Latest news with #TARDIS
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Doctor Who fans are furious again, but they should just enjoy the ride'
Doctor Who fans are furious. That's probably an evergreen sentence, to be quite honest, but in this case it's truer than usual. This weekend saw the latest series of the time-travelling show come to an end with hour-long epic episode The Reality War. To say it has been divisive would be the understatement of the year. In fact, divisive might be the wrong word. The reaction has been almost universally negative, whether it's to the return of Omega, the resolution of the story involving the Rani or, of course, that big surprise in the final few moments of the episode. With so many rumours about the cloudy future of the show, many fans were disappointed to see this series end in the way that it did. Note: There are spoilers ahead for the Doctor Who finale, so tread carefully. Many of the headlines in the wake of the episode are, naturally, focused on the surprise regeneration scene that ended the series. Ncuti Gatwa has said farewell to the TARDIS and, barring any sort of further twist, it appears that Billie Piper will be the next incarnation of the Doctor — 20 years after she became the first companion of the revival era when she debuted as Rose Tyler alongside Christopher Eccleston as the Time Lord. Notably, though, Piper's name in the final credits was not listed as playing the Doctor. So there's something afoot and the door is very much ajar for a different actor to jump in and grab the TARDIS key in the near future. In a series dominated by big, audacious swings on the part of showrunner Russell T Davies, this surprise regeneration was arguably the biggest risk of all. After all, it's very rare that a Doctor's goodbye is a complete shock. In 2013, the BBC dedicated an entire TV special to revealing Peter Capaldi as the next Doctor and, back in 2022, Gatwa was announced as the new permanent Doctor several months before Jodie Whittaker regenerated on screen. Read more: 'Doctor Who's new series is its boldest ever, and you should be watching' (Yahoo Entertainment, 4 min read) Times have changed. Unless you really had your ear to the ground in hardcore fan spaces, Billie Piper's return was an enormous surprise. And ultimately, that's the sort of thing we should welcome. The fact that a 60-year-old TV show covered in breathless detail by the tabloid press can still pull off a shock like this is worthy of celebration. And broadly, that's how I feel about the episode as a whole. The Reality War was Doctor Who at its silliest, moving at a breathless gallop of the kind that Davies proved so good at back in his previous tenure as the head Whovian. This episode had a lot of plates to spin and a smorgasbord of baddies to dispatch. There was slimy manosphere scumbag Conrad, two incarnations of the Rani, returning uber-Time Lord Omega, and the infant god of wishes Desiderium — not to mention the marauding Bone Beasts. Almost all of them were swatted aside with quite frankly hilarious ease via the sort of writing trickery that only a show this frantic can allow. Read more: This Is Why Doctor Who Fans Aren't All Convinced That Billie Piper Is Really The New Doctor (HuffPost, 5 min read) Doctor Who excels at getting itself out of corners, whether that's with a wave of the sonic screwdriver, a flourish of timey-wimey nonsense, or a smart line of dialogue. That sort of thing has been part of the show forever. Sometimes it's fun, sometimes it's profound, and sometimes it's frustrating, but it seems churlish to start complaining about it now. Put simply, this episode of Doctor Who was loads of fun. It never paused for breath long enough to allow you to think about how messy it all was — and it was — but delivered very impressive spectacle and joyous energy. It's hard to imagine the Doctor Who of old giving us an enormous battle between UNIT and skyscraper-sized bone critters and you just have to Google images of Omega's classic form to show how much he has changed thanks to the influx of Disney cash. If this was the last hurrah for Doctor Who's bond with Disney, then Davies decided to make sure he was spending every penny of that money and embracing every inch of the increased scope he was allowed. His series finales over the years have always delighted in testing the limits of the show's spectacle and The Reality War had more than a few echoes of the 2008 two-parter The Stolen Earth/Journey's End, which also featured a surprise regeneration — albeit one used as a fake-out cliffhanger — and brought back just about every significant companion of the era. Read more: Ncuti Gatwa blames bad knees for Doctor Who exit (BANG Showbiz, 3 min read) More than anybody else, Davies understands that Doctor Who is at its best when it's speedy and silly, capering through time and space with its tongue lodged firmly in its cheek and its two hearts beating double-time. Why not have the Rani munched down by Omega? Why not resolve the most powerful god of the pantheon with a single whisper? Why not bring Jodie Whittaker back for a two-minute cameo? Doctor Who fans need to relax and enjoy the silly sci-fi show. It's absolutely capable of being profound and smart and intricate at times, which is great, but its default setting is to be a rollicking adventure through time and space with an immortal hero at the top of the cast list. It would be wrong to say that The Reality War completely stuck the landing or that it managed to deliver satisfactory pay-offs to the myriad plot threads introduced throughout the series. Those brief appearances of the Doctor's granddaughter, for example, came to precisely nothing. But what this finale did do was provide a healthy dose of chaos for the "mad man with a box" — and tease plenty more chaos to come. Sit back and enjoy the ride. Doctor Who is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Doctor Who fans are furious again, but they should just enjoy the ride'
Doctor Who fans are furious. That's probably an evergreen sentence, to be quite honest, but in this case it's truer than usual. This weekend saw the latest series of the time-travelling show come to an end with hour-long epic episode The Reality War. To say it has been divisive would be the understatement of the year. In fact, divisive might be the wrong word. The reaction has been almost universally negative, whether it's to the return of Omega, the resolution of the story involving the Rani or, of course, that big surprise in the final few moments of the episode. With so many rumours about the cloudy future of the show, many fans were disappointed to see this series end in the way that it did. Note: There are spoilers ahead for the Doctor Who finale, so tread carefully. Many of the headlines in the wake of the episode are, naturally, focused on the surprise regeneration scene that ended the series. Ncuti Gatwa has said farewell to the TARDIS and, barring any sort of further twist, it appears that Billie Piper will be the next incarnation of the Doctor — 20 years after she became the first companion of the revival era when she debuted as Rose Tyler alongside Christopher Eccleston as the Time Lord. Notably, though, Piper's name in the final credits was not listed as playing the Doctor. So there's something afoot and the door is very much ajar for a different actor to jump in and grab the TARDIS key in the near future. In a series dominated by big, audacious swings on the part of showrunner Russell T Davies, this surprise regeneration was arguably the biggest risk of all. After all, it's very rare that a Doctor's goodbye is a complete shock. In 2013, the BBC dedicated an entire TV special to revealing Peter Capaldi as the next Doctor and, back in 2022, Gatwa was announced as the new permanent Doctor several months before Jodie Whittaker regenerated on screen. Read more: 'Doctor Who's new series is its boldest ever, and you should be watching' (Yahoo Entertainment, 4 min read) Times have changed. Unless you really had your ear to the ground in hardcore fan spaces, Billie Piper's return was an enormous surprise. And ultimately, that's the sort of thing we should welcome. The fact that a 60-year-old TV show covered in breathless detail by the tabloid press can still pull off a shock like this is worthy of celebration. And broadly, that's how I feel about the episode as a whole. The Reality War was Doctor Who at its silliest, moving at a breathless gallop of the kind that Davies proved so good at back in his previous tenure as the head Whovian. This episode had a lot of plates to spin and a smorgasbord of baddies to dispatch. There was slimy manosphere scumbag Conrad, two incarnations of the Rani, returning uber-Time Lord Omega, and the infant god of wishes Desiderium — not to mention the marauding Bone Beasts. Almost all of them were swatted aside with quite frankly hilarious ease via the sort of writing trickery that only a show this frantic can allow. Read more: This Is Why Doctor Who Fans Aren't All Convinced That Billie Piper Is Really The New Doctor (HuffPost, 5 min read) Doctor Who excels at getting itself out of corners, whether that's with a wave of the sonic screwdriver, a flourish of timey-wimey nonsense, or a smart line of dialogue. That sort of thing has been part of the show forever. Sometimes it's fun, sometimes it's profound, and sometimes it's frustrating, but it seems churlish to start complaining about it now. Put simply, this episode of Doctor Who was loads of fun. It never paused for breath long enough to allow you to think about how messy it all was — and it was — but delivered very impressive spectacle and joyous energy. It's hard to imagine the Doctor Who of old giving us an enormous battle between UNIT and skyscraper-sized bone critters and you just have to Google images of Omega's classic form to show how much he has changed thanks to the influx of Disney cash. If this was the last hurrah for Doctor Who's bond with Disney, then Davies decided to make sure he was spending every penny of that money and embracing every inch of the increased scope he was allowed. His series finales over the years have always delighted in testing the limits of the show's spectacle and The Reality War had more than a few echoes of the 2008 two-parter The Stolen Earth/Journey's End, which also featured a surprise regeneration — albeit one used as a fake-out cliffhanger — and brought back just about every significant companion of the era. Read more: Ncuti Gatwa blames bad knees for Doctor Who exit (BANG Showbiz, 3 min read) More than anybody else, Davies understands that Doctor Who is at its best when it's speedy and silly, capering through time and space with its tongue lodged firmly in its cheek and its two hearts beating double-time. Why not have the Rani munched down by Omega? Why not resolve the most powerful god of the pantheon with a single whisper? Why not bring Jodie Whittaker back for a two-minute cameo? Doctor Who fans need to relax and enjoy the silly sci-fi show. It's absolutely capable of being profound and smart and intricate at times, which is great, but its default setting is to be a rollicking adventure through time and space with an immortal hero at the top of the cast list. It would be wrong to say that The Reality War completely stuck the landing or that it managed to deliver satisfactory pay-offs to the myriad plot threads introduced throughout the series. Those brief appearances of the Doctor's granddaughter, for example, came to precisely nothing. But what this finale did do was provide a healthy dose of chaos for the "mad man with a box" — and tease plenty more chaos to come. Sit back and enjoy the ride. Doctor Who is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
What Billie Piper said in the past about Doctor Who being a woman
Billie Piper made a triumphant return to Doctor Who over the weekend, but gave fans more questions than answers. The season two finale The Reality War ended on a universe shattering bombshell with Ncuti Gatwa regenerating and transforming into the former Rose Tyler actress. Whovians are still trying to figure out what it all means, including whether or not she's actually the 16th Doctor. If she is, that would make Billie,42, the second woman to take on the iconic role after 13th Doctor Jodie Whittaker, who also made a surprise appearance in the episode. However, it seems Billie, 42, hasn't always been on board with the idea of a woman in control of the TARDIS. 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. 'I don't think the Doctor should be a woman,' she initially told HELLO! in 2009, likening it to James Bond. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video She added: 'Forgive me, I know it's not a feminist thing to say, but it's like saying, 'Let's make James Bond a woman'. It's a man's role.' Eight years later, her stance had changed and she showed a change of heart, the same year Jodie was cast. She told the BBC: 'I think it would be great [to have a female Doctor] given the spirit of the world at the moment. I think it would be timely.' Billie played assistant Rose full time from 2005 to 2006 opposite Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant, and later returned for season four before appearing as The Moment in the Doctor Who 50th anniversary special. It's still unclear whether or not she actually is the Doctor or not for her new stint, as the he episode rolled to credits on Saturday with the curious phrasing: 'Introducing Billie Piper.' And despite many fans naturally jumping to conclusions about her being Ncuti's successor as the Time Lord, she has not actually been labelled as such through any official channels. On social media she reflected on her return and teased 'who, how, why and when, you'll just have to wait and see'. And the BBC added: 'Just how and why she [Billie Piper] is back remains to be seen…' while showrunner Russell T Davies echoed 'quite how and why and who is a story yet to be told'. More Trending Regardless, she has the backing of Ncuti. After sharing a nod to her original character Rose upon her return to the show, the departing Doctor reshared it on his story and wrote: 'Legend. Icon.' She wrote on her own Instagram story: 'Joy to the world Ncuti Gatwa. You were/are bloody brilliant. Truly memorable, big on feels. Utterly mesmerising.' View More » Doctor Who is available to stream on 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: 7 best shows to binge if you're already missing Doctor Who after finale MORE: Doctor Who is wasted on Disney – ditch it or it risks dying MORE: The Doctor Who finale will 'shock and terrify' — here's what parents need to know
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Doctor Who star breaks silence on surprise exit after rumours of bitter BBC row
Ncuti Gatwa has left his role as the Doctor after just two years and Billie Piper is set to take over after his regeneration on the show's latest season finale Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa has spoken out about his departure from the beloved sci-fi series. The actor, 32, who first gained widespread recognition in Netflix 's Sex Education, said an unexpected emotional farewell during the dramatic season finale on Saturday night. After two series flying through space and time to put the universe to rights in the TARDIS, Ncuti has officially stepped down from his role as the Time Lord. His successor has already been confirmed as Billie Piper, who previously played the Doctor's companion Rose Tyler in 2005. After speculation that this exit is happening as a result of a rift with the BBC, Ncuti has addressed his departure in a video, explaining that the demands of the role had taken a toll on him both physically and mentally. He shared: "It's a role that demands a lot of you physically and emotionally and mentally. The actors playing the Doctor are only actors playing the Doctor. Unfortunately, we are mere mortals. "I would love to have the energy and the youth to be able to do this full time for the rest of my life, but my knees are telling me it's time." He also took to social media to reflect on the wild journey his version of the Doctor had experienced over the last two years. Ncuti wrote: "'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. Thank you endlessly XV." In his farewell message, Ncuti also acknowledged how hard it is to say goodbye to the role, saying: "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." His comments come in the wake of online speculation that he had been suddenly dropped from the role. Some fans pointed out that Ncuti previously said he was preparing to film another season of Doctor Who, and questioned what prompted the change of plan. One posted online saying: "In October 2024, Ncuti Gatwa was on The Graham Norton Show saying he was going to be filming another series of DW [Doctor Who] next year. In June 2025, he officially leaves the show and regenerates. This was never the plan. What a shame." However, the BBC was quick to shut down those claims. A spokesperson said: "Whilst we never comment on the future of the Doctor, any suggestion that Ncuti Gatwa has been 'axed' is pure fiction." Now Billie Piper is going to be the second woman ever to play the Time Lord, following Jodie Whittaker, who also made a surprise cameo in the finale.
Euronews
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Shock finale: Fans divided over possible identity of new Doctor Who
This weekend's final episode of the 15th season of Doctor Who, 'The Reality War', saw Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor exit the role and regenerate into Billie Piper, who is already established in the beloved British sci-fi drama as former companion Rose Tyler. Piper played the character Rose Tyler for 35 episodes between 2005 and 2013 opposite the Time Lord played by Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant. The credit at the end of the programme said: "Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor. Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor. And introducing Billie Piper". So, is Piper the 16th Doctor – and therefore only the third woman to portray the character? Producers are keeping their cards close to their chest — for now. 'Just how and why she is back remains to be seen,' the BBC said in a statement after the finale aired. 'It's an honour and a hoot to welcome her back to the TARDIS, but quite how and why and who is a story yet to be told,' showrunner Russell T Davies said in a statement. Piper said 'Doctor Who' has provided some of her best memories and she couldn't pass up the opportunity to come back. 'It's no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return ... but who, how, why and when, you'll just have to wait and see,' she said. So, while Piper's statement does not make it clear whether she will be the 16th Doctor, eagle eyed fans have expressed doubts as they were quick to note that Piper was not introduced as the Doctor in the credits, as is custom... Even if the identity of the next Doctor remains uncertain, what's sure is that fans on social media appeared divided after Piper made her shock return to the series. Some expressed joy at her return, with one taking to X to write: 'I literally don't give a FUCK about anyone else's opinion. Some of you are never happy, and that's okay, be miserable. But me? I'll be sat, looking at Billie Piper. The world is healing…' Others were confused, while some prayed that this was not a gimmick and that Piper gets the opportunity to have her go as the Doctor... Some fans, however, were unimpressed. 'You need to reboot, you've dragged it to the lowest depths of hell,' wrote one, while another described the surprise return as an 'absolute train wreck.' One chimed in to say: 'Regenerating into Billie Piper just to boost ratings felt completely unneeded.' Some recalled that Christopher Eccleston, who played the 9th Doctor, once said that Piper should play a version of the Doctor... The Rwanda-born, Scotland-raised Gatwa, 29, was the first Black actor to helm the show, but he wasn't the first Black Doctor — Jo Martin played 'Fugitive Doctor' in several episodes. In a statement, Gatwa said of his departure: "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." He added: "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.' He concluded: 'I'll truly miss it, and forever be grateful to it, and everyone that has played a part in my journey as the Doctor." Gatwa took over the role from Jodie Whittaker in 2023. Whittaker was the 13th Doctor and the first woman to play the galaxy-hopping extraterrestrial who regenerates into new bodies. She took over from Peter Capaldi in 2017. Martin was the second woman. It's unknown when Doctor Who will next appear on our screens and when fans will get answers. The show typically has a Christmas special, but this has not been confirmed. If the series should return in 2026, production would need to get going pretty quickly. Fans online are speculating that a new series will hit the screens in 2027. That's a long time to wait for the confirmed identity of the new Time Lord... 'When we build, let us think that we build forever,' Italian fashion designer Brunello Cucinelli quoted English polymath John Ruskin at an address to celebrate being the first recipient of an honorary doctorate in 'Design for Made in Italy: Identity, Innovation, and Sustainability'. The same quote is inscribed on a plaque in the centre of Solomeo, the hamlet which Cucinelli has made the home of his family, business and spiritual life since 1985. Once a crumbling site at the top of a hill among the rolling Umbrian countryside, it has been lovingly restored over the years thanks to funds from the Cucinelli enterprise. It is for this that he's been honoured at the University of Campania by a group of universities and specialists in the field of architecture, as well as the extension of this work to the surrounding Umbrian region. It is the first time the designer has received an award for architecture. In 2010 the designer, famed for his luxurious cashmere knitwear, and his wife, established Fondazione Brunello e Federica Cucinelli which has had a significant and lasting impact on the Umbrian region. The Italian region is characterised by medieval towns, monasteries and lush green fields and hills which make it a popular holiday and wedding destination, but the countless historic sites present a challenge to maintain. 'I firmly believe in the duty to preserve this legacy,' says Cucinelli. 'In losing our memories, we would lose ourselves. Moreover, safeguarding history means giving substance to the future.' Walking around Perugia, the region's capital, you won't find the Cucinelli name celebrated on a plaque or in the name of a building, but the family's influence is everywhere. It's in the pink tones of the Roman inscription on the city's Etruscan arch landmark, which hadn't been visible to present-day visitors until the Cucinelli Foundation restored it in 2014. It's in the beautifully refurbished interiors of the Morlacchi theatre, which has remained open to residents thanks to funding given in 2017 and the fresh façade of the cathedral they supported in 2022. In 2018, Brunello Cucinelli sold a 6% share in his eponymous company to add a further €100 million to the foundation. The foundation's current ongoing projects include a library in Solomeo and the rebuilding of the medieval village of Castelluccio di Norcia which was destroyed in an earthquake in 2016. Many of Italy's fashion houses have contributed to the restoration of the country's historic landmarks. Fendi donated €2 million to the restoration of the Trevi Fountain in 2013, Salvatore Ferragamo renovated a wing of the Uffizi Gallery in 2015 and Bulgari sponsored work on the Spanish Steps in 2016. While these projects are necessary and worthwhile, there's something particularly special about Cucinelli's ongoing work on a local level in the region he clearly loves so deeply. The projects also go beyond preserving history, with many having tangible benefits for the wider community too. Culture, education and spirituality are at the heart of many of them. 'I have learned that architecture is made for mankind,' he explains. Brunello Cucinelli was born in the rural Umbrian village of Castel Rigone, around 20km from Solomeo. He met his wife, Federica, in her hometown of Solomeo when they were teenagers and the couple set up home in the hamlet which today is home to around 700 other residents. It's also now home to their two daughters, Camilla and Carolina, along with their husbands, all of whom work in the company, and their children. Down in the valley next to the hamlet is the Brunello Cucinelli factory and offices which provide work to around 700 employees. The space is bright and clean, with large windows that look out onto the manicured lawns and surrounding countryside, a luxury many fashion workers don't get in city warehouses. Lunch breaks are an hour and a half, no one eats at their desk, and everyone leaves on time at the end of the day. 'That time is for your soul,' says the entrepreneur. Even among his own family, they don't talk business at the dinner table. Cucinelli has a reputation as 'fashion's philosopher', and his speech at the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli was littered with the thoughts and words of great thinkers: Kant, St Francis, St Benedict, Xenophanes, Emperor Hadrian and many more. He's driven by his own philosophy of 'humanistic capitalism'. Unlike many capitalists though, he thinks far into the future. The old workshops of the company in Solomeo are kept in a way that they could be returned into residential apartments should the company no longer need them. The spaces are currently being used, however, to train future generations of artisans. 'I'm not concerned about who will buy luxury in the future, I'm concerned about who will make it,' Cucinelli says. The School of Contemporary High Craftsmanship and Arts opened in 2013 offers programmes which directly support the company's outputs, such as pattern cutting, tailoring and mending, but also horticulture, gardening and masonry, skills which he believes need preserving for the wider world. Since Brunello Cucinelli went public in 2012, its market capitalisation has grown from €530 million to €6.5 billion, a dream come true for any entrepreneur. However, it's clear from what he's done with this fortune over the past 15 years that his dreams go bigger than business success, bigger than the company itself and bigger than his own lifetime. As he collects his honorary doctorate in architecture he muses about his own company, but also calls on the room to consider the impact of their own actions, saying: 'The future is not wholly ours, nor is it wholly not ours.'
