The intense finale of Doctor Who series 15 ended with a shocking appearance from one previous franchise star, who has finally commented on their return. Ncuti Gatwa’s tenure as the Doctor seemingly came to an end in Doctor Who series 15, episode 8, “The Reality War,” which pitted the Time Lord against the Rani (Archie Panjabi and Anita Dobson) and Omega (Nicholas Briggs). It wasn’t this battle that led to the Doctor’s regeneration, however, as he later sacrificed his 15th incarnation to bring Poppy (Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps) back to life, but this was no ordinary regeneration.
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Instead of regenerating into the 16th Doctor – the identity of whom is yet to be confirmed – Ncuti Gatwa’s incarnation of the Time Lord regenerated into a character played by Billie Piper. Piper’s return to Doctor Who after previously playing Rose Tyler and the Moment has caused confusion, especially since her character hasn’t yet been revealed. Piper has now released a statement, however, addressing her return to Doctor Who, and teasing her character’s future (via BBC).
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.
Billie Piper debuted in Doctor Who back in 2005 opposite Christopher Eccleston, bringing the series back after its 16-year hiatus following its cancellation in 1989. Piper portrayed Rose Tyler, who became a crucial part of Doctor Who history and lore, not only as a charismatic companion, or even love interest to David Tennant’s 10th Doctor, but also as the Bad Wolf. Rose Tyler became trapped in a parallel universe in Doctor Who series 2’s finale, “Doomsday,” but returned alongside many of the Doctor’s previous companions in series 4’s epic double finale, “The Stolen Earth” and “Journey’s End.”
Despite her prominence as Rose Tyler, it doesn’t seem as though Billie Piper is returning to the franchise as this beloved companion. Piper most recently returned to Doctor Who as the embodiment of the Moment, the weapon John Hurt’s War Doctor intended to use to end the Time War in 2013’s “The Day of the Doctor.” Piper’s uncredited character in Doctor Who series 15 and Piper’s own refusal to name her role, stating we’ll “just have to wait and see,” has created doubt that she’s actually playing the Doctor, and series creator Russell T. Davies has added to this speculation.
“Billie once changed the whole of television, back in 2005,” Davies suggested while speaking to BBC, “and now she’s done it again. It’s an honor and a hoot to welcome her back to the TARDIS, but quite how and why and who is a story yet to be told.” All this combined seems to imply that Billie Piper is playing someone other than the Doctor, perhaps someone connected to her former Bad Wolf identity – Gatwa’s Doctor did regenerate via the Heart of the TARDIS. It’s currently unclear when Doctor Who will return to explain Billie Piper’s return.
What did you think of Billie Piper’s return to Doctor Who? Let us know in the comments!
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