Latest news with #FugitiveDoctor
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
'Doctor Who' Pulls Shock Change as Lead Actor Makes Unexpected Exit
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 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 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."
Wales Online
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Doctor Who viewers left 'screaming' as fan-favourite makes epic return
Doctor Who viewers left 'screaming' as fan-favourite makes epic return During the latest episode of BBC's Doctor Who, viewers were thrilled to see a familiar face back in the sci-fi drama. Children In Need: Ncuti Gatwa shares Doctor Who teaser On Saturday night, Doctor Who fans were thrilled to see Jo Martin reprise her beloved role in the most recent episode. During the most recent episode of the BBC show, titled The Story & The Engine, Jo delighted fans with a cameo appearance as the Fugitive Doctor. In a thrilling scene, Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor enters his favoured barbershop in Lagos, Nigeria, and finds himself embroiled in unraveling an intricate mystery. During the episode, Abena, portrayed by Michelle Asante, confronts the Doctor. They blame him for past disappointments related to an encounter with the deity Anansi, who had bet, "to make me marry one of his daughters." Doctor Who viewers left 'screaming' as fan-favourite makes epic return Article continues below At which point the camera shifts to reveal Jo's iteration of the Doctor stepping in for Gatwa's Doctor. She said: "I was a fugitive back then. Anansi was wrong to offer that bet. And frankly, darling, I was busy in a different story – that might be finished one day.." Although her appearance was brief, the guest role sparked excitement amongst the show's fan base. One person commented: "Seeing Jo Martin again, I yelled. Seeing three, nine, twelve, and thasmin in archive footage, I screamed." Viewers were thrilled to see Jo back in Doctor Who Another enthusiast expressed their joy on social media, commenting: "So happy to see Jo Martin!" Someone else added: "The doctor with no number. The fugitive doctor in a parallel timeline. When they do line-ups of all the doctors together, I'm always sad she isn't there." Another person wrote, " Thrilled, Jo Martin is an amazing Doctor, and I'm delighted that this era continues to acknowledge her and bring her back!" One fan added: "Her line certainly felt like a hint towards the future of that incarnation... #DoctorWho #DoctorWhoSpoilers. Jo was in the most recent episode of Doctor Who "This was pure DOCTOR WHO," another fan expressed with enthusiasm. While someone else wrote: "This episode was everything this show is about. It was fun, it was educational, it was heavy, it had callbacks, and perfect pacing. And of course, we got to see more of the wonderful Jo Martin. 10/10 for sure!! #DoctorWho." Issuing a demand, one person said: "We need to see Jo Martin finish her story as the Fugitive Doctor! Spin-off series now! #DoctorWho #DoctorWhoSpoilers" Article continues below In a previous discussion in March, Jo hinted at her comeback. She shared: "It's an amazing family to be a part of, and it's a job that keeps on giving, because you never quite leave. "There's always that chance that you can have to go back and do this or do that. You just don't know." Doctor Who is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Metro
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Doctor Who just made best move ever resurrecting its most controversial story
Spoilers ahead for Doctor Who episode five, The Story & The Engine. The BBC sci-fi series returned for another week of adventures as Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor and companion Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) continue their chaotic trek across the universe in an attempt to get back home to their time. This week, the Doctor arrived in Lagos, Nigeria in 2019, where he decides to pay a visit to his favourite barber shop that makes him feel accepted as the person he is – even when others haven't. But, his trip takes a turn for the worse when he discovers that the barber shop has been transformed into a ship with the figure of folklore – the cunning Anansi the Spider – caught up in the scheme. Inside the shop, those being held hostage are forced to divulge their stories to feed the engine. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. There's plenty of gorgeous storytelling animation which weaves in Nigerian heritage and mythology, building on the high-budget visuals we've seen all season, especially in episode two, Lux. And it's heartening to see Ncuti's dream location, taking the Tardis to Nigeria, come to fruition in such a heartfelt story of finding community and true acceptance. At one point, a mysterious woman who seems to possess the ability to come in and out of the barber shop as she pleases sparks a flicker of recognition in the Doctor. As he tries to figure out exactly where he knows her from, he soon puts two and two together and realises this enigmatic woman is actually Anansi's daughter, Abena (Michelle Asante), whom he was once tricked into almost winning in a bet. Instead, his former version had managed to wrangle himself out of the deal but failed to rescue the daughter upon his escape, leading to her building resentment for the Doctor over the years. The twist? It was actually the Fugitive Doctor who abandoned her and, in an even more unexpectedly delightful turn of events, Jo Martin herself makes a cameo to directly apologise (well, kind of). 'I was a fugitive back then, Anansi was wrong to offer that bet, and frankly, darling, I was busy in a different story that might be finished one day,' she tells Abena. After which it is revealed the barber's ultimate goal is to cut the gods out of the storyweb and destroy them, and free Abena from her father's shackles. This is the first time Jo Martin has appeared in Doctor Who since Jodie Whittaker's finale episode, The Power of the Doctor, in 2022. She is a crucial element of the Timless Child arc, a controversial plot introduced during Chris Chibnall's era of the show, which unveiled that the Doctor is from an unknown alien race who was found and experimented on to create the Time Lords on Gallifrey. This meant there were far more than just (at the time, 13) iterations of the Doctor, with the Fugitive Doctor understood to be a regeneration from that era. Up to this point, we know she is a version of the Doctor from before they left Gallifrey and was forcibly working with a secret Gallifreyan organisation known as The Division before going rogue as the group sought to control (and eventually end) the universe. Although returning showrunner Russell T Davies has acknowledged the Timeless Child arc and all that entails in his new era of the show, it has been unclear how much he would explore it – aside from the 14th Doctor discussing his trauma in Wild Blue Yonder. Despite the arc dividing the fanbase over whether it was a good idea to transform everything we thought we knew about the Doctor, introducing Jo Martin's character was by far one of the best moves to win people around. Now, with Jo returning to the screen, clearly with plenty of stories to tell if this cameo is anything to go by, RTD has opened the door for not only future episodes with Jo's Doctor in, but even the potential for a spin-off to fully flesh out this character. After all, there seems to be a hint of a promise in the Fugitive Doctor saying her tale might be finished one day. More Trending As such an important aspect of the recent Who era, Jo could bring new life to this tension-filled plot and maybe even win more sceptical fans over. Even her 30-second appearance in this episode gave a fascinating glimpse into her fiery personality. So, here's hoping RTD's decision to resurrect Jo's character again is a sign of great things to come, because I'm ready to dive headfirst and fully commit to the Fugitive Doctor's story. View More » Doctor Who continues airing every Saturday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. 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: Dragons' Den star shuts down business after 'most painful year of my life' MORE: BBC viewers brand 90s one-hit wonder 'strange choice' for VE Day performance MORE: When is Eurovision 2025 final? Date, location and latest odds revealed
Newsweek
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Review: Doctor Who The Story & The Engine Tells a Messy Tale With a Good Ending
Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors One of the great things about having a bigger variety of writers this season is that we get to be absorbed into cultures we wouldn't otherwise get a look at. It's often been said that RTD loves modern-day London a bit too much, so bringing in a writer like Inua Ellams who can immerse us in Lagos, a culture we rarely get to see on a show like this, is a huge boon and immediately makes the episode stand out on vibes alone. It was also nice to see 15 acknowledge that the way the world sees him is different now that he's a black person for the first time in several millennia, especially after Lux earlier this season swept the racism angle under the rug because it didn't have time to deal with it. This is a good example of how you can address something like that in an episode without having to shift the focus to make the whole story about it. The downside is that it feels like the episode doesn't know what it actually wants to be about until halfway through. The Doctor sitting on a bench in a barber shop with three other men. The Doctor sitting on a bench in a barber shop with three other men. BBC One big problem is that it takes too long for stakes to be established. Our cast of secondary characters being trapped in this strange barber shop with a mysterious and sinister man is enough to start with, but as the episode progresses, it starts to become more and more strange that nothing is being explained. Of course, a good mystery is central to any Doctor Who episode, and you have to leave some questions unanswered until later, but this episode was reluctant to give us anything to latch onto until about the mid-point. That's fine when it's in service of a big twist like what we saw last week, but this episode doesn't have a moment like that to justify not giving us some details earlier. We learn that the barber shop is traveling through space very early, but without any understanding of where it's going, who's making it go there, or why it'd be bad for it to reach its destination, I don't have stakes to invest in. Until about halfway through, it's not even clear that there is an evil plan, aside from the fact that this is Doctor Who, so we know there has to be one. As I said, you don't need to answer all of these questions up front, but you have to give us something, and this episode waited too long to do so. On the flipside, once we do get those stakes, the human perspective on the story gets lost. The four ordinary men who are trapped in the shop with the Doctor just exposit their backstories and then fade completely into the background. I realize 45 minutes isn't enough to give them all fully-defined arcs, but I do expect them to be more than just bodies in the room. A man getting his haircut in a barber's shop. A man getting his haircut in a barber's shop. BBC I'm also not a fan of sticking the backstory for this episode in the Fugitive Doctor's timeline. Aside from the fact that I think it's a storyline best left alone, I really don't want this pre-First Doctor timeline to just become an easy place to shove a backstory to artificially give the Doctor emotional investment in an episode. I don't mind adventures we've never seen informing new stories, but this was not a good way to do it. Despite all that, the final act did a lot of good work to pull me back around to enjoying myself. I enjoyed the emphasis on the power of stories, and if anything, I wish the episode had given us a deeper examination of it. With the villain's plan being to erase the gods from every culture throughout history, it was set up to be a perfect playground to explore how inexorably tied to the stories of gods humanity has always been and how severing that tie would change the face of our entire existence. The Doctor makes a point of it a couple of times, but I think it was extremely fertile ground where a lot more could've been done. A giant mechanical spider sitting on a web in space. A giant mechanical spider sitting on a web in space. BBC The dramatic irony in a villain who leverages the stories of others for power not having a story of their own is a great concept that I think just about every writer would have a very different take on, and I loved how the Doctor became the natural counter to that as a being who has lived countless different lives as countless different people – many of them David Tennant. Bonus points for feeding all of us starved Ninth Doctor fans with a clip of Ecclestone. I'm left with a good feeling, but I think The Story & The Engine could've done with a narrower focus. I like all of the concepts it brings to the table, but they weren't explored as deeply as I was hoping for, and while I enjoyed the resolution, it would've felt a lot more satisfying had I been given more reason to invest in the journey a lot earlier on. Also – and I realize this is a pedantic nitpick, but I'm a Doctor Who fan so that comes with the territory – but surely "The Story Engine" would've been a better title than "The Story & The Engine"? No?
