Category: Doctor Who

David Tennant Confirms He’d Be Up For A Return To Doctor Who

David Tennant has confirmed that he’d be up for a return to Doctor Who if he was asked to step back in to the TARDIS.

He was speaking as part of an exclusive interview that was shown in US theaters yesterday as part of a special ten year anniversary screening of his final episodes, The End Of Time.

And whilst David and his fans would be thrilled to see him return as the Tenth Doctor David pointed out that the decision for any return is out of his hands,
“People ask me this like it’s in my gift, like it’s my decision when I’ll just stroll back out on set and go, ‘Right. Turn Over. Here I am.’ It doesn’t really work like that.”

But he did admit he’d love to team up with current Doctor Jodie Whittaker and fellow Time Lords Christopher Eccleston, Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi.

“It would be fun to do. Jodie and Peter and Matt are all mates now. It’d be wonderful to be on set with them. Chris, I don’t know as well, but I’m a huge admirer of him and I’ve always enjoyed meeting him, so it’d be fun if we were all on set together.”

With another milestone anniversary coming up in 2023, maybe that could be a good chance for a multi Doctor adventure?

“I suppose the opportunity has historically been there for Doctors to return to an extent. There would come a point where I wouldn’t be able to get away with it. I wouldn’t be able to fit in the suit or get my hair to stand up at the end like I used to.

“There’s a 60th anniversary in a few years, and the question will inevitably come up. But it won’t be for me to decide.”

Jodie Whittaker will definitely return for next season of Doctor Who

The BBC has announced that Jodie Whittaker will continue to play the titular Time Lord in the next season of Doctor Who. The corporation also confirmed that Whittaker’s costars — Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill, and Tosin Cole — will also be coming back for the next run of shows. Season 11 will premiere on BBC America in early 2020.

“We’re off again!” said Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall in a statement. “Well we never actually stopped — as Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor and friends have been winning the hearts of families, we’ve been busy with a whole new set of action packed adventures for the Thirteenth Doctor. We adore making this show and have been blown away by the response from audiences, so we can’t wait to bring more scares, more monsters and more Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole. Brilliant!”

‘Doctor Who’ Will Have A New Year’s Day Special Instead Of Christmas Night

BBC America is going to ring in 2019 with Doctor Who. Breaking away from the traditional Christmas Day timeslot, the popular series will have its first-ever “Who Year’s Day” which will include a marathon of all the Christmas specials that will pave the way to the aforementioned New Year’s Day special

The marathon will begin 12pm ET/PT on December 24 and lead into Christmas Day. After that, it will be a celebratory marathon of all the Doctors tarting with Peter Capaldi, followed by Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, and Matt Smith, leading straight into the New Year’s special on January 1.

The all-new episode is written by Chris Chibnall and directed by Wayne Yip (Preacher, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency). As the New Year begins, a terrifying evil is stirring from across the centuries of Earth’s history. Will the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker), Ryan (Tosin Cole), Graham (Bradley Walsh) and Yaz (Mandip Gill) be able to overcome this threat to Planet Earth?

Showrunner Chris Chibnall said, “We’re thrilled to be starting the New Year with a bang, as Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor and friends face a terrifying alien threat in an action-packed, hour-long special adventure for all the family.”

Whittaker made history as the first female Doctor in the franchise. It has since become a hit with viewers. The current season of Doctor Who is averaging nearly one million viewers per episode, up 54 percent from the previous season and ranking as the fastest-growing scripted series of the year across all key demos.

The finale of the current season will air on December 9th.

Jodie Whittaker becomes first woman to play Doctor Who

Fire up the TARDIS, because Jodie Whittaker is the new face of Doctor Who — and the first woman to ever play the title role.

The BBC announced Whittaker’s casting on Sunday morning after the Wimbledon Men’s Final.

The actress will be taking over the titular role when the show returns for its highly anticipated Christmas Special later this year, where the beloved Time Lord will “regenerate,” thus transforming from current series star Peter Capaldi into Whittaker’s 13th Doctor. The Broadchurch actress will be the 13th person to hold the title of the Doctor since the long-running British science fiction series first premiered in 1963.

Whittaker is the first female to play Doctor Who in the franchise’s history. However, as viewers will be aware, women playing Time Lords isn’t a particularly new concept for the show. Until recently, the latest incarnation of the Master — one of the Doctor’s most dangerous foes, and a fellow Gallifreyan — was female, with Missy being brought to life by Michelle Gomez. And while previous seasons of the show have poked fun at the Doctor possibly having been female in his youth, the most recent two-part season finale saw Twelve comment on it once more, telling his companion Bill (played by Pearl Mackie), “We’re billions of years beyond your petty human obsession with gender and its associated stereotypes.”

Capaldi isn’t the only one leaving. Current showrunner Steven Moffat will also be stepping down, with the upcoming Christmas Special — which sees Game of Thrones‘ David Bradley once again don the familiar coat and scarf of the First Doctor as he joins his older self for his latest adventure — serving as his last episode before new showrunner Chris Chibnall (Broadchurch) takes over.

“There’s new monsters, there’s new jeopardy. But what’s fascinating is the First Doctor confronting the superhero he’s going to become, with his supersize TARDIS and all that,” Moffat tells EW of this last episode. “It’s my show up to the point Mr. Capaldi regenerates. Then it passes to Chris, and he worries about the last section.”

With a new Doctor already cast, and a new showrunner in place, the only thing left is the announcement of who will serve as a companion to the latest version of the Time Lord, as both recent companions Bill Potts and Nardole (played by Pearl Mackie and Matt Lucas, respectively) have since left the Doctor — though with enough open-endedness for them to make a comeback, should Chibnall choose to have them. Thus, Moffat has left his successor with as clean a slate as his predecessor Russel T. Davies did for him in 2010.

The Doctor Who Christmas special airs Dec. 25 on BBC America.

‘Doctor Who’: BBC America to Announce 13th Doctor This Weekend

“Doctor Who” fans will finally find out who their 13th Doctor will be Sunday after the Wimbledon Men’s Final on BBC America.

BBC announced the news in a video posted to the official BBC America Twitter account Friday morning. Peter Capaldi will officially be departing the cult-favorite series after three seasons as the 12th Doctor.

Capaldi is the fourth actor to play the hero since the 2005 reboot of the ’80s science fiction show: Christoper Eccleston played the Doctor for the first season, with David Tennant (arguably the most well-received actor) taking on the role for the second, third, and fourth seasons. Matt Smith stepped into the Doctor’s shoes for the following three seasons leading up to Capaldi’s tenure. The ability to cast different actors in the role hinges on the fact that the alien Doctor, when suffering a mortal wound, “regenerates” rather than dies.

Showrunner Steven Moffat, also of “Sherlock,” is leaving the series as well, possibly to the gratification of some fans and critics who argued that since Moffat’s takeover of the series from Russell T. Davies in 2010, “Doctor Who” had gone downhill in some respects. He will be replaced by Chris Chibnall of “Broadchurch.”

Speculation about the next Doctor begins almost as soon as the new one is selected, and some have wondered whether the 13th Doctor will be a woman, breaking the long streak of male Doctors paired with (generally) female companions. If the gender of the Doctor does indeed change, Olivia Colman is a fan-favorite to take up the mantle, particularly since she already has a relationship with Chibnall from her role on “Broadchurch,” as well as the backing of co-star Tennant.

Several other actors have put their names forth for the role, whether in jest or seriousness, but all will be revealed Sunday.

New ‘Doctor Who’ companion Pearl Mackie to get the boot after one season: Report

Pearl Mackie is reportedly set to be axed from Doctor Who after just one series of playing the Time Lord’s assistant.

The 29-year-old actress joined the cast of the BBC show in April, 2016, starring alongside Peter Capaldi’s Doctor. But after the actor announced he had quit the show, with his last episode coming at the end of the year, The U.K. Sun now claims that Mackie’s days on the show are “numbered.”

“Bosses have decided to have a completely fresh start,” a source told the newspaper. “Peter has already confirmed his exit and the rest of the team’s days are numbered too.

“It’s yet to be formally decided but it makes sense to give Chris (new Doctor Who boss, Chris Chibnall) his own choice of actor to play the Doctor and his companion.”

The report comes just weeks after Mackie revealed that her character Bill Potts will make Doctor Who history by becoming the first openly gay character in the show, with her sexuality revealed at the beginning of the first new episode when the BBC sci-fi series returns to Space here in Canada on April 15.

“It shouldn’t be a big deal in the 21st Century,” Mackie told the BBC. “It’s about time, isn’t it? That representation is important, especially on a mainstream show.

“It’s important to say people are gay, people are black – there are also aliens in the world as well so watch out for them.

“I remember watching TV as a young mixed race girl not seeing many people who looked like me, so I think being able to visually recognize yourself on screen is important.”

It remains to be seen who replaces Capaldi as the next Time Lord and, if The Sun’s claims are true, as his new assistant. There has been speculation that bosses are hoping to break another boundary by having a female actress play the Doctor – with Tilda Swinton and Olivia Colman among the names apparently being considered for the part.

Peter Capaldi Stepping Down as ‘Doctor Who’

Peter Capaldi has announced his plans to hang up his sonic screwdriver and step down as the 12th incarnation of Doctor Who.

The actor made the announcement on BBC radio on Monday.

“One of the greatest privileges of being Doctor Who is to see the world at its best,” he said. From our brilliant crew and creative team working for the best broadcaster on the planet, to the viewers and fans whose endless creativity, generosity and inclusiveness points to a brighter future ahead. I can’t thank everyone enough. It’s been cosmic.”

Capaldi first stepped into the Tardis in 2013 and is set to leave in the Christmas 2017 special after three seasons at the same time as showrunner Steven Moffat exits the hit BBC sci-fi series.

“For years before I ever imagined being involved in Doctor Who, or had ever met the man, I wanted to work with Peter Capaldi. I could not have imagined that one day we’d be standing on the Tardis together,” said Moffat. Like Peter, I’m facing up to leaving the best job I’ll ever have, but knowing I do so in the company of the best, and kindest and cleverest of men, makes the saddest of endings a little sweeter.”

‘Doctor Who’ Showrunner Steven Moffat to Exit After Season 10

“Doctor Who” showrunner Steven Moffat will exit the series after the conclusion of its tenth season, it was announced Friday.

News of Moffat’s exit was first revealed by the UK’s Radio Times magazine, and was later confirmed by the official “Doctor Who” Twitter account:

Steven Moffat will step down as Head Writer & Exec Producer after S10… Chris Chibnall to take over! pic.twitter.com/iMhNoEAegy

— Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) January 22, 2016

“Broadchurch” writer and self-proclaimed “Doctor Who” fan Chris Chibnall will replace Moffat.

“Feels odd to be talking about leaving when I’m just starting work on the scripts for season 10, but the fact is my timey-wimey is running out. While Chris is doing his last run of ‘Broadchurch,’ I’ll be finishing up on the best job in the universe and keeping the TARDIS warm for him,” Moffat said in a statement. “It took a lot of gin and tonic to talk him into this, but I am beyond delighted that one of the true stars of British Television drama will be taking the Time Lord even further into the future. At the start of season 11, Chris Chibnall will become the new showrunner of ‘Doctor Who.’ And I will be thrown in a skip.”

“‘Doctor Who’ is the ultimate BBC program: bold, unique, vastly entertaining, and adored all around the world. So it’s a privilege and a joy to be the next curator of this funny, scary and emotional family drama,” said Chibnall. “I’ve loved ‘Doctor Who’ since I was four years old, and I’m relishing the thought of working with the exceptional team at BBC Wales to create new characters, creatures and worlds for the Doctor to explore. Steven’s achieved the impossible by continually expanding ‘Doctor Who’s’ creative ambition, while growing its global popularity. He’s been a dazzling and daring showrunner, and hearing his plans and stories for 2017, it’s clear he’ll be going out with a bang. Just to make my life difficult.”

Charlotte Moore, Controller, BBC One says: “I want to thank Steven Moffat for everything he has given ‘Doctor Who’ – I’ve loved working with him, he is an absolute genius and has brought fans all over the world such joy. I will be very sad to see him leave the show but I can’t wait to see what he will deliver in his last ever series next year with a brand new companion. I have decided to schedule Steven’s big finale series in Spring 2017 to bring the nation together for what will be a huge event on the channel. 2016 is spoilt with national moments including the Euros and Olympics and I want to hold something big back for 2017 – I promise it will be worth the wait! I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Chris Chibnall, a wonderfully talented writer who I know will bring something very special to the hit series.”

Added Polly Hill, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning: “Like Charlotte I would like to thank Steven for his brilliance, which has made ‘Doctor Who’ a global hit under his tenure. Chris Chibnall is the perfect successor to take over the reins of this incredible show, so I am delighted that his love for ‘Doctor Who’ has made it impossible for him to resist! Chris is an incredible writer and his vision and passion for Doctor Who gives it an exciting future and promises to be a real treat for ‘Doctor Who’ fans across the world.”

Season 10 of “Doctor Who,” comprised of 12 episodes, is scheduled to air in the UK in Spring 2017, with Chibnall’s season set to debut in 2018. No US airdate has been set, but in recent years the Stateside schedule has been brought into alignment with the UK airings. Moffat will still be on hand to oversee the 2016 “Doctor Who” Christmas special, per the Radio Times, although it has yet to be determined whether the Doctor’s new companion will be a part of the episode.

Hayley Atwell wants to play the Doctor on Doctor Who

Jay Z once rapped, “I’m not a businessman; I’m a business, man!” Now none other than Agent Carter star Hayley Atwell is echoing that aim-high attitude and letting that world know she’d like to appear on Doctor Who — if she gets to play the Doctor, that is.

Atwell, the British actress best known for playing an Atomic Age spy in Marvel’s Agent Carter TV series and the Captain America movies, was recently asked by a fan in a Twitter Q&A if she’d like to be on Doctor Who, the long-running BBC show about a time-and-space-hopping alien.

“I’d like to BE Doctor Who,” Atwell replied, setting Who fans’ hearts aflutter.

Although the dozen past and current versions of the show’s title character have been portrayed by white men — a fact criticized by some viewers who’d prefer more Doctor diversity — there’s no narrative reason the character couldn’t come back from one of his frequent reincarnations as a woman. Indeed, the Doctor’s own nemesis the Master recently reappeared in a new female form.

While Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat has been ambivalent about the prospect of a female Doctor, cast member Jenna Coleman said at Comic-Con, “I’m sure it will happen at some point. I think it’s just about casting the right actor.”

Doctor Who movie, Sherlock crossover not happening, Steven Moffat says

A Doctor Who movie? Not happening. A Doctor Who and Sherlock cross-over? Also not happening. A less grumpy Peter Capaldi in season 9? Might be happening just a little. Executive producer Steven Moffat gave EW the current lowdown on two projects that seem to resurface in the online rumor mill time and again, as well as recent reports of a lighter Time Lord.

First, a Doctor Who movie. (Or, for those being sticklers, a second Doctor Who film, if you count the 1996 TV movie.) “I don’t think there is one,” Moffat says. “No one has ever squared the circle on that. How do we do this? How do we do it without leaching from the television series—which we’re not allowed to do, because Doctor Who is public funded? If it’s going to be a different Doctor, are we going to try and sell two Doctors at the same time? I know there’s been loads of Doctors, but there’s only been one at a time. You don’t have a James Bond on television and one in the cinema. If he’s the same guy, then when are we going to make that?”

Plus, Moffat notes, a movie would have to be properly financed, and he already struggles enough each year trying to get a healthy-sized budget for the TV show. “We’re talking one of the biggest TV shows in the world. It can’t just be a medium-size movie—it’s gotta be a colossal movie,” Moffat says. “I’ve sat with people, saying—and in the end it’s not my decision or my choice, I don’t own Doctor Who—‘Okay, explain to me how it’s going to work.’ And nobody has an answer.”

Everybody does have an answer, however, when it comes to the idea of a Sherlock and Doctor Who crossover. But it’s a different answer than Moffat’s opinion on the matter. While Moffat would like to please fans who want to see the world’s greatest detective and the Time Lord team up, his fellow producers (like Mark Gatiss and Sue Vertue) and his Sherlock stars (Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman) are all against the idea.

“My instinct—and this is probably from years of doing Doctor Who—is I’m just such a tart,” Moffat says. “If people want it, we should give it to them. But I got persuaded by Mark, Benedict, Sue and Martin who said, ‘Look, it will never be as good as [fans] think it’s going to be.’ And then I say, ‘Yes but we’ll just bang it out and make it as good.’ Yeah, but you can’t give everybody everything they want all the time. But I’m in the camp of giving them everything they want! But I think they’re sane and right, and I’m just a tart.”

Another recent rumor was that Doctor Who’s next season—the second for star Peter Capaldi—would be “lighter” than the first because Moffat told a reporter, ”[The Doctor has] left some of the burden of being a superhero of the universe behind. So I’m pushing him—I’m writing quite funny this year—I’m pushing him the other way.”

Moffat says that quote was misinterpreted. “I told the [show’s] writers, don’t just write him mean, write him funny—because he’ll make any joke fly,” Moffat says. “As ever, Doctor Who is a combination of complete daft silliness and loads of people getting slaughtered in the early evening. Tonally, [next season is] very much the same. Peter is getting stronger and more confident in the role.”