making the decision to safe the life of one little girl.
As he bid farewell to companion Belinda Chandra, played by Varada Sethu, he said: 'I hope you'll see me again, but not like this.'
The finale also saw Whittaker, the 13th doctor, make a guest appearance as Gatwa's Doctor appeared to be travelling through alternate universes.
In a statement released by the BBC, Ncuti Gatwa 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.
'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.'
Reacting to the news Piper 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.'
After Doctor Who was broadcast, Billie Piper posted on Instagram 'A rose is a rose is a rose !!!' with images from her previous time on the show playing the Doctor's companion Rose Tyler.
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies 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.'
The news comes after it was revealed Gatwa would exit the show after just two series as woke storylines saw ratings for the much-loved show plunge it was revealed last week
The news comes after it was revealed Gatwa would exit the show after just two series as woke storylines saw ratings for the much-loved show plunge it was revealed last week.
The BBC programme is also said to have been paused for an extended break amid criticism about recent plots involving non-binary aliens, incels and even a pregnant male extra-terrestrial.
A small number of social media critics have pointed to the diversity of the cast, a drag queen villain, and introduction of transgender and non-binary characters.
However, both Davies and Gatwa have strongly dismissed this criticism as from a minority, with Davies telling BBC Radio 2's 20 Secrets From 20 Years: 'Someone always brings up matters of diversity.
'And there are online warriors accusing us of diversity and wokeness and involving messages and issues.
'And I have no time for this. I don't have a second to bear (it). Because what you might call diversity, I just call an open door.'
Gatwa told Attitude magazine in 2024 that the hateful comments the sci-fi show has received after casting a black man is 'fascinating, because there's so much energy they're putting into it ... I think they need to go find a hobby is one thing'.
During his time, he has had companions in the form of Andor actress Varada Sethu, and former Coronation Street actress Millie Gibson, who played Gatwa's companion Ruby Sunday since the 2023 Christmas episode The Church On Ruby Road.
Highlights of his two series have included a Regency-themed episode that saw him have a burgeoning romance with the character Rogue, played by Mindhunter actor Jonathan Groff, the explosive Boom episode and the arrival of the classic Time Lord villain, the Rani.
In a video posted to BBCiPlayer's Instagram, Ncuti, in costume reveals he feels 'complete' knowing that he has finished his role as the Doctor.
He added: 'You know it's going to happen when you get cast. Your'e like "I'm gonna have to hand this baton over one time, it's all going to come to an end soon", so I feel like I've been in constant preparation for that.'
Rumours of Gatwa's departure came after his sudden withdrawal from presenting the UK's Eurovision jury scores earlier this month after Israel, represented by a October 7 survivor, made the final. Ncuti has been vocal in his support for Palestine.
A TV insider reportedly said: 'If the final nail wasn't already in the coffin, it was well and truly hammered in after that.
'Bosses were incredibly disappointed. Ncuti, as the Doctor, is one of the corporation's most high-profile faces'.
Following Gatwa's departure, former Doctor Who side-kick Rose Tyler, played by Piper, is set to take over.
Piper starred as Rose opposite Christopher Ecclestone's Ninth Doctor when the show was revived by Russell T Davies in 2005.
She went onto star alongside David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor in the second series, leaving viewers in floods of tears with her heartbreaking exit in finale episode Doomsday.
The I Hate Suzie star went onto return as Rose Tyler for Who's fourth series, and the show's 50th Anniversary Special in 2013, and will be working with Ecclestone once again for a new audio series in August to celebrate the show's 20th anniversary marking since the first the pair have worked together on the series for 20 years.
Discussing the 12 hour-long audio episodes in February, Billie said: 'I can't think of a better time for Rose to reunite with her first Doctor than now.
'Twenty years after she first ran into the TARDIS and towards adventure, here we are again, me and Chris, ready to have fun facing the universe – and the monsters – together.'
A description of the pair's new adventures says the Doctor's past 'returns to haunt him' and 'enemies old and new are waiting'.
Chris, 61, who only played The Doctor for a single series, went onto say he's equally happy to be back starring alongside Billie again.
Doctor Who was watched by around 2.5milion earlier this month- around 2million fewer people than the numbers watching when Jodie Whittaker, the previous Time Lord, was on the show until 2022.
But this is still a tiny fraction of the sort of interest it used to attract. At its peak it was watched by around 13million on a Saturday night in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Last year Gatwa told his critics: 'Don't watch. Turn off the TV', adding: 'I feel like anyone that has a problem with someone who's not a straight white man playing this character, you're not really, truly a fan of the show'.
The changing face of Doctor Who: Every actor who has played the Time Lord
1. William Hartnell - 1963 to 1966
William Hartnell played the iconic Time Lord in his first incarnation, as he crashed to Earth with his granddaughter Susan after being 'exiled' from their planet Gallifrey.
He was initially portrayed as a stubborn old man but a softer side was later shown to him in his compassion as a grandfather and towards his companions.
The initial appearance of the doctor was very different to the modern episodes, with black-and-white filming and shaky effects.
Hartnell's time as the Doctor also saw the first appearances of the Daleks and the Cybermen but years of travel took their toll on the aging Doctor and he collapsed in the TARDIS, leading to the second incarnation.
The First Doctor sadly suffered through ill health while filming, ultimately forcing him to retire from acting. He passed away in 1975, aged 67.
2. Patrick Troughton - 1966 to 1969
Patrick Troughton's Doctor was in stark contrast to his predecessor, and was outwardly scruffy and light-hearted.
In the second incarnation, fans met with new enemies such as the Great Intelligence and the Ice Warriors.
This time also saw the debut of classic series mainstay Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart (or the Brigadier), when he met the Doctor in the tunnels of the London Underground.
The Second Doctor's time came to an end when the TARDIS landed in the middle of a war-zone, created by a race of alien warlords.
He was able to defeat the plot but was forced to regenerate due to breaking laws of non-interference.
Troughton passed away in 1987 after suffering a fatal heart attack.
3. Jon Pertwee - 1970 to 1974
Many modern-day fans will also know Pertwee for his role in Worzel Gummidge and his Doctor was more prone to action that his predecessors.
After his exile to Earth was lifted, he and his companions travelled to all corners of the universe, along with meeting journalist Sarah Jane Smith.
This era also the first ever multi-Doctor crossover, as the Third Doctor met his two previous selves.
It saw the introduction of prehistoric villains The Silurians and The Autons, who appeared in the first episode of the 2005 reboot series.
Eventually Pertwee's Doctor regenerated following a nasty encounter with The Green Death.
Pertwee is sadly also no longer with us and passed away in 1996.
4. Tom Baker - 1974 to 1981
With his mass of curled hair and legendary striped scarf, Tom Baker was both the longest-serving Classic era Doctor and its most iconic, partly due to his partnership with Sarah Jane, played by the late Elizabeth Sladen.
Tom - now 84 - is also known to younger fans as the narrator for comedy sketch series Little Britain.
5. Peter Davison - 1981 to 1984
Peter's Doctor was dressed as a cricketer and his personality tended towards being indecisive - although he had a vulnerable side.
Even though popularity for the show dwindled through this era, the Doctor and his companion Adric (Matthew Waterhouse) are fondly remembered.
A heart-wrenching scene also saw the first major death of the series, when Adric died trying to stop a space freighter from crashing into prehistoric Earth.
6. Colin Baker - 1984 to 1986
Colin Baker's time as the sharp-tongued Doctor was a turbulent period, with the actor's early dismissal as ratings plummeted leading to a slightly awkward regeneration scene.
After the TARDIS was attacked by villainous Time Lady scientist The Rani, the Sixth Doctor was left injured and regenerated, though his death was never played out on-screen.
In addition, the Doctor was never reunited with his companion Peri (Nicola Bryant).
7. Sylvester McCoy - 1987 to 1989
The Doctor headed into his seventh incarnation with his signature cane and punctuation-printed vest while, as now-EastEnders star Bonnie Langford took on the role of dizzy companion Mel Bush.
However McCoy's tenure in the TARDIS came to an abrupt end when BBC axed the show in 1989.
8. Paul McGann - 1996 and 2013
After a near-decade off-screen Doctor Who was brought back as a TV movie in an American co-production, with Paul McGann taking on the leading role.
This film saw The Master (played here by Eric Roberts) trying to steal the Doctor's remaining lives by opening the Eye of Harmony the TARDIS, which nearly destroyed the Earth.
Luckily, the Doctor and his companion Dr Grace Holloway (Daphne Ashbrook) prevent the Earth's destruction, leading the Master is sucked into the Eye.
It was in this film that fans saw their first glimpse at what a romance between the Doctor and his companion could look like, as they shared a firework-lit kiss in the closing scenes which infuriated fans at the time.
9. Christopher Eccleston - 2005
The series was an instant hit as Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) teamed up with Eccleston's version of The Doctor, this time a leather jacket-clad man with a Northern accent because 'lots of planets have a North!'
A drastic change for the series at this point was the absence of Gallifrey, which had been destroyed - off-screen - in a Time War with the Daleks.
The Daleks took centre stage in this new series with a scary gold exterior, and an explosive finale saw thousands of the alien robots try to conquer a futuristic version of Earth under the leadership of their Emperor.
Sadly Eccleston's tenure in the TARDIS was brief - largely due to reports of disagreements behind the scenes - but his regeneration proved epic, kissing Rose to absorb the TARDIS vortex and save her life.
10. David Tennant - 2005 to 2010
Ask most Doctor Who fans, and they would predominantly name David Tennant as their favourite Doctor and fans became invested in his feelings for Rose Tyler.
It was also the birth of his famous partnership with Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) which saw hilarious banter between 10 and companion.
Ten's exit also saw Russell T Davies step down as showrunner and his closing scenes saw the fan-favourite alone in the TARDIS saying 'I don't want to go' before bursting into regeneration, with viewers of more than 11 million struggling to hold back their tears.
11. Matt Smith - 2010 to 2013
Matt, 27, made for the youngest-ever Doctor as he had big shoes to fill, while Stephen Moffatt took on the reins of show-running.
Known as the 'raggedy Doctor', fears were soon gone as Eleven's sprightly nature and signature bow tie won over fans in a heartbeat alongside companion Amelia Pond.
He stepped down after four years after saying it was long enough in the role.
12. Peter Capaldi - 2013 to 2017
Fans felt the show headed back to its classic roots during Twelve's era as Scottish actor Peter took on the role.
The character was capricious and spiky but became more compassionate over time.
Fans grew to love the friendship between the older Doctor and his companion Clara (Jenna Coleman) while the show's first ever gay companion was introduced in the form of Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie)
13. Jodie Whittaker - 2017 to 2022
Jodie Whittaker took on the then-controversial role of the first-ever female Doctor.
The actress, 41, has portrayed the eponymous Time Lord on-screen for four years, and bowed out of the sci-fi series in her last episode in October 2022. However, the role and the show's script were criticised throughout her tenure.
Her departure featured in the episode The Power Of The Doctor, which even saw a brief return of David Tennant.
14. Ncuti Gatwa - 2023 to present
Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa is making history as the first-ever black actor to take on the role of the Doctor.
He will be taking on the iconic role from Christmas Day onwards after his first appearance in the 60th anniversary episode, in which the Doctor 'bi-generated', meaning there were two versions at the same time.
He is set to cross paths with new companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) for the first time.
Some fans have lamented some of the programme's best loved villains being given 'woke' facelifts as well as the introduction of a pregnant male alien, for example.
Some fuming 'Whovians' were outraged at the introduction of transgender and non-binary characters who would lash out at those 'assuming their gender', as well as a deranged villain played by a drag queen.
While Doctor Who has been battling falling ratings and outrage over 'woke' storylines, Piper's star has been rising and rising.
In August last year she starred in the ' bonkers' dark-comedy Kaos opposite Jeff Goldblum.
The eight-episode series from The End of the F***ing World creator Charlie Covell has left experts impressed with it's modern take on Greek mythology.
While it was not reprised for a second series by Netflix it was widely praised by critics.
And in 2023 Piper wowed in Netflix's Scoop which followed the famous - and disastrous - 2019 BBC Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew.
Piper starred as Sam McAllister, the BBC producer who secured the interview.
The prominent interview was carried out over a 58-minute programme, with Prince Andrew, Duke of York interviewed by journalist Emily Maitlis about his relationship with the American convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
While Secret Diary of a Call Girl actress has been keeping busy, her Doctor who predecessor has been mired in controversy.
There was some anger as the announcement Rwandan-Scottish actor Ncuti had withdrawn from presenting Eurovision came moments after Israel's Yuval Raphael - a survivor of the October 7 attacks - qualified for the final with her song New Day Will Rise. She ended up finishing second to Austria last Saturday. Sophie Ellis-Bextor stepped in for him.
The TV source told The Sun: 'His withdrawal was incredibly embarrassing. It caps what has been a largely depressing tenure in the Tardis for Ncuti.'
Since Doctor Who, Gatwa has been in a re-imagined version of Oscar Wilde's The Importance Of Being Earnest at the National Theatre, and is set to be in West End play Born With Teeth - which re-imagines the relationship between rival playwrights Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare.
He has also been in the Second World War show Masters Of The Air with Austin Butler and Barry Keoghan, and the upcoming The Roses with two-time Oscar nominee Benedict Cumberbatch, and Academy Award-winner Olivia Colman.
Gatwa rose to fame first in Netflix's Sex Education, but his path to success has been a long and winding one, with struggles with depression and homelessness, before landing the role of a lifetime and a dream for thousands of young actors.
Born in Rwanda before moving to Scotland, where he was raised, Gatwa began his career as an extra on the 2014 sitcom Bob Servant.
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In 2016, he played Demetrius in a production of A Midsummer's Nights Dream at Shakespeare's Globe, before his big break came when he was cast in Sex Education as Eric Effiong, a young gay British-Nigerian who is best friends with Otis, the show's lead character.
The Netflix show, which ran from 2019 until 2023, documented Eric's growth as he deals with his family's acceptance of his sexuality while he embraces his Nigerian heritage.
However, Gatwa's rise, which led to him being cast in the 2023 blockbuster Barbie, has been far from plain sailing.
Writing in The Big Issue in May 2020, he said he ended up homeless after running out of savings in the months before he landed his role in Sex Education.
'Being a 25-year-old man with no money or job affected my sense of self-worth,' he wrote.
'Rejection became unbearable. Auditions weren't just acting jobs, they were lifelines.'
He continued: 'One friend gave me money towards paying off the prior month's rent and offered to let me move into their spare room rent free for a while.
'"Great, I thought. An opportunity to get back on my feet and start paying people back."
After hearing the news fans took to social media to share their shock and sadness at the announcement
'On moving-in day, he changed his mind. As I was standing on the street with my suitcases, one thought came into my head: "I'm homeless".'
While everything appeared fine to the outside world, Gatwa was losing weight because he could not afford to eat properly.
'To the outside world everything seemed fine. I was temping at Harrods,' he wrote.
'I'd wake up from the double bed I shared with my best friend, leave the house without a hair out of place in a slick-looking trench coat and polished brogues.
'I would get compliments for looking so presentable. When I lost weight due to eating only one meal a day, people told me how lean and healthy I looked.'
In reality, Gatwa had developed depression, though he kept it from his friends out of fear of being a 'burden', and later worked through the mental health condition.
After hearing the news fans took to social media to share their shock and sadness at the announcement.
Underneath a video posted to the BBC's Instagram, Whovians wrote: 'Ncuti you were amazing I loved everything about your portrayal of the Dr. So very sad you're going but no doubt you will carry on being a superstar', and 'You deserved more time. I think u were fantastic.'
Some said they were happy about Piper returning to the show but had wanted Gatwa to stay on.
They commented: 'Absolutely heartbreaking! He didn't have enough time. Idc if I'm an adult I'm genuinely sad about this. Love Billie but why would he go already, I'm heartbroken!'.
Others wrote: 'I'm crying, I'm gonna miss him so much', 'I miss you so much already.' and 'I'm actually crying right now im going to miss him so much'.