Billie Piper reveals major change for Doctor Who two decades after her debut
Billie Piper has said making Doctor Who now would be 'completely different' to when she first appeared on the BBC show 20 years ago.
The 42-year-old joined as Rose Tyler, the companion to Christopher Eccleston, back in 2005. She remained on the show for another series in 2006 and returned for a special cameo appearance in 2010.
Though details have yet to formally be announced, it's thought she will be the next Doctor if a new series is made. It comes after Ncuti Gatwa's shock exit during the finale of the latest series when his character regenerated into Billie in his final episode, which aired in May.
If she is, Billie will make history as the second female actor ever to play the Doctor. So far, Jodie Whittaker is the only female to take on the iconic role. But before that, Billie is set to reunite with former Doctor Ecclestone for a new audio drama titled The Ninth Doctor Adventures.
Speaking to Doctor Who magazine, Billie reflected on their previous time working together and said: "If we just made the Doctor Who that we made 20 years ago now, it would feel slightly disingenuous, because things were so different then, even 20 years ago, to what we're experiencing, what we've seen, what we've been exposed to since.
"God, we were so much more positive then. People have been profoundly affected by the material they see on social media. And it's been so normalised; everyone is a lot more heavy-hearted."
She added: "It's not to say that we don't have a capacity for joy, because I think we absolutely do, but to ignore where we are right now... it's a completely different experience."
Instead, The Ninth Doctor Adventures audio series will feature the Doctor and Rose. Set within the timeline of their original season together from 20 years ago, fans will be treated to 12 new stories.
And it might not be long before Billie is back on TV screens. Appearing to confirm she is the new Doctor, she said in a statement last month: "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."
Asked if she would ever make a comeback in an interview filmed weeks before the news was officially announced, she said: "Yeah I would… I would come back. What's funny is that I never feel like I've left Doctor Who, because there is this huge Doctor Who afterlife."
She continued: "Obviously people still really want to talk about it, it's a massive fandom, so we do conventions and we meet lots of the fans, and there's always features. It's always on the TV on some channel, and a new generation pick it up, so it never feels like it's over, like it does with all the other jobs I've done."
It's been reported that the 10th Doctor, played by David Tennant, could also return to the TV show. A source told The Sun: "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.
'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."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
BBC star Ore Oduba admits he's been an addict all his life as he comes clean
TV presenter and former Strictly Come Dancing star Ore Oduba has shared a lengthy message as he celebrates over a year of sobriety and says he doesn't recognise his former self Ore Oduba is celebrating being "sober" for over a year after admitting he "spent most of [his] life as an addict". The TV presenter, 39, described how he had lived with addiction "silently, secretly for decades", confessing that his life may have been "ruined" if he had not been diagnosed or had not sought therapy. Now, as he confirms he hopes to share the details of his addiction publicly one day, he has said he doesn't recognise his former self. Taking to Instagram, the former Strictly Come Dancing star shared a snap of himseld sitting on a train seat with his left hand facing upwards as it covered his mouth and nose. He captioned the upload: "Until recently, I had spent most of my life as an addict. Shame was into woven into my addictive behaviours, they went hand-in-hand. "Through therapy and finally admitting to myself that I'd suffered from addiction pretty much my entire life I'm so happy to share I've been 'sober' for over a year. If that is indeed how to describe my case." He went on:"Despite living with it silently, secretly for decades.. undiagnosed and untreated it might well in the end have ruined my life. Funnily enough I didn't recognise the timing until I started reading this unbelievable book by @annaliehowling 'UNAPOLOGETIC'. "I devoured it in a day... And while her expertise is on shame, pretty much every word Annalise said resonated so deeply with me that I realised I'd actually forgotten I'd made so much progress in the last 12 months. "I'm glad I don't even recognise that version of me anymore. (sic)" Ore says that he had recently opened up to pals about his addiction struggles and hopes it would help him share his story publicly. He says he wants to do so to help others who are trying to become sober. He added: "I've started speaking about my addiction to friends recently and the more I open up about it the more compelled I feel to share it publicly one day. "There comes a point where once I've dealt with my demons, the most selfish thing I could do is keep it to myself. I know it'll have the power to help a lot of people. (sic)" Taking to his Instagram with a six-minute reel, Ore was emotional as he confessed to feeling "ashamed and embarrassed" after falling for a scam. He had previously worked with BBC for their documentary series Claimed and Shamed, which helped people avoid being scammed. However, he was fooled when he was contacted by someone pretending to be podcaster-and-author Mel Robbins. It came after he said on ITV1's Loose Women that the philosophy in her 2024 book The Let Them Theory had "changed his life". He said that he initially thought he was speaking Mel and told her "everything". However, it turned out that Ore was actually speaking to a con-artist. After his tell-all video, he was inundated with praise from people who could resonate with his experience. In his lengthy caption on sobriety, Ore added: "I can't believe the reaction to the video I posted at the weekend about getting scammed. This is one of the personal pictures I sent to them. "And actually many of your comments talked about 'shame' and reminding me not to feel it. 'It's them, not you' sort of thing... totally right, and so kind, thank you. "I have such a much better relationship with that word now than I used to but it's interesting how it still finds a way to knock at your door. I did feel ashamed of myself for being scammed, yes... but I know now how to deal with those moments of doubt and I pop that little bout of negative talk into a bin bag and throw it in the trash. (sic)"
Western Telegraph
37 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Oti Mabuse ‘delighted' as she receives Freedom of the City of London
The 34-year-old South African has been recognised for her 'significant achievements in contemporary dance and her charitable work'. She has had a successful dancing career, winning the South African Latin American championships eight times and is one of the most successful professionals to have appeared on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, having won the show two years in a row. To be following in the footsteps of legends of the arts and entertainment industry, including Sir Matthew Bourne, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Giles Terera, and Strictly's very own Len Goodman, feels quite remarkable Mabuse, who attended a ceremony at Guildhall with family and friends on Wednesday, said: 'I am delighted to have received the Freedom of the City of London for my dance and charitable work, and I am very grateful to Chris Hayward and Keith Bottomley for nominating me. 'To be following in the footsteps of legends of the arts and entertainment industry, including Sir Matthew Bourne, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Giles Terera, and Strictly's very own Len Goodman, feels quite remarkable.' Mr Hayward is the policy chairman of the City of London Corporation, while Mr Bottomley is the sheriff-elect of the City of London. Former Strictly head judge Goodman died in 2023 aged 78. Mabuse won Strictly in 2019 and 2020 and has also appeared on The Greatest Dancer as a dance captain and as a judge on ITV's Dancing on Ice. Mr Hayward said: 'Having won a clutch of dance titles during her career and a place in our hearts, mostly, down to her appearances on the hugely popular 'Strictly', I am sure that Oti's Freedom will be welcomed warmly by her many admirers. Oti Mabuse poses for photos in the Great Hall, after receiving the Freedom of the City of London at the Guildhall, London (Yui Mok/PA) 'Away from the dance world, her work with Unicef to raise awareness of the support needed by premature babies and their mothers, is highly commendable, and I am very happy to join my colleague, Keith Bottomley, in nominating Oti for the Freedom.' Mr Bottomley said: 'As well as impressing us on the dance floor, Oti Mabuse's charitable work with women and young people in communities across London, and overseas with Unicef, deserves our admiration and respect. 'It has been a pleasure to nominate Oti to be admitted into the Freedom, and I am sure that she will have very happy memories of today for many years to come.' The tradition of the freedom of the city is believed to date back to 1237. Past recipients include comedian, actor and writer Sir Lenny Henry and Lady Mary Peters, who won an Olympic gold medal in the athletics pentathlon in 1972, as well as Sir Chris Hoy and his wife, Lady Sarra Hoy.
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Sophie Ellis Bextor 'gatecrashes' Irish wedding and serenades newlyweds
Popstar Sophie Ellis-Bextor delighted guests as she made a surprise appearance at a wedding taking place in a castle in Ireland. The Murder on the Dancefloor singer, 46, belted out her best-known hit while rocking heart-shaped sunglasses, trainers, and a cheeseburger-shaped backpack, showing this was truly a spontaneous appearance. Despite her dressed-down apparel, the guests looked like they were having a whale of a time as the star took over on the mic and performed alongside a live band. Shouting 'Congratulations!' mid-song, she was keen to make the performance about the bride and groom, on their special day at Ashford Lodge in Mayo, Ireland. 'Best wedding crasher ever,' captioned the TikTok shared online from a wedding guest named Jennifer Gillespie. Jennifer went on to explain how the celebrity gatecrasher came to be a spontaneous performer at the wedding. 'She was staying in the hotel and had just played at another wedding in the castle!' she explained to one commenter. 'She had also played @Galway International Arts Fest during the week.' She explained further to another commenter: 'Sophie was playing at another wedding in Ashford Castle that night and staying in The Lodge. 'One of the guests spotted her in the lobby singing along when her song came on and asked her to come out and sing which she was kind enough to do 🥰 she made the bride and groom's night 🤍' The star had a massive comeback in 2024 after the release of the 'freaky' erotic thriller film, Saltburn at the end of 2023. More Trending Her song Murder on the Dancefloor was used in the final scene, where Barry Keoghan's Oliver triumphantly dances fully naked through the halls of stately home Saltburn to the track, immediately cementing the scene in cinema history and seeing the popstar soar back into the charts. She spoke to the BBC about her song's return to the charts: 'It was over Christmas last year, we were at home, and just seeing the numbers going crazy for people interacting with the song on streaming and TikTok.' She added: 'To be honest, at that time it was all quite abstract, and I think this year has been about turning it into an actuality.' 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: Bruno Mars says he's 'almost out of debt' after rumoured $50million gambling loss MORE: Pop star's fans devastated as she cancels tour just 2 weeks after announcement
