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Engadget
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Engadget
12 thoughts about that Doctor Who finale
Spoilers for 'The Reality War.' The BBC and Disney chose not to share screeners ahead of 'The Reality War' to preserve its numerous twists. There isn't time to review it in the usual style, but I felt I'd be remiss not to cap off this run of reviews by talking about the finale. And it's not as if I've nothing to say about what the hell happened on Saturday. 'It's the end… but the moment has been 'prepared for.'' I refuse to believe that 'The Reality War' was planned and written as the execution of this run of Doctor Who . I'm well aware the BBC, Bad Wolf and Ncuti Gatwa claimed the intention from the start was for him to bow out after two short seasons. I'm not buying it. On one hand, the rumors of disharmony behind the scenes, last minute reshoots and Disney's reported displeasure are hard to ignore. But there's far better evidence, which is to just watch the damn episode and try to think about what happened for more than a heartbeat. Everything after the Doctor's triumphant return to UNIT HQ feels like it was hastily assembled and tacked on. In fact, there are times in which it feels like all of the main actors are reading from different scripts, and not interacting with one another. Spot the join Lara Cornell/BBC Studios/Bad Wolf I've seen some people grousing about the simple way the Omega storyline was resolved, but I think it was always planned that way. Russell T. Davies' has always ended the big dramatic plots of his finales early to make more room to show the aftermath for the characters. Take last year's 'Empire of Death,' which dumps off Sutekh two thirds of the way in to spend the rest of the episode showing Ruby meeting her birth mother. For Davies, the big CGI space monsters are always the means through which he can spend moments with his characters. And yet the character moments here are weird if not totally incoherent — the one highlight being the moment that Poppy disappears. The shot of the Doctor and Belinda absentmindedly handing her coat back and forth as it turns into an ever-smaller piece of cloth is sublime. But when Ruby's protestations are finally taken seriously, the Doctor's decision to just hand Belinda a child comes totally out of left field. Not only does it not agree with anything that we've come to know about her over the last eight weeks, it's also totally pretty outrageous. Which is why it's far more plausible that Davies, faced with no commission for a third season and with a lead actor looking to quit, just wrote a few pages of nonsense to justify the change. 'One day, I shall come back.' Naturally, the rumors suggest the original ending would have seen Susan appear as a lead-in to the next season. Again, this isn't so much a hint as something the last two years have been very clearly laying the foundations for. The Doctor openly discussed that he has a child living in London (in 'The Devil's Chord') and the Susan Twist saga was designed to play up to that. Going to the trouble of hiring the 84-year-old Carole Ann Ford and putting her in brief cameos in the last two episodes — plus dropping references to that in 'Lux' — was clearly part of the plan. Now, after the extensive, patient buildup of that storyline, it appears that we'll not get the chance to see what Davies had intended. Going back to the point about the BBC and Gatwa's claim that this was always meant to be a two-season deal, it's likely the show's original ending will be swept under the rug. And given Ford's age, it's likely that we'll never get the chance to give the actress the sendoff she really deserved in 1964. 'Davies has never been that sort of writer.' A large amount of fan speculation this year was focused on the various structural and thematic coincidences. Each episode of this run could more or less map onto the previous one and went over similar ground. But, as far back as 'Lux,' I said that Russell T. Davies wasn't that sort of writer, building a mystery box that would resolve perfectly by its conclusion. His writing is a little more like a kid pulling toys out of a toybox and smashing them together at speed. 'The Reality War' is a great example of this approach, since while there were plenty of elements that came back, none of them were as vital to the plot's conclusion as they could have been. Anita was a convenient way of getting the Doctor out of the cliffhanger, but did nothing else for the rest of the episode. Hell, it's hard to take the suggestion seriously that she'd fallen in love with the Doctor but not realized he was, at least in this incarnation, more interested in men. Joy, too, from 'Joy to the World' gets a mention but with little emotional attachment given the events of that episode. And on the subject of its treatment of women… 'I was this really brilliant woman' James Pardon/BBC Studios/Bad Wolf Doctor Who has spent much of its recent years trying to address its own blind spots around representation. This era has continued this tradition, broadening out the series' supporting cast, especially the team known by fans as the 'UNIT Family.' In 'The Reality War,' every one of the Doctor's allies, barring Colonel Ibrahim, is either a woman or non-binary. And yet, the sheer number of cast members means each one is almost aggressively underserved. 'The Reality War,' after all, is focused on unpacking a false reality called into existence by an ultra-conservative YouTuber who ignores and erases disabled and queer people. But the show's treatment of these characters both during the action-packed finale, and afterward, is rough. When the team starts working together, the legion of people around the Doctor get little to nothing of note to actually do. Anita is quite literally reduced to the role of a human doorstop (she holds the door to the Time Hotel open to counteract Conrad's wish). Kate orders Shirley to fire the lasers. Susan (Triad) builds the zero room. Mel does quite literally nothing once she's sneered at the Rani. And then there's Rose. Rose's brief inclusion would have been extraordinarily poignant if she'd helped defeat Conrad once she's been pulled out of oblivion. Instead, she's just there so the Doctor can point out she was erased because Conrad hates (and/or ignores) nonbinary transfem people. And after that moment, Yasmin Finney essentially disappears from the episode once again, making her less a character and more a prop. It gets worse with the treatment of Ruby and Belinda — the former marginalized and almost aggressively ignored by the characters to the point that I assumed their rejection of her claims was a sign the reality hadn't actually been fixed. But the latter goes from not having a child, to having a fictional child in Conrad's world, to forgetting she exists when Conrad's wish is undone. When the timeline resets and she no longer has any memory of a child, the Doctor then opts to sacrifice his life in order to bring that child back into existence. I mean, what? Given Davies' politics, and the (ostensibly) pro-abortion subtext of 'Space Babies,' the Doctor suddenly re-writes the universe to force his companion — without her consent — into motherhood. 'It's funny, but is it going to get them off their tractors?' I'm a Brit, reviewing a uniquely British show for a predominantly American audience, and so try to view the series through that lens. Doctor Who has been a fixture in the US since the '70s and was a mainstay on PBS through the '80s and so it's not an unknown property. The revival series may not have been an instant hit, but quickly built a respectable audience on BBC America. But while in the UK the series is a mainstream hit, its US demographic can be roughly broken down into genre nerds and anglophiles. Consequently, there was a degree of nervousness about how the revitalized series would be received by the far broader audience on Disney+. Davies' had spoken about the need for the series to recruit new fans, downplaying the series' six-decades-long backstory. But despite that aim, it never felt that the series was making many concessions to its potential audience. Don't forget, the Ncuti Gatwa series is playing out in the shadow of specific events from its 2021 series and the second and third of its three 2023 specials. And yet, rather than starting from a clean(-ish) slate, the series threw itself headlong into a multi-year story about its broken reality. 'In the '70s or '80s depending on the dating protocol…' The Two Ranis / Two Ronnies gag was great, but did anyone over the age of 30 get it? (BBC Studios/Bad Wolf) And on that subject, I don't think we really needed to see the Rani or Omega again, especially as Conrad was a compelling enough villain on his own. I'm the sort of Doctor Who fan who bleeds TARDIS Blue if you were to cut me (but don't do that). But I'm also sufficiently interested in new experiences that I'd rather the show avoid relitigating and revisiting the same coterie of classic series villains. Omega wasn't a mainstay anyway, and his second appearance (in 'Arc of Infinity') was tedious enough that his absence wasn't missed. Similarly, while the Rani offers a different spin on the homegrown foe trope, it's hard not to just write her as a female Master. And, let's be honest, as much as I'm trying not to invoke Steven Moffat here, Missy was so well done we didn't need to go back to that well ever again. Similarly, I can't help but wonder how many folks who persisted with the series until this point bailed out. The late Craig Hinton coined the term 'Fanwank' as a catch-all term for the sort of self-indulgent storytelling that exists to satisfy the author's own obsessions. You know, fan fiction that makes Captain Kirk the father of Jean-Luc Picard or that Han Solo and Luke Skywalker were secretly friends in childhood. Having the Rani bi-generate to rebuild a new Gallifrey with Omega as its progenitor is the sort of self-indulgence most people grow out of. Doctor Who isn't Star Trek James Pardon/BBC Studios/Bad Wolf Several times this season, we've seen Doctor Who smash its face into the limits of its own storytelling. Its premise is far more elastic than many others, but there are themes it simply cannot meaningfully engage with. 'Lux,' 'Lucky Day' and 'The Interstellar Song Contest' all gestured toward big real-world topics (structural racism, abuse and radicalization, genocide and reputation laundering) that are simply beyond the capacity of a science fantasy show about a quasi-immortal clown solving problems. And here we're learning another big fact about Doctor Who : It's not Star Trek . The battle between UNIT and the big dinosaur skeletons was shot and edited as if we were watching the crew of the Enterprise. Now, I'm not watching Doctor Who for the gritty realism but there's a moment when you can go through silly fun and into ridiculousness. And when the UNIT tower, consciously modeled on the Avengers' Stark Tower, starts spinning around to shoot its lasers, you have to wonder how many people had to sign off on that image thinking it was okay. Eating its own tail Doctor Who 's critical and popular success has always waxed and waned, and that's nothing to be worried about. There was, however, a sense during Chis Chibnall's era that he wanted to recapture the glories of Davies' era. After all, David Tennant's initial tenure saw the show become the biggest thing on British TV with ratings often passing the 10 million mark . I suppose it comes as no surprise, then, that Davies would repay the compliment by giving Jodie Whittaker's 13th Doctor a cameo. It's a shame that it's as equally incoherent as the rest of the episode's finale, but it does a far better job of addressing the #Thasmin plot — the implied romance between the Doctor and her companion Yaz – than Chibnall's own era does. Naturally, Davies was better able to capitalize upon this nostalgia, recruiting the stars of his own era — David Tennant and Catherine Tate — to come back for the 60th anniversary specials. That was a nice piece throwback to help get the series back on track ahead of its rejuvenation with Ncuti Gatwa at the helm. Obviously, while hiring one of the stars of the series' most recent heyday for a short tenure for the anniversary was a nice treat, the series now needs to strike out on its own. Or, at least, that was the thinking until Ncuti Gatwa regenerated into Billie Piper. Billie Piper I was 20 when Doctor Who came back and was as sneery as the rest of the country when Billie Piper was announced as the show's companion. Piper was a teenage singer — the youngest UK Number One act — and while not a one-hit wonder, her music career stalled. Aged 18, she married the 35-year-old radio DJ and TV presenter Chris Evans and became tabloid fodder. Naturally, the whole country had to eat crow when it turned out she wasn't just a fantastic actor but a true powerhouse and star. Her return for 'The Day of the Doctor,' as the psychic interface of Gallifreyan superweapon The Moment, was a joyous one. And while the leaks had revealed Piper would be replacing Gatwa, it was still nice to see her appear on screen. Given Piper was not credited as 'And introducing Billie Piper as the Doctor' it's clear that her inclusion is another hedge. If nothing else, she can take the role for the revival series' 20th anniversary and hopefully pull in more eyes to whoever replaces her. But as desperate as the move seems, I'd be happy to see her remain in the role for an extended period of time — she's brilliant, clearly has plenty of affection for the show, and has enough star power to carry the series on her back. So, if Piper is back, let her be back for a long time and let her bask in all of the adoration she so rightly deserves. 'There are worlds out there…' At the risk of armchair psychologizing, I suspect all Doctor Who fans of a certain age carry the wound of 1989 very deeply. The show had entered a creative renaissance thanks to the work of Andrew Cartmel that had invigorated long-serving producer John Nathan-Turner. Just as it had found its feet and started to produce era-defining work in a model that could have sustained it through the 1990s, the plug was pulled. There have been many (many!) post mortems as to the causes but James Cooray-Smith's recent essay on the subject is probably the most concise. In short, a combination of executive snobbery, personal enmity (John Nathan-Turner was not well-liked by his bosses) and budgetary issues caused the show's demise. 1989 to 2005 was beset by false dawns, the BBC's self-sabotage and fans essentially taking ownership of the property. Virgin Publishing had the license to publish tie-in novels that evolved into the New Adventures line. In the gap, the need for new Doctor Who was filled by writers: some professional, some fans who would go on to become professionals with a monthly book series. And then, in 1999, a production company called Big Finish secured the rights to produce new audio adventures featuring classic Doctors. But aside from the abortive (and mostly awful) 1996 TV movie that served as a pilot for a US version of the show, Doctor Who was dead. It wouldn't be until the second series of the reboot, when David Tennant took the role and it became the biggest thing on TV, that the worry the show would go away again started to fade even as ratings and public enthusiasm declined with Steven Moffat at the helm. But those fears have returned in the last decade, especially given the lukewarm critical and audience reception to Jodie Whittaker's tenure. And with Disney pulling back and the BBC's own budget crisis, the risk to Doctor Who 's future — with no new series confirmed to be in the works — is grave. On one hand, the BBC has said we may see the situation change in a year, but then it said that in 1989 as well. I'm going to hold off writing an obituary, however, because if Doctor Who is to go back on the shelf, it's going to be taken very good care of. After all, many of the fans who kept the flame alive during the first wilderness years would go on to make the series proper. And I'm sure the next generation of fans are ready to cut their teeth on their own projects that'll one day grow into whatever Doctor Who becomes in a decade or more.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
I've stopped watching Doctor Who. Here's how the BBC can win me back
The Doctor is out. And, after a measly two seasons, it looks as if the Whouniverse – the grand experiment that melded the BBC's Doctor Who with Disney's bank account and was supposed to spawn a dozen wonderful spin-offs – has already run aground. Ncuti Gatwa's 15th Doctor's timey-wimey is now up, but with viewing figures at an all-time low and rumours that Disney are about to step out of the Tardis for good, it may be a good while before the police box rematerialises onto our screens. And that's despite Billie Piper's surprise appearance on Saturday night, apparently as the 16th Doctor – although even that is unclear, with show-runner Russell T Davies teasing of the former companion's return , 'but quite how and why and who [she is playing] is a story yet to be told'. However, a rest for Doctor Who could be a good thing. The show needs (another) reset, to come back with fresh blood and fresh ideas, to fundamentally change the Whoniverse in the same way Davies did first time around in 2005. I am well-qualified to show the BBC and production company Bad Wolf the way forward – because I am not a Doctor Who fan. I will not stick it out through thick and thin, I won't get excited by the mention of mythical baddies who were once half-referenced in an episode from 1968. I am not, and I have never been, a Whovian. Despite this, I have always enjoyed keeping up with the Doctor's adventures, but the recent two seasons have felt a slog, and my attention has certainly wavered in the past few weeks. Watching the Doctor has become a chore. But here's how he (or she, or they) can win me back… Give it a rest It would be a little embarrassing for Disney, the BBC et al to put an end to the grand Whoniverse experiment so soon – you only need to spend five minutes at New Broadcasting House (with its Tardis in the reception area) to see how entwined the BBC's sense-of-self is with the good Doctor. But the show should embrace the theory of sunk-cost fallacy, stop throwing good money after bad, and take the tough decision to call it quits. A bit like Manchester United with their flailing manager Ruben Amorim, they are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Doctor Who has lost all of its momentum. Viewers are jaded. Take a few years out. Reset. Come back with something to get us excited. Say goodbye to Russell T Davies No one doubts the talents of Russell T Davies, but there's no hard reset with the show-runner still at the helm. The past two seasons haven't been entirely awful, but the series feels like it is treading water and the RTD magic is all a bit, well, 2005. As a viewer, I'd like Davies to get on with writing some really meaty dramas – we have Tiptoe coming to Channel 4 in the near-future – and step aside for someone willing to tear up everything he built and start from scratch. Bring in an outsider – not someone who if you cut them bleeds Gallifrey, someone willing to embrace the Whovian lore while also disrespecting it. How about actor-writer-director Will Sharpe (Black Pond, Flowers, Landscapers)? He could even cast himself… Learn from Andor Tony Gilroy's spin-off, from his own spin-off film Rogue One, breathed such new life into the Star Wars universe that it has effectively killed off all of the other Star Wars spin-off TV shows. Why? Because those other series clung desperately to spectacle, lightsabers and an ingrained knowledge of the lore. Andor gave us people, real flesh-and-blood people who were trying to exist within a universe on the brink of intergalactic civil war. We care deeply about them – and in turn we empathise with them, we imagine ourselves in the same situation. Doctor Who is an adventure, but it is becoming an increasingly hollow one. Grow up In 1970, the Daily Sketch famously described Doctor Who as 'the children's own programme that adults adore.' And, yes, Who is a 'children's show', but it is also intended to be a family favourite airing at prime time on a Saturday night. The tone of late has been a little too juvenile. It's unlikely the series is hoovering up millions of kids who are less drawn to mainstream TV drama anyway, while the current incarnation is a turnoff for most adults, who don't need the neon-sign exposition and crayon-drawn morality lessons. So why not go ahead and actually make something aimed at older viewers? Most Doctor Who fans are grey of beard these days anyway. It needn't be 18-rated, but it should feel grown-up, a little grittier, a little more real, a little less like a cartoon. It should feel intelligent and dignified. This is the streaming age – we've got Netflix, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Now, Paramount+, Disney+. How many adults are going to waste their precious viewing-time on something that currently resembles Scooby Doo? And the next Doctor is… It's hardly Gatwa's fault that the show has lost its oomph – he's a performer of almost superhuman charisma – but a hard reset is a hard reset, and it's for the best he's leaving. Forget Billie Piper, the new regime needs to bring in its own man (or woman). Despite some off-screen grumblings about his commitment, Gatwa has certainly given his all on the screen, but his Doctor has lacked depth. Everyone will have a wishlist for the Sixteenth Doctor, but to my mind they need an actor who has presence and gravitas, who can make this two-hearted alien feel extremely human, who can effortlessly hint at a vast inner world. Someone who can show us the burden of being the Doctor, as well as the thrill. May I present – Adeel Akhtar. Respect the audience's intelligence – and stop lecturing us The show has been attacked in some quarters for its obsession with having a 'message'. Some of this messaging – its commitment to on-screen diversity, for instance – should be applauded and retained, but in other cases it could be refined. Take the first episode of the current series, which used an alien civil war to explore the issues of coercive control and incels. There's an argument to be had about whether a Saturday-evening entertainment show needs to be tackling such things, but if it should choose to, it needs to respect the viewers' intelligence. As the episode reached its climax, the Doctor's new companion, Belinda (Varada Sethu), gave the baddie a dressing down for his 'coercive control', before dubbing his home 'planet of the incels'. It had all the subtlety of an Acme anvil. Yet it's the off-screen antics that arguably need even more attention. It's understandable that Davies finds it satisfying to stick two fingers up at bigots, but his pugilistic tone in the press is threatening to turn the show into a culture war monolith – and that's never going to be a ratings win. Ditch Disney – and embrace the wobbly sets If Disney doesn't jump, the BBC should give it a push. The money has proved a poisoned chalice. While you can see the big budget on the screen – impressive sets, lovely special effects, smashing costumes – you can also see the corrosive effect it has had on the show's imagination. There's too much universe-spanning spectacle and not enough invention. As former show-runner Steven Moffat said recently on the Virtual Parkinson podcast: 'What Doctor Who does best is it takes all the monstrosity and wonder of outer space and puts it under your bed.' It's time to bring back that era of the wobbly sets and the sort of restricted budgets that can lead the best screenwriters (Davies included) to their best work, having to engage their imaginations to find a way around their limited resources.
South Wales Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Ncuti Gatwa shares emotional post after leaving Doctor Who
Gatwa's 15th Doctor regenerated in Saturday's finale (May 31), and regenerated into the returning Billie Piper. In a statement provided by the BBC, the Scottish-Rwandan actor said the "journey has been one that I will never forget". Now, he has shared a social media post thanking co-stars Millie Gibson and Varada Sethu. Gatwa regenerating in his final episode of Doctor Who (Image: BBC Studios/Bad Wolf/PA) Gibson played Ruby Sunday and was the main companion in Gatwa's first series as the 15th Doctor. Her character appeared less frequently in the second series, with Varada Sethu's Belinda Chandra taking the mantle as the new companion. Taking to Instagram, Gatwa shared a picture of the trio, and said: "Three queens of the sky, "Twas an experience like no other and thank God we were by eachothers side. "There aren't quite the words for how much you both mean to me but I am so grateful I got the opportunity to work, learn from and laugh with you both everyday. "You're both just simply incredible and it has been nothing short of a blessing to share this journey with both of you. A post shared by Ncuti Gatwa (@ncutigatwa) "Ruby Sunday and Belinda Chandra will live in mine and the Whoniverse hearts forever. "Also shout out to the CAPTAIN of all 15's companions. Captain Poppy. Ultimate top dog of this season! (lil Sienna brought so much life and magic to us all on set ) I love you guys. We did it." It was the first of two Instagram posts Gatwa has shared since his exit. The second was a picture of himself in the TARDIS, with the caption: "Monsters, goblins, gods, human-eating Slugs, invisible brain-altering creatures, evil barbers, conspiracy theorists… you've had quite a busy two years. Well done and rest up son. "@bbcdoctorwho @disneydoctorwho @russelltdavies63 @bad_wolf_tv Thank you endlessly. XV." In a statement released by the BBC, on his decision to leave, 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. '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.' After Gatwa's exit, the 15th Doctor is seen regenerating into Billie Piper. Piper, 42, first appeared in the series as the companion to the Ninth Doctor in 2005, playing Rose Tyler alongside Christopher Eccleston's Time Lord. She stayed on and was the companion to the 10th Doctor, played by David Tennant. However, despite her introduction on the show, it has not been confirmed she is the 16th Doctor. Some fans are also not convinced, with the end credits reading: "And introducing Billie Piper." Many compared this to when Ncuti Gatwa was introduced as the 15th Doctor, when it read: "And introducing Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor." Previous actors have also received similar credit introductions. "Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor" "Jodie Whittaker as The Doctor" "And introducing Billie Piper" ...but NO "as The Doctor" I FIND THAT VERY SUS. One said on X (formerly Twitter): "Billie Piper wasn't introduced as the Doctor, and this year was the 20th anniversary of Series 1... There's definitely more to this..." Another said: "She's clearly not the Doctor but some Bad Wolf shenanigans." Fueling speculation on her role in the show, Doctor Who TV simply says: "But just how and why she is back remains to be seen…" Recommended reading: On her return, 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, but who, how, why and when, you'll just have to wait and see.' Shortly after the finale aired, the actress shared a post on Instagram holding a rose with the caption that read: 'A rose is a rose is a rose !!!' If she is confirmed as The Doctor, Piper will be the second after Jody Whittaker's 13th Doctor.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ncuti Gatwa shares emotional message to fans and co-stars after Doctor Who exit
Ncuti Gatwa has shared an emotional post thanking his co-star companions after leaving the show. Gatwa's 15th Doctor regenerated in Saturday's finale (May 31), and regenerated into the returning Billie Piper. In a statement provided by the BBC, the Scottish-Rwandan actor said the "journey has been one that I will never forget". Now, he has shared a social media post thanking co-stars Millie Gibson and Varada Sethu. Gatwa regenerating in his final episode of Doctor Who (Image: BBC Studios/Bad Wolf/PA) Gibson played Ruby Sunday and was the main companion in Gatwa's first series as the 15th Doctor. Her character appeared less frequently in the second series, with Varada Sethu's Belinda Chandra taking the mantle as the new companion. Taking to Instagram, Gatwa shared a picture of the trio, and said: "Three queens of the sky, "Twas an experience like no other and thank God we were by eachothers side. "There aren't quite the words for how much you both mean to me but I am so grateful I got the opportunity to work, learn from and laugh with you both everyday. "You're both just simply incredible and it has been nothing short of a blessing to share this journey with both of you. "Ruby Sunday and Belinda Chandra will live in mine and the Whoniverse hearts forever. "Also shout out to the CAPTAIN of all 15's companions. Captain Poppy. Ultimate top dog of this season! (lil Sienna brought so much life and magic to us all on set ) I love you guys. We did it." It was the first of two Instagram posts Gatwa has shared since his exit. The second was a picture of himself in the TARDIS, with the caption: "Monsters, goblins, gods, human-eating Slugs, invisible brain-altering creatures, evil barbers, conspiracy theorists… you've had quite a busy two years. Well done and rest up son. "@bbcdoctorwho @disneydoctorwho @russelltdavies63 @bad_wolf_tv Thank you endlessly. XV." In a statement released by the BBC, on his decision to leave, 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. '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.' After Gatwa's exit, the 15th Doctor is seen regenerating into Billie Piper. Piper, 42, first appeared in the series as the companion to the Ninth Doctor in 2005, playing Rose Tyler alongside Christopher Eccleston's Time Lord. She stayed on and was the companion to the 10th Doctor, played by David Tennant. However, despite her introduction on the show, it has not been confirmed she is the 16th Doctor. Some fans are also not convinced, with the end credits reading: "And introducing Billie Piper." Many compared this to when Ncuti Gatwa was introduced as the 15th Doctor, when it read: "And introducing Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor." Previous actors have also received similar credit introductions. "Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor" "Jodie Whittaker as The Doctor" "And introducing Billie Piper" ...but NO "as The Doctor" I FIND THAT VERY SUS. — Ben (He/Him) (@BenDW96) May 31, 2025 One said on X (formerly Twitter): "Billie Piper wasn't introduced as the Doctor, and this year was the 20th anniversary of Series 1... There's definitely more to this..." Another said: "She's clearly not the Doctor but some Bad Wolf shenanigans." Fueling speculation on her role in the show, Doctor Who TV simply says: "But just how and why she is back remains to be seen…" Recommended reading: Ncuti Gatwa regenerates and leaves Doctor Who as '16th Doctor' is revealed Every actor that has played the role of The Doctor and where are they now Doctor Who fans spot hint suggesting Billie Piper may not be the next Doctor On her return, 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, but who, how, why and when, you'll just have to wait and see.' Shortly after the finale aired, the actress shared a post on Instagram holding a rose with the caption that read: 'A rose is a rose is a rose !!!' If she is confirmed as The Doctor, Piper will be the second after Jody Whittaker's 13th Doctor.
Western Telegraph
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
Ncuti Gatwa shares emotional post after leaving Doctor Who
Gatwa's 15th Doctor regenerated in Saturday's finale (May 31), and regenerated into the returning Billie Piper. In a statement provided by the BBC, the Scottish-Rwandan actor said the "journey has been one that I will never forget". Now, he has shared a social media post thanking co-stars Millie Gibson and Varada Sethu. Gatwa regenerating in his final episode of Doctor Who (Image: BBC Studios/Bad Wolf/PA) Ncuti Gatwa shares emotional post after leaving Doctor Who Gibson played Ruby Sunday and was the main companion in Gatwa's first series as the 15th Doctor. Her character appeared less frequently in the second series, with Varada Sethu's Belinda Chandra taking the mantle as the new companion. Taking to Instagram, Gatwa shared a picture of the trio, and said: "Three queens of the sky, "Twas an experience like no other and thank God we were by eachothers side. "There aren't quite the words for how much you both mean to me but I am so grateful I got the opportunity to work, learn from and laugh with you both everyday. "You're both just simply incredible and it has been nothing short of a blessing to share this journey with both of you. "Ruby Sunday and Belinda Chandra will live in mine and the Whoniverse hearts forever. "Also shout out to the CAPTAIN of all 15's companions. Captain Poppy. Ultimate top dog of this season! (lil Sienna brought so much life and magic to us all on set ) I love you guys. We did it." It was the first of two Instagram posts Gatwa has shared since his exit. The second was a picture of himself in the TARDIS, with the caption: "Monsters, goblins, gods, human-eating Slugs, invisible brain-altering creatures, evil barbers, conspiracy theorists… you've had quite a busy two years. Well done and rest up son. "@bbcdoctorwho @disneydoctorwho @russelltdavies63 @bad_wolf_tv Thank you endlessly. XV." Doctor Who: All Fifteen Doctors in Order In a statement released by the BBC, on his decision to leave, 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. '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.' Is Billie Piper the new Doctor on Doctor Who? After Gatwa's exit, the 15th Doctor is seen regenerating into Billie Piper. Piper, 42, first appeared in the series as the companion to the Ninth Doctor in 2005, playing Rose Tyler alongside Christopher Eccleston's Time Lord. She stayed on and was the companion to the 10th Doctor, played by David Tennant. However, despite her introduction on the show, it has not been confirmed she is the 16th Doctor. Some fans are also not convinced, with the end credits reading: "And introducing Billie Piper." Many compared this to when Ncuti Gatwa was introduced as the 15th Doctor, when it read: "And introducing Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor." Previous actors have also received similar credit introductions. "Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor" "Jodie Whittaker as The Doctor" "And introducing Billie Piper" ...but NO "as The Doctor" I FIND THAT VERY SUS. — Ben (He/Him) (@BenDW96) May 31, 2025 One said on X (formerly Twitter): "Billie Piper wasn't introduced as the Doctor, and this year was the 20th anniversary of Series 1... There's definitely more to this..." Another said: "She's clearly not the Doctor but some Bad Wolf shenanigans." Fueling speculation on her role in the show, Doctor Who TV simply says: "But just how and why she is back remains to be seen…" Recommended reading: On her return, 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, but who, how, why and when, you'll just have to wait and see.' Shortly after the finale aired, the actress shared a post on Instagram holding a rose with the caption that read: 'A rose is a rose is a rose !!!' If she is confirmed as The Doctor, Piper will be the second after Jody Whittaker's 13th Doctor.
