Showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers are talking about missed opportunities ahead of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' premiere on the 2026 TV schedule, and it's bumming me out. Not long after revealing they were close to getting William Shatner in the series, we're now hearing the fabled Doctor Who crossover was also close to happening.

While both shows nodded at each other in recent years, Goldsman recently told AwardsRadar during an interview that he was actively working with recently departed Who showrunner Russell T. Davies on making the crossover a reality. Here's what he said:

As a fan of Doctor Who and Star Trek who loves the new era of both, this is just another gut punch. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has already wrapped filming on its final season, and Doctor Who is on indefinite hiatus for the time being. We were so close to having The Doctor on the Enterprise in live-action, and now we're presumably back to square one and may never see it happen. That situation could change a year or two from now, but as it stands, it feels there's no chance.

Of course, I say live-action crossover because we've seen The Doctor and Jean-Luc Picard cross paths in comic books thanks to IDW Publishing's crossover. I should also point out that in addition to Pelia's mention of traveling with The Doctor in Strange New Worlds, the series also showcased the TARDIS in a background shot of a Season 3 episode.

As for Doctor Who, The Doctor implied to companion Ruby Sunday that Starfleet is a real organization when she likened his technology to something out of Star Trek. It had me jazzed back then and hoping I'd stream a crossover one day with my Paramount+ subscription, but it just wasn't fated to be. Here's hoping both franchises find a way to cross paths again down the line, and it's all we hoped for and more.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 premieres on Paramount+ on July 23rd. As for Doctor Who, we're not sure when we can expect to see the series return, but I'm crossing my fingers and toes we don't have to wait too long.

Russell T. Davies teased a big announcement for Doctor Who not long ago, but I don't think anyone predicted that it'd be his exit. The showrunner announced he's officially completed his second stint and said that the BBC series will not return to the 2026 TV schedule as previously promised. This is development that sure to stoke up varied feelings within the Who fandom. As for me, though, I think this is the right decision for the franchise.

While previously leaked information suggested Doctor Who's Christmas special was canceled, there was news that the series had found a new star of the show and was aiming to return sometime around Easter 2027. It doesn't seem like that's the case based on Russell T. Davies' post on Instagram, in which he says the BBC is "putting the show out to tender":

While some people may be upset with the news, there's reason to see this as a positive development. Of course, I say that with full respect to Russell T. Davies, who did just about everything a showrunner can do to try and increase viewership for Doctor Who. With that, at the end of the day, if bringing back David Tennant, casting a young up-and-coming star like Ncuti Gatwa, guest stars like Jonathan Groff, and making Billie Piper a literal Doctor isn't enough to bring back fans, then the franchise needs a larger change.

Of course, Russell T. Davies hinted at some potentially big changes in store for the franchise, but again, is he wrong? Sure, taking away the TARDIS or other cornerstones of what makes Doctor Who would upset some fans but, as it stands right now, the core fandom is not enough to make the franchise a success.

Personally, I think the journey starts with the right actor.Who needs a good (but not overly saturated) name to play the Time Lord, because that's the easiest path to drawing in a new audience. Ncuti Gatwa's casting was a great choice, and he made for a great Doctor. So find another up-and-coming young actor to take the helm and try to recapture the magic that had so many people hooked.

So now, we wait, and the question no one has the answer to at this time is, how long? Will it be a couple of months before we get an update on Doctor Who, or are we looking at a couple of years? The last time Doctor Who was canceled, it took fifteen years for it to return to TV. The BBC has not canceled the series at this time, so I'm hopeful it won't be too long before it returns.

In the meantime, those of us in the United States have the back catalog of the series on streaming again, so at least we can watch past Christmas specials! We can also check out some of the best Doctor Who episodes, many of which Russell T. Davies had a hand in. Hey, maybe Disney+ will throw us a bone and finally release The War Between the Land and the Sea, and we can finally see that acclaimed spinoff.

So, while there's no Doctor Who coming up in the foreseeable future, do yourself a favor by looking through some of the franchise's best episodes. The newer episodes are still over on Disney+, but I do wonder if they'll eventually be sent over to AMC once Disney has to renew the rights to it. Aside from that, I remain eager to see what lies ahead for this beloved franchise.

It looks like Doctor Who fans, may have further confirmation that the show won't return to the 2026 TV schedule. This comes shortly after the circulation of rumors about The BBC supposedly holding off on moving forward with a previously announced Christmas special. Series EP Russell T. Davies seemed to confirme that piece of gossip while also sharing a major update on the next doctor. Here's what we know right now regarding what fans can expect going into the summer.

What Russell T. Davies Said About The Christmas Special

Davies was recently a guest on Full Disclosure With James O'Brien and, whether he meant to or not, might've confirmed that Doctor Who's Christmas special isn't happening in 2026. The comment was made while the writer/producer discussed his work on another series, Tip Toe, as he laid out his schedule for the rest of the year:

Now, it's possible Russell T. Davies was speaking specifically to Tip Toe, but it seems like he just said he wouldn't film anything for the rest of the year. If that's the case, it would appear that we're not getting the Doctor Who Christmas special after all, and Davies still had yet to write it when asked about it last year.

This could be truly sad news for people who've been eager to see Billie Piper back in another DW Christmas special. However, this could mean the rumor that the show will return in Easter 2027 is accurate.

Russell T. Davies Speaks About Doctor Who's Next Lead Actor

Russell T. Davies also confirmed another rumor about Doctor Who, as its been rumored for a while that Billie Piper's stint as The Doctor, or whoever she really is, will be a one-off. It was previously rumored that The BBC had struggled to find another actor to play The Doctor following Ncuti Gatwa's sudden exit. However, that doesn't seem to be the case based on what Davies just said during an interview on Sounds of the 80s with Gary Davies when the host asked about when the public will learn about the new Doctor:

Did Davies just say The BBC has already selected a new Doctor and will be announcing their identity in a couple of weeks? It can't be said for sure but, if so, it'd go a long way to soften the blow of the Christmas special's theorized cancellation. Still, he didn't exactly confirm anything. It might be that Doctor Who will announce the new Doctor sometime in the near future, and no specific names will be given.

In the meantime, Who fans got some good news when AMC announced it will be the new home on streaming for a back catalog of content. That said, we still have no clue who will be hosting the series in the United States when it does return, whenever that may be. Also, for Whoniverse lovers in the U.S., The War Between the Land and the Sea will be available to stream with a Disney+ subscription sometime this year.

What I'll mostly be keeping an eye out for, though, are press releases and information regarding who the next star of Doctor Who will be. Here's hoping whoever is chosen will inject some excitement into the franchise and get people hyped about its eventual return.

The original plan for Doctor Who's immediate future was to return during the 2026 TV schedule for at least the usual Christmas special, but a new rumor suggests that's no longer the case. The latest buzz makes it sounds like Billie Piper's return could be delayed until 2027. Truthfully, though, I think that's a good thing.

The latest report comes from The Sun, which claims the BBC is heavily considering scrapping Doctor Who's upcoming Christmas special to instead plan out a different holiday episode to air sometime around Easter 2027. It's allegedly tied to previously reported rumors that the show is struggling to find a new Doctor to replace Piper, who returned under the agreement that it'd be a one-and-done arrangement. If that's the case, I 100% support the decision to pull back the reins, because I think it's vital for the franchise to get its next casting right.

Doctor Who Needs To Quit Flying By The Seat Of Its Pants And Get A Solid Plan

Ever since the 60th anniversary specials, it feels as though Doctor Who is flying by the seat of its pants. Russell T. Davies has introduced game-changing reveals like bi-regeneration and The Doctor transforming back into past iterations, but with zero consequence or resolution. Just when it feels like we get an interesting concept the show could lean on or use for fresh storylines, it's tossed aside for the next big reveal or stunt casting.

Davies has a lot of ideas, but he doesn't seem to know how to follow up on them. It was why I worried when he announced in late 2025 that he hadn't even started writing the Doctor Who Christmas special, and now seven months out, there are rumors that the BBC is balking at airing it.

Of course, this is all rumored, but I can't help but buy into it as someone tracking these stories on a regular basis. I also couldn't help but notice that while Russell T. Davies praised Saturday Night Live UK for its Doctor Who parody when Aimee Lou Wood was on, he had nothing to say about Ncuti Gatwa's somewhat harsh monologue directed at the show not long after. Perhaps the comments hit too close to home, or there's some ill feelings from the showrunner about how the series was forced to scramble amidst Gatwa's sudden exit?

Gap Years Are Not Novel For Doctor Who

While the headlines are all over Doctor Who needing to cancel a previously announced project, it's not as though gap years for the franchise are new. In fact, it was the norm for the sci-fi series until recent years, in which Russell T. Davies reduced the seasonal episode count in an effort to get more consistent yearly airings.

I can't say I'm 100% thrilled to hear we'll be going a full year without Doctor Who, but as a fan, I also think it's important that the BBC does what's best to ensure the series' long-term health. If the show doesn't have a new Doctor yet to lead the series, the last thing I want decision-makers to do is rush things and potentially leave the franchise in a worse position than it is currently. Ultimately, DW has the name recognition it can survive with a gap, so why not take the time and ensure there's a plan in place for long-term success?

We'll keep an eye out for official news on what's going on with Doctor Who's Christmas special, and whether it'll be delayed or not. I'm sure there will be more rumors over the coming months, and if these latest ones are true, I'd imagine an official announcement is on the way.

Aimee Lou Wood's episode of Saturday Night Live UK is getting positive buzz, and even Doctor Who's showrunner, Russell T. Davies, approves. His comments came after attending the latest episode, in which Wood and the cast poked fun at the UK's most celebrated sci-fi series.

With the teeth jokes out of the way, Aimee Lou Wood helped poke fun at Doctor Who, playing a companion who wasn't on board with The Doctor's latest adventure. Davies was actually in the studio audience watching it all go down ahead of his show's return to the 2026 TV schedule, and gave a rave review of the series afterward on Instagram:

I'm not surprised to see Russell T. Davies give the program its flowers, and that Sky would invite him for SNL UK's first sketch parodying Doctor Who. I am a bit surprised, however, that the show chose now to do it when they're going to have a former Doctor host in just a couple of weeks, but before getting into that, a brief recap of the sketch for those who missed it.

How SNL: UK Parodied Doctor Who

The Doctor (played by Hammed Animashaun) and his companion Ellen (Aimee Lou Wood) arrived at Trexalor 5 to witness the "Tree of Knowledge" bearing fruit that will give whoever eats it all the answers they've ever wanted. Ellen wanted those answers, but couldn't help but be horrified by the sight of the tree, which wasn't actually a tree. It was a dripping mass of unsightly pustules that, despite its unsightly appearance, still looked like it belonged in Doctor Who.

Ellen was disgusted and admonished The Doctor for frequently taking her places she didn't want to be. She decided to head back into the TARDIS to look at videos on her phone, but before she did, The Doctor requested she vape outside of the ship because he hated the smell of her mango-flavored device. Unfortunately, the fumes of the mango were highly poisonous to the alien species, and Ellen inadvertently killed the Tree of Knowledge and its guards. The sketch ended with Ellen attacking a guard, and The Doctor fleeing the scene in his TARDIS.

My Big Question: Why Didn't SNL: UK's Wait Until Ncuti Gatwa Hosts For The DW Parody?

I loved that Saturday Night Live UK finally took a jab at Doctor Who, though, I have to wonder why the sketch comedy series didn't wait until Ncuti Gatwa hosted on May 16th. He's the first former Doctor to host the series, so it would've been fitting to feature him as The Doctor for the sketch.

While SNL UK could certainly do a Doctor Who sketch in a couple of weeks, I do wonder if maybe there's some reason why Gatwa can't appear as The Doctor in a parody of the series. Whether it's contractually obligated or Gatwa doesn't want to run the risk of insulting the fandom after his sudden exit from the show, who knows? It could also be neither, and Gatwa would just rather avoid an emotional crisis like Daniel Radcliffe had when he played Harry Potter on SNL.

As for what's going on with the actual Doctor Who series, it's set to return to television with a Christmas special later this year. So far, there's no word on what comes after, though, and if Billie Piper's "Doctor" is sticking around or passing the torch to another iteration of the iconic Time Lord.

I'll be curious to see if Doctor Who is referenced again in another sketch when Ncuti Gatwa pops up on Saturday Night Live UK on May 16th. Before that, we'll watch Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham host, which I'm also excited about for completely different reasons.

Doctor Who is on hiatus until it returns later in the 2026 TV schedule with this year's Christmas special, which gives plenty of time for all involved, past and present, to share their thoughts about the current state of the beloved franchise. Fortunately, we got a chance to hear from former showrunner Chris Chibnall, and his thoughts on his episodes being referenced in the new seasons caught me in my feels.

Despite the controversial response from fans to The Timeless Child and Flux storylines in Doctor Who, Russell T. Davies chose to embrace them rather than retcon their impact on the overall story. On top of all that, Jodie Whittaker reprised her role as The Doctor in Ncuti Gatwa's regeneration episode, bringing the first female Doctor back to the franchise once more. Chris Chibnall confirmed to Radio Times that he was happy to see his work referenced in the series, and explained the feeling in detail:

I love hearing Chris Chibnall express joy about this, especially after all the flak his seasons of Doctor Who received. I feel that, while some of his ideas were poorly received in the moment, they've stood the test of time as good fodder for future episodes. Also, in hindsight, did it really matter that The Doctor now has unlimited regenerations?

While the former showrunner said he requested Russell T. Davies not spoil him on any plans for upcoming seasons and couldn't comment on what's up next for Billie Piper's Doctor, he did comment on the unique experience of seeing his own contributions become a part of Doctor Who's lore:

Chris Chibnall's positive comments are a ray of sunshine, keeping fans in the United States warm until we learn when The War Between the Land and the Sea will be available with a Disney+ subscription. Despite the streamer ending its partnership with The BBC, it will air the spinoff at some point in the new year.

As for what's ahead for the flagship series, that remains a big mystery. It seems we won't get any concrete answers on why The Doctor transformed into one of his former companions until Christmas at the earliest, unless someone in the cast spills the beans first.

We will also see this year if the BBC can find another co-producer for the series, which may help the show sustain the boosted budget it received from splitting the cost with Disney. Otherwise, Doctor Who viewers who tune in may find the return a pared-down experience, and I'm not sure how they'll react to that. I'm not sure I can go back to low-budget Who after seeing it with money, but I still enjoy some of the best classic episodes, so I can give it a shot.

As mentioned, Doctor Who will air a Christmas special in late 2026, and presumably we'll have news on when it will return for a new season by then as well. Stick with CinemaBlend as we continue to sniff out interviews for any updates in the meantime, and celebrate the bright points along the way.

Doctor Who is on a break until the 2026 TV schedule arrives, with its first new episode set to arrive by Christmas of next year. Unfortunately, the BBC will continue production of the show on its own for the time being, with Disney stepping away as a co-producer of the flagship series.

The good news is that fans have the new episodes of Who to look forward to as well as a spinoff, The War Between the Land and the Sea, which is coming next year. Unfortunately, I can't help but feel a bit worried about the parent series' Christmas comeback after hearing the update EP Russell T. Davies' shared with the Radio Times.

How Far Along Russell T. Davies Is With The 2026 Doctor Who Christmas Special

Doctor Who's 2026 Christmas Special has a lot to accomplish, with its audience expecting answers about why The Doctor turned into someone who resembles iconic character Rose Tyler. Thus far, actress Billie Piper has deflected any questions about whether she's playing The Doctor, leading some to believe there's more nuance to the role than the scene conveyed.

Russell T. Davies was asked about where he was with the story, given we're close to a year out from its worldwide air date. Here's what he had to say about what the official progress is on the script, as of writing:

The Doctor Who showrunner is confident in his ability to turn around a script in time and have an episode ready for the world come Christmas of next year. I appreciate his reassurance and have no doubt he'll have an episode ready. The question is, though, whether that episode will answer the questions we have about the big questions surrounding The Doctor's regeneration, and I worry he's underestimating the challenge of doing so.

Why I Can't Help But Worry After Russell T. Davies' Response

I think it's fair to say we're the Doctor Who has reached a critical period. That may have been part of the reason Russell T. Davies went with such a big twist, not long after a previous big twist in which The Doctor bi-generated and kept his former self intact post-regeneration.

The show is taking big swings in an effort to gain new viewers but in doing so, it's created a lot of big questions for the fans who are still tuning in season after season. If these twists are mishandled or don't live up to the hype, they risk losing more fans than attracting more eyes to the series.

Bringing back Billie Piper was a great move, and I have no doubt Doctor Who fans who remember her from some of the series' best episodes will want to see how she does in this new role. This is a huge opportunity to pull in a bunch of lapsed fans, and hopefully, get them to stick around for all the adventures to come.

Given that, it would bring me much more comfort to hear that Russell T. Davies has more than just the idea of what he wants to do, but a fully-finished script that is up there with some of the best things he's created for the show. It's a lot to ask as a Who fan but, let's be honest, he was brought back to the franchise to inject life into it. He's done the best he can so far but, in light of the collapse of the Disney partnership and the budget that came with it, the BBC is going to need his storytelling to keep folks on board.

We'll see if he's up to the challenge, as Doctor Who is on break and will eventually go into filming for its 2026 Christmas special sometime in the new year. In the meantime, readers can watch some of the more recent episodes using a Disney+ subscription.

Doctor Who will return in 2026, but only for one episode. Fortunately, there will be more adventures in the show's universe to enjoy on the 2026 TV schedule, as Disney+ will stream The War Between the Land and the Sea, a Doctor-less spinoff featuring a species fans will be familiar with, Sea Devils. It's an interesting project for the franchise, and one that showrunner Russell T. Davies hinted could be big for the IP as a whole

Recently, Davies spoke to Empire about the upcoming Who-adjacent series, which will air first in the UK on The BBC on December 7th. RTD talked about one of the purposes he had for the show, which is to show Doctor Who can tackle a different type of story:

While some of Doctor Who's best episodes have a strong moral message behind it, it's fair to say the show likes to hit on broad topics simple for all ages to understand. Based on what we know about 'The War Between the Land and the Sea' thus far, it appears that the series will convey an environmental message, which it touches on less frequently.

Russsel T. Davies confirmed that the adventure will have an environmental message, and the project as a whole serves an effort to attract an older audience to the beloved science fiction franchise. That could be huge for the TV property, to say the least. As for what specifically, he gave a shoutout to some of the biggest water companies, who, I would guess, won't be portrayed in the most favorable light:

Russell T. Davies has spoken very highly of the series, and he even went so far as to say it was one of the greatest shoots he's ever had in his life. The question is whether it'll be enough for the fans, who will watch this amid a gap year for Doctor Who.

Granted, The War Between the Land and the Sea won't be the only source of entertainment for Doctor Who fans in the new year. Actors Arthur Darvill and Karen Gillan are launching The Pondcast, in which they'll revisit their time on the show and interview people involved in the series.

It feels like a critical time for the franchise, which is hoping to find another co-producer after the collapse of the deal it had in place with Disney. Russell T. Davies shocked viewers with the new Doctor seemingly being played by returning actress Billie Piper. As a fan, it's hard to think the franchise is thriving right now but, hopefully, these supplemental projects will provide what it takes to right the ship and get the flagship series back on track.

The War Between the Land and the Sea is coming to Disney+, but does not have a concrete release date beyond 2026 at this time. I'm hoping we'll get more news on whether Doctor Who will find a new streaming home for its back catalog in the new year, as I've been eager to revisit some old episodes.

It's been an up-and-down year for Doctor Who, which, on the heels of its most exciting season finale in years, suddenly had an uncertain future. Many were bummed to see Ncuti Gatwa exit, but the thought of Billie Piper returning to the franchise was exciting. Fans were ready to see her in action, but they just didn't know when it would happen.

Now, after a long wait that even kept showrunner Russell T. Davies in the dark, we have some concrete answers. So, here's what we know about Doctor Who's future, and what the situation is when it comes to its relationship with Disney+.

Doctor Who Will Return In 2026

To start with the good news, Doctor Who will return with a new episode in 2026. The BBC confirmed Russell T. Davies is writing a Christmas special for the series, which will presumably feature Billie Piper's iteration of the Doctor (assuming that's who she's playing) in action for the first time. The network also announced that plans for the franchise's future are in the works and will be announced in due time.

The BBC Confirmed Disney+ Has Exited Its Co-Production

The BBC and Disney+ were in talks for a while about their joint partnership as co-producers of Doctor Who, and it appears the door is closed on that. Director of Drama for The BBC, Lindsay Salt, confirmed the partnership would end in her statement about the state of the franchise:

Unfortunately, there were no details about what this means for the 60th anniversary specials and two seasons of Doctor Who that are currently available in the United States with a Disney+ subscription. It's possible they'll remain on the platform unless the rights are purchased to transfer them elsewhere.

The move is bittersweet, as while we now don't have to worry about Doctor Who being held up any longer by conversations happening behind closed doors, that big budget the series had with Disney could take a hit. It's possible that budget could return with another major co-producer in the fold, though it's also possible that other potential partners are moving with caution after Disney's exit.

The common rumor behind all this drama was that Disney+ wasn't impressed with Doctor Who's viewership numbers and felt the show underperformed on streaming. This could have led to Disney+ changing its stance on a guaranteed renewal of a third season, and the delay that will now end on Christmas in 2026.

While it hasn't been confirmed, it's also rumored that Ncuti Gatwa's exit was tied to Disney+ balking at a season renewal. The show went into reshoots to film his regeneration scenes in early 2025, which then paved the way for the unexpected entrance by Billie Piper.

Now, we still don't know what's ahead for Doctor Who's story, but at least we have a return date! So, be ready for Doctor Who's return in December of 2026, and catch the spinoff The War Between the Land and the Sea on Disney+ sometime between that. At least we'll have some content to enjoy during that long wait, though at this point, I'm conditioned to long waits between seasons of this franchise.

A Doctor Who spinoff is set to hit the 2025 TV schedule, but we're still waiting to hear when (or if) we may see the flagship show return for a new season. This is especially true now that the improbable twist that saw Billie Piper stepping into the starring role of The Doctor happened at the end of the latest season. Unfortunately, the wait for answers has no end in sight, but showrunner Russell T. Davies' latest renewal comments have me curious.

The BBC franchise partnered with Disney for the 60th anniversary and the past couple of Ncuti Gatwe-starring seasons, and those in the United States have been able to stream episodes with Disney+ subscriptions. There were rumors about changes coming toward the start of the year, but Davies said something in an interview with Pilot TV that perked my ears up when talking about how he's as in the dark as everyone else:

The downside of all this is that Russell T. Davies has no read on when Doctor Who may be renewed for a new season. What might be good news is that it sounds like Disney and The BBC are still talking, which leaves the door open for resuming their partnership as co-producers on the series when a new season is ready.

I would love to see Disney and The BBC continue their partnership on Doctor Who, especially after the fantastic run with Ncuti Gatwa as the lead. I'm still upset that he left without doing another season, but not as upset as I'd be losing the great visual effects the series gained under Disney. The BBC could find another co-producer with deep pockets, but that's never a sure thing.

Additionally, I like the marriage of Doctor Who and Disney in the United States. I'm still crossing my fingers along with others for the possibility of seeing The Doctor at Disney parks, or at the very least the TARDIS.

The downside of this is that it seems more than clear that the reason Doctor Who wasn't renewed for a new season before the last one ended and still remains in limbo is because the viewership and financials of it all seem to be a concern for Disney. Given that, I have to wonder how confident they are that bringing in Billie Piper as the new lead will either bring in a bunch of old fans who weren't previously watching or entice new people to watch. If the answer is no, then Disney could leave the partnership, or Piper's tenure as the character could prove to be short-lived.

Eventually, we, along with Russell T. Davies, will know when Doctor Who is returning and where to stream it. For now, watch the latest episodes over on Disney+, and keep an eye out for updates on the series as the year continues on.

Doctor Who will allegedly continue its run beyond where things left off during the 2025 TV schedule, though we're still waiting on any concrete details regarding how and what the plan will be moving forward. It remains unclear if Disney will continue to partner with The BBC or it will find a home elsewhere, though fans seem to be more concerned with prying what details they can about the path ahead from the alleged new Doctor portrayer, Billie Piper.

Piper took the stage with fellow Who vet Christopher Eccleston at Florida Supercon, and it didn't take long for a fan to ask about Ncuti Gatwa's regeneration scene in which she appeared as his replacement. We still don't know for certain what is going on, either story-wise or behind the scenes, and the actress made certain not to let her words get her in trouble by sharing more than desired regarding what showrunner Russell T. Davies and other creatives have in store:

I don't think Billie Piper revealed anything that will land her in hot water with RTD or anyone at Doctor Who, but it does give us some insight into the timeline of how this came to be. Based on this, I would speculate the rumors about Ncuti Gatwa's exit being abrupt are accurate, and that there might've been more to it than the physical demand of the role at play. We do know Gatwa was on the record previously to head up a third season (via Reddit), which matches up with the reshoots happening very last-minute in February 2025, so that the ending could be changed in time.

Gatwa's exit might've been thrown together in a slapdash manner, but overall, fans were pretty ecstatic to see the twist. Billie Piper confirmed that she, too, appreciated how it all played out, and that all her appearances in Doctor Who these days seem to be handled in secret:

It's worth noting that rumors about Piper taking the role of The Doctor leaked out ahead of the reveal, but many fans dismissed it as sounding too wild to believe. I guess going forward, that's a solid tip for showrunners to keep their biggest secrets under wraps?

There are so many questions surrounding Doctor Who at present, including where the story is headed now that The Doctor has a face that resembles his former companion, Rose Tyler. This incident is not entirely without precedent, as actor Peter Capaldi previously had a guest-starring role before coming into the franchise to play The Doctor.

Before we find out what's next for Doctor Who, The BBC first needs to announce when a new season will be happening. At present, it seems the flagship show is in a holding pattern until the spinoff, The War Between the Land and the Sea, airs later on in 2025. Perhaps a gap year is giving Russell T. Davies the time to figure out why The Doctor has Rose's face, and give us more stories to be excited about.

That's my hope, anyway, as I'm eager to see Doctor Who return with new episodes at some point in the future. That's especially true with a bulk of the library recently being dropped by a major streamer, leaving longtime fans in the United States only limited ways to enjoy the show.

Doctor Who is in a strange place right now, comparable to when the original incarnation of the show went off the air in 1989. Granted, we’re not quite at that stage with the current version of the show, which has been a Disney+ subscription-exclusive for the last few years. However, following Ncuti Gatwa’s unexpected departure as the Fifteenth Doctor just a few weeks ago on the 2025 TV schedule, there’s no word on when we can expect Doctor Who to return. Showrunner Russell T. Davies has confirmed there is a “pause” on the series, but he also has an optimistic viewpoint about Doctor Who’s “potential futures” that I like.

Doctor Who’s Future Remains Unclear To Russell T. Davies

In the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine (via RadioTimes), Russell T. Davies reaffirmed that the series centered on the adventuring Time Lord is currently in a holding pattern. However, he also reminded fans that there’s a spinoff coming that will entertain them in 2026:

The War Between the Land and the Sea will follow UNIT members Kathe Lethbridge-Stewart, Shirley Ann Bingham and Colonel Ibrahim, along with a host of brand-new characters, dealing with the reawakening o f the ancient species known as the Sea Devils. So although The Doctor won’t appear in the six-episode miniseries, at least the mythology centered around them will be revisited next year. Otherwise, Russell T. Davies is like the rest of us: wondering where Doctor Who goes from here after we witnessed the Fifteenth Doctor regenerate into a form resembling Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler.

Russell T. Davies Is Confident Doctor Who Isn’t Ending

That was quite the cliffhanger to leave off on, especially since given the way Piper was credited, we don’t know if she’ll technically be called the Sixteenth Doctor. There was also the unresolved plot thread of The Doctor mysteriously seeing granddaughter Susan, reprised by Carol Anne Ford, in vision. Though he may not know what’s next for Doctor Who right now, Russell T. Davies isn’t worried about its future, saying:

Now he didn’t clarify if he was talking about Doctor Who the show or if the franchise as a whole will never end. I’m choosing to believe it’s the former, although it may need to find a new home outside of the United Kingdom. A recent rumor claimed that “Doctor Who is dead at Disney,” but “things are looking promising” for moving it to a different streaming service.

So the wait to learn what’s in store for Doctor Who won’t be ending anytime soon. I’m hopeful that Russell T. Davies optimistic prediction does indeed come true, but until then, at least we can not only still watch the Doctor Who episodes from his second tenure as showrunner on Disney+, but also stream the ones from his first tenure with an HBO Max subscription.

Doctor Who's latest season is underway, and we've been promised answers are coming in the new episodes rolling out for those with Disney+ subscriptions. Russell T. Davies has already confirmed we'll learn more about Mrs. Flood, and he's setting the record straight on fan theories about Ncuti Gatwa's version of The Doctor. While there have been theories that there's a reason his Doctor cries so much, RTD has shut that down pretty handily.

Ever since his bi-generation from David Tennant's 14th Doctor, The Doctor has had no issue letting the tears flow when he's scared, upset, or desperate to get out of a bad situation. Fans have speculated there's a reason in the larger story arc for this, but as Russell T. Davies confirmed to TVLine, the scripts have never specifically called for the character to cry during certain scenes. He explained why and how the decision is entirely up to Ncuti Gatwa on whether he cries:

It's interesting to hear RTD's perspective on how to handle stars of Doctor Who, and that the decision to cry is one of the creative freedoms that Ncuti Gatwa has on the show. He's one of the main reasons I've considered the new era a blast, and others on CinemaBlend consider him one of their favorite Doctors.

Not everyone is a fan of The Doctor shedding tears, of course, as some believe a 1000+ year-old Time Lord should have some thicker skin given all he's encountered over the years. Russell T. Davies shared his response to those who dislike the crying, and speculated they're in the same camp as other fans who tend to complain:

RTD advocates for his star as people continue to speculate how much longer Ncuti Gatwa will remain the star of Doctor Who. Rumors have persisted that the actor is exiting, and the BBC dodging the question, along with the actor taking a role in a play later this year, haven't helped kill that speculation.

So, for anyone upset by the crying, there's a chance we'll see The Doctor get a new face before too long. If that's the case, one would imagine we'd hear about the series searching for its next Doctor, as keeping that under wraps would be a pretty hefty challenge.

Despite a strong start and solid reviews on the season premiere, Doctor Who is still hoping to maintain and likely grow its audience for this latest season. A decision to renew the series will not be decided on until Disney+ and The BBC have had a chance to look at the viewership numbers, and it's looking more likely than not that fans are in for a gap year without a new season of the sci-fi series.

There might even be a chance the show is shelved or put on hiatus, but fingers crossed, fans continue to watch and pull more people in.

Doctor Who streams new episodes on Disney+ on Saturdays beginning at 3:00 a.m. ET. Check out the new season, and be sure to watch as soon as possible if you're someone who wants to see the show keep on going for more seasons.

Doctor Who's newest season is on the way, and fans will be happy to know they'll start getting answers to questions they've had since the 60th anniversary. Specifically, Russell T. Davies confirmed to CinemaBlend that we'll learn more about the Pantheon of gods, and he even hinted at a future scene he can't wait to film that I'm just as eager to see.

I had the honor of talking to RTD ahead of the upcoming season of Doctor Who, and beyond discussing how long he intends to stay showrunner, he provided a glimpse of what's ahead when it comes to The Doctor's struggles against the Pantheon. Here's what the showrunner had to say about whether there's more to see with this arc or not:

I'm intrigued by this new twist on the Pantheon, especially after the unexpected reveal of Sutekh at the end of last season. Ahead of that reveal, Russell T. Davies told CinemaBlend last year there were at least three gods left to be revealed. Given that, I would expect two more to appear in this season, though there might be even more than that.

Whether they'll be villains we know or ones that are brand new is also up in the air. We've seen both examples so far, and one can only hope that enough fans with Disney+ subscriptions are streaming the show to justify more renewals.

I also would love to see an eventual meeting of all the gods exactly as Russell T. Davies described, but there's a legitimate question of whether Doctor Who can do that. Rumors persist that the series is on the bubble and could be shelved if it doesn't gain strong viewership this season, and it's also being rumored that star Ncuti Gatwa will exit the series after the season.

The BBC has confirmed an official call won't be made on a new season until the company and Disney can look at the numbers, but no mention was made of Gatwa's status. There's speculation that the rising star might not be sticking around for three seasons like most previous stars, and riding his wave of increased popularity thanks to Doctor Who and other roles to Hollywood.

For now, it appears the series is planning to pull out all the stops to draw in new and old fans with some exciting moments planned for the upcoming season. Alan Cumming is back in a guest-starring role as part of an animated adventure, and after several teases about Mrs. Flood's identity, we're going to finally get some answers about her. Hopefully it will all be enough to ensure a future season for the series, but we'll find out soon enough!

Doctor Who's second season on Disney+ premieres on Saturday, April 12th. Make sure to tune in and see The Doctor's first encounter with his new companion Belinda, and what should be an exciting adventure.

The upcoming season of Doctor Who feels like it has added pressure to it, thanks to rumors about the series being shelved if Season 2 on Disney+ doesn't perform. The BBC has responded to the cancellation rumors but remains silent on whether star Ncuti Gatwa will remain The Doctor. Plus, there was speculation that Russell T. Davies might be on his way out as showrunner after recent comments, though CinemaBlend received clarification on that from the showrunner himself.

I had the honor of chatting with Russell T. Davies ahead of Doctor Who's return for those in the United States with a Disney+ subscription and asked him to clarify the comments about being replaced as showrunner on David Tennant's podcast. Davies told the former Who star there are ongoing conversations about who would replace him when he decides to leave again, leading some fans to think he would soon exit. As Davies told CinemaBlend, those "discussions" aren't as serious as some might've thought:

Straight from the showrunner's mouth, Russell T. Davies is going to return to Doctor Who assuming Disney+ and BBC bring it back for another season. While I do feel a little wary that even he doesn't know if it's a sure thing the series will return, it is reassuring to hear that the decision to remain involved sounds squarely on his shoulders and there seemingly isn't conversations about bringing someone else in to replace him.

Doctor Who looks to continue its Pantheon arc in the upcoming season, and bring in exciting guest stars like Alan Cumming and more to continue the story. There's also a promise that we'll get a clear answer on what is going on with Mrs. Flood, who will pop up in every episode.

Beyond Mrs. Flood, we may also see who is pulling the strings of this storyline and who The Doctor needs to face to finally get time to breathe between all these battles with gods. Then again, I can't imagine whoever has the power to enlist Toymaker, Maestro, and Sutekh to do their bidding will be a pushover, and Doctor may face his biggest challenge yet.

We also know that Millie Gibson will return as Ruby Sunday, even with Varada Sethu coming in as the new companion, Belinda Chandra. Whether it will all be enough to ensure the series returns for another season is another question, as The BBC has confirmed viewership will be evaluated on the latest season before another season is confirmed. Hopefully, with wary viewers willing to return after seeing the lastest trailer, it'll be enough to ensure we get more seasons with Russell T. Davies continuing his vision.

Doctor Who returns to Disney+ on Saturday, April 12th. I'm hoping for a strong turnout for the premiere episode and some more promising signs that we won't have to worry about watching The Doctor and friends travel the universe anytime soon.

The premiere date of Doctor Who's upcoming season is just around the corner, and according to Russell T. Davies, we're getting more Mrs. Flood. Anita Dobson's cryptic character we couldn't crack the code on in Ncuti Gatwa's first season will return in Season 2, and the showrunner recently confirmed that she'll get a share of the spotlight.

As we wait to stream new episodes with our Disney+ subscription, RTD spoke to CinemaBlend's sister magazine SFX about the new Doctor Who episodes and confirmed that answers to questions readers have about Mrs. Flood are on the way:

Mrs. Flood's appearance in every episode of Season 2 continues the mystery surrounding the character, who seemingly followed The Doctor or was a part of every one of his adventures in some way. Russell T. Davies has previously confirmed that answers are coming to her, but it's nice to see it reaffirmed in this latest interview.

Mrs. Flood seems to be a major key to all that is happening in Doctor Who, what with her breaking of the fourth wall, her extensive knowledge of The Doctor, and her ability to appear across space and time in his adventures. She's clearly someone with a good deal of power, but is she a friend or foe of The Doctor?

It's a question we'll hopefully get the answer to, and I think it's plausible that she ties into the series finale title for this upcoming season. "The Reality War" seems to be a big event, and who better to factor into it than someone who seems to be distorting the rules of reality to be a part of Doctor Who adventures constantly?

What's more intriguing is that Mrs. Flood doesn't seem like the most powerful figure The Doctor has to look out for. She hinted that someone in The Pantheon of Gods poses a bigger threat to humanity than anything else, though we still have yet to see who that is. Last season already brought back the powerful Doctor Who villain Sutekh, so I wonder if another big call back is being planned for this season.

There's an uneasy air ahead of Doctor Who's return, as rumors swirl that Ncuti Gatwa is on his way out and future seasons may be jeopardized. it'll be all eyes on viewership and whether the season does enough to justify another season on Disney+. I would hate to see this new era come to an unexpected end after such a promising start, but we can only wait and see what happens.

Doctor Who's latest season premieres on Disney+ on Saturday, April 12th. I know I'm stoked for new episodes and to see how things pan out for Mrs. Flood, and to finally get some answers on her character.

Doctor Who is right on the cusp of a new season, and amidst rumors that claim the show is getting shelved with Ncuti Gatwa exiting as The Doctor, fans now have something new and positive to speculate about while preparing for the upcoming 2025 premiere. The episode titles for Season 2 were revealed by Disney+ are out, and it seems to hint the British franchise will be the latest to embrace a popular sci-fi trend.

Americans will be able to utilize Disney+ subscriptions to stream the latest season of Doctor Who as it airs in April and continues the intriguing Pantheon storyline. There have been many questions about this season that still have yet to be answered, and there might be one bigger one with a question about the show possibly opening up to the idea of the multiverse.

Doctor Who Revealed Every Episode Title For Season 2 On Disney+

Doctor Who will return to eager viewesr on April 12th, and The BBC and Disney+ are generating hype by hinting at what's ahead. After revealing the return of guest star Alan Cumming, the UK broadcaster revealed all of the episode titles for the new season's installments, which can be read below in the order in which they'll air.

• The Robot Revolution
• Lux
• The Well
• Lucky Day
• The Story & the Engine
• The Interstellar Song Contest
• Wish World
• The Reality War

It's exciting to see these episode titles and speculate what they mean, especially that season finale. What exactly is "The Reality War," and will that explain all the weirdness we saw in Doctor Who's previous season?

Does "The Reality War" Suggest Doctor Who Will Finally Dive Into The Multiverse?

"The Reality War" is an interesting title, especially after Doctor Who broke past precedent by having the protagonist separate into two different people rather than regenerate. Then we have that strange old omniscient woman named Mrs. Flood, that weird episode where Ruby lived an entire life without The Doctor but forgot it, and many other strange things. Some strange things we've never seen before are happening, making me wonder if it's because The Doctor is in an alternate reality.

Why is a war being waged on reality, and does it imply The Doctor hasn't been living in his universe for a chunk of time? I can't help but wonder if that's the case, especially with so many other sci-fi shows embracing the trend of leaning into stories that introduce the multiverse.

It's worth mentioning that Russell T. Davies talked about creating a multiverse for Doctor Who long ago (via The Standard), and now, with talk of reality playing into the upcoming season finale, I have to wonder if he's going to pull the trigger on it happening in the television series. Perhaps we'll learn that The Doctor created multiple timelines when he split and, in the process, created multiple universes as well. Who knows? Time travel shows have no shortage of fictional ways to make this happen. I'm just hoping we get to see it and wondering what the story will be when we finally do see it.

I think the new era of Doctor Who is a blast, and I would encourage all fans who haven't caught the latest season to do so before the new season kicks off on April 12th. It sounds like we're in for a big adventure, and I can't wait to see where it all ends.

Every now and then, a Doctor Who spinoff series comes around to expand the mythology that revolves around the adventuring Time Lord. The next one on the way is The War Between the Land and the Sea, which, like its parent show, will be streamable outside the United Kingdom with a Disney+ subscription. Although creator Russell T. Davies, who’s also the Doctor Who showrunner, has shared that this spinoff is still “far from transmission,” the rest of his update has me looking forward to the show that’s bringing back the Sea Devils even more.

The War Between the Land and the Sea began filming last August and concluded in December, but don’t go thinking that means it’ll arrive soon on the 2025 TV schedule. While being interviewed by Doctor Who Magazine (via Radio Times), Davies has this to say about where things stand with the show:

I can’t say I’m surprised The War Between the Land and the Sea’s not going to be released in the next few months. Like Doctor Who, this is a series that’s going to have a lot of visual effects, and you don’t want to rush making those look good. So even though all the footage was captured in the latter half of 2024, the post-production team has their work cut out for them to make The War Between the Land and the Sea as good as possible.

Nevertheless, Russell T. Davies saying that this spinoff was one of his favorite shoots and one of the best TV shows he’s ever worked on is high praise, so now I’m eager to see what makes it so special for him. As previously revealed, The War Between the Land and the Sea will follow UNIT contending with a “fearsome and ancient species,” i.e. the Sea Devils, emerging from the ocean and revealing itself to humanity, which will ignite an international incident. The Sea Devils, who are cousins of the Silurians, were introduced in the 1972 Doctor Who serial “The Sea Devils” and were last seen in 2022’s “Legend of the Sea Devils,” the penultimate appearance of Jodie Whitaker’s Thirteenth Doctor.

Various familiar UNIT characters from Doctor Who will be back for The War Between the Land and the Sea, including Jemma Redgrave’s Kai Lethbridge-Stewart, Alexander Devrient’s Colonel Christofer Ibrahim and Ruth Madeley’s Shirley Ann-Bingham. Additionally, Colin McFarlane is set to reprise his Torchwood role of General Austin Pierce. Doctor Who alums Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw will appear in the spinoff as new characters, and the rest of the cast includes Adrian Lukas, Patrick Baladi, Vincent Franklin, Francesca Corney and Mei Mac.

We’ll let you know here at CinemaBlend when The War Between the Land and the Sea gets an official release date. As things currently stand though, it’s a good bet that Doctor Who Season 15, i.e. Season 2 of the Disney+ era, arriving beforehand, although that doesn’t have a release date either.

Warning! The following contains SPOILERS for the Doctor Who Christmas Special "Joy To The World." Stream it with a Disney+ subscription and read at your own risk!

Doctor Who came back, albeit temporarily, for yet another Christmas special. "Joy To The World" featured the return of Villengard, a surprise trip to Bethlehem, and a quick appearance by the lovely Ruby Sunday. It all leads up to Doctor Who returning in the new year as part of the 2025 TV schedule, and showrunner Russell T. Davies told CinemaBlend how it all leads up to the new season.

I was lucky enough to speak to RTD, as well as former showrunner and "Joy To The World" writer Steven Moffat, ahead of the special and talk about where Doctor Who goes from here. The duo spoke to me in a Zoom call, and I listened as Davies talked about Joy's final conversation with The Doctor, Ruby Sunday and how that bleeds into the new season:

The showrunner kind of sidestepped giving a real answer on Ruby Sunday, but we do know she will also return to Doctor Who at some point. Until then, we'll get Belinda Chandra, played by Varada Sethu, and it looks like she's going to become The Doctor's newest friend based on Russell T. Davies' words above.

Beyond that, however, most of "Joy To The World" seemed self-contained and had little to do with other ongoing storylines in Doctor Who. Russell T. Davies had previously confirmed to CinemaBlend that more gods of the Pantheon are on the way. We also reported that new merchandise is due out for a classic villain in the new year, which may just tease which villain The Doctor will face in the new season.

Hopefully between all the battles, he finds time to slow down and make more friends along the way. It does feel as though he's dealing with loneliness once again, though that's a recurring theme for The Doctor time and time again. Is he ever going to find true happiness? I'm not sure that's possible, even if Gallifrey is restored for the umpteenth time. I'd be happy to see him try in the new season, though, and I'm also happy this year's Christmas special wasn't as much of a bummer as the ones we've seen in the past.

Doctor Who returns with new episodes in 2025, and those looking to watch the previous season likely know they can check it out on Disney+. There's a good deal of other great shows on there to catch up on for those who have been busy and now have time to stream, so get on it!

Doctor Who's new era is a blast, and that's thanks in large part to the bold swings the franchise took in its inaugural season on Disney+. As we await a new season hitting the 2025 TV schedule, the Christmas special on the horizon is set to hold us over, and this update on Alex Kingston's future in the franchise from Russell T. Davies should help as well.

I spoke to RTD and Steven Moffat ahead of the upcoming Christmas Special "Joy To The World," which will be available to stream with a Disney+ subscription on Christmas Day. While answers to questions about that special can't be released until after the episode is live, I did manage to squeeze in the annual asking of when Alex Kingston may return as The Doctor's wife, River Song.

Given The Doctor shared a passionate kiss with Jonathan Groff's "Rogue," I thought there'd be some drama in bringing her back. When I suggested to Davies that maybe the Doctor is polyamorous, his response said it all, sort of:

Hey, when you live for over a thousand years, your ideas on romance might just loosen a bit. I should note that Russell T. Davies' chuckling response was not an official endorsement of this suggestion, although fans are always free to believe what they want. If Steven Moffat's explanation about The Doctor's regenerations wasn't evidence enough, not even Doctor Who's showrunners have all the answers regarding the characters.

Could Alex Kingston's River Song Return?

Russell T. Davies was able to give us some insight into where things stand with River Song, and what her odds of returning to Doctor Who in the future might be. Here's what he had to say, which includes why Rogue was brought in:

River Song will not return in the new season, and no, she's not in Steven Moffat's latest Doctor Who episode, "Joy To The World." The episode will feature Bridgerton breakout star Nicola Coughlan and will once again bring in the longtime villainous organization Villengard into the story. I would say more about the special as someone who has seen it, but in honor of River Song, I'll avoid "spoilers."

I will be excited when Doctor Who brings back River Song, especially after she was not Ruby Sunday's mystery mother. I think I'd most like to see how she'd react to the news that her husband had a fling with Rogue, as short as that passionate kiss was. Will he be in the dog house for cheating, or will she reveal she's also had a few romances since we've last seen her? I think it's fair to say these two have a pretty complicated relationship, so I can't say anything would surprise me.

For now, we can sit back and wait for Christmas day to stream Doctor Who's "Joy To The World" on Disney+. I'm very excited to see what people think of the new special, and how it sets up the next adventure for The Doctor heading into next season.

We're at the point where Doctor Who fans can get properly excited about the show's return for the 2025 TV schedule. Season 2 of the Disney+ era is on the way and the holiday special is just around the corner. As such, it's only natural for the rumor mill to start churning again, and right on cue, a new t-shirt might've spoiled the next member of the Pantheon challenging Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor.

Merchandise has already been found guilty in 2024 of ruining Agatha All Along's biggest mystery, and now it's primed to potentially spoil another storyline for a show available with a Disney+ subscription. Here's what we're learning thanks to a listing from Walmart spotted by Bleeding Cool.

A Doctor Who T-Shirt Set For 2025 Showed A Classic-Era Villain With A New Name

New Doctor Who t-shirts are on the way for a character called "The Guardian Of Chaos," but readers familiar with the classical run will recognize that ominous figure with a dead bird on his head from anywhere. That character is more commonly known as Black Guardian, who is one part of the Guardians of Time. The character was known as the physical embodiment of all chaos in time.

It's a little strange to be re-branding a villain who was most popular in late 70s and early 80s for no reason, right? Is Walmart and other retailers expecting a surge of people to be demanding merch for this character who hasn't been featured in adventures in quite a while to suddenly spike? If so, you can't help but think it's because the villain is headed back to Doctor Who.

Why Black Guardian Joining The Pantheon In Doctor Who Makes Sense

It all reminds me of when Doctor Who brought in Neil Patrick Harris as The Toymaker, formerly The Celestial Toymaker. Rebranding the character name was more done out of necessity as the original name was racially insensitive to Asians, and the new name was more on-brand for 2024. I won't speak to why Doctor Who changed Black Guardian to The Guardian of Chaos, but I can say its a more accurate descriptor for the character.

Controlling chaos of all of time is a god-like power, which fits the theme of Pantheon villains The Doctor has faced in this new era. In fact, a character like this returning reminds me of how the penultimate last season reintroduced Sutekh, another god-like villain from Doctor Who's classic era. If The Guardian of Chaos is returning, I want to know what The Doctor did to incur the wrath of almost every powerful entity he's ever faced!

CinemaBlend learned from Russell T. Davies that at least three more Pantheon gods were coming to Doctor Who, and that was before Sutekh was revealed. All this to say we are going to see more god-like villains in the Disney+ series, and The Guardian of Chaos seems like a perfect fit to work into the fold. Perhaps we'll see him in the upcoming season, or this year's holiday special?

Whoever may show up, I'm getting increasingly excited to stream a new Doctor Who episode come December. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a happy episode, though as fans know, it's always a coin flip which direction the Christmas episodes can go.

The new Doctor Who wrapped up its first season but, as fans surely know, there's a lot more in store for those with a Disney+ subscription. It's known that there's a spinoff on the way and of course, another season of the flagship series. While viewers were gifted footage of the upcoming Christmas special (written by Steven Moffat) amid San Diego Comic-Con 2024, those who weren't present for the show's panel likely missed some of the other notable reveals made by the cast about the new season. Luckily, CinemaBlend was front-and-center amid the franchise's SDCC presentation and was keeping tabs on all of the big details that were shared. That includes a bit about Alex Kingston, who kicks off our entries after Ncuti Gatwa and the cast talked about needing her back for more episodes.

Alex Kingston Is The Cast’s Most Requested Guest Star

Russell T. Davies admitting the Doctor Who cast has begged him to bring back Alex Kingston doesn't necessarily tell us about the show's next season. However, I think it does tell us about the future. While the very Captain Jack-esque rogue is slated to be The Doctor's latest love interest, it seems there's a real desire on the star's part to bring back The Doctor's wife. Actors don't always get what they want, of course, but I think their voices, in addition to the scores of fans who want to see Kingston return, may ultimately sway Davies to write the character into a future story. Needless to say, that notion makes me very excited.

Jonah Hauer-King Is Joining The New Season 

Millie Gibson was very excited to reveal that actor Jonah Hauer-King was added to Who and will play a role that factors into Ruby Sunday's arc in the upcoming season. It's unclear exactly how the star who originally got too ripped to play Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid will play into the situation, but it's possible that he could be a love interest of Ruby or just a good friend. Either way, it's exciting to have another promising young actor on board, and it's remarkably clear at this point that one of the producers' goals is to try and pull in a younger audience with some of these castings.

The Name Of Varada Sethu’s New Character Is Belinda Chandra

Varada Sethu plays The Doctor's latest companion, but this will mark the second she's appeared on the show. She starred in the acclaimed episode "Boom" as Mundy Flynn amid Ncuti Gatwa's first season, but that will not be Sethu's role when she returns as a companion. The actress will play "Belinda Chandra," but that's essentially all we know about her at this point. While it wouldn't be the first time a guest star turned into a series lead (as Karen Gillan had the same experience), I have a feeling that this casting isn't simply a case of the producers tapping a Who alum for a bigger role. I believe Sethu's reappearance in a new role may figure into the narrative.

Nicola Coughlan Is The Big Guest Star Of The Christmas Special

Another Bridgerton star is joining the Doctor Who fold, as Nicola Coughlan will be playing Joy in the upcoming Christmas special "Joy To The World." Coughlan, who confirmed she hung out naked on the Bridgerton set, is the perfect star for this part. I can't wait to see her as Joy, and the short clip that featured her in the role was fantastic. Admittedly, it was confusing as to why The Doctor was traveling around offering up a ham and cheese sandwich with a pumpkin latte across time and space, but I guess that's a question fans will just have to wait on the answer for.

There Will Be A Lot More Mrs. Flood In The New Season

There have been a lot of questions since Doctor Who's latest season ended, but the biggest one of all is who Mrs. Flood really is. The mystery only deepened in the two-part season finale, in which she seemed very much aware of all the events happening, yet that didn't factor into the story in a major way. That fact, paired with her extensive knowledge of The Doctor and her ability to break the fourth wall, makes her the most compelling character headed into the new season. Hopefully, we'll figure out who she really is.

Doctor Who Will Continue The Singing

If you loved the musical numbers in "The Church On Ruby Road" or "The Devil's Chord," then I have excellent news. Russell T. Davies confirmed at SDCC that there will be more music in the upcoming season of Who, and he doesn't see that trend stopping anytime soon. I'm sure there will be some who grumble and groan about that but, even as someone who is not a fan of musical numbers, I'm completely fine with it. This is a unique element that sets Ncuti Gatwa's era of the franchise apart from those of his predecessors, and he and Millie Gibson have some serious pipes, too.

Ruby’s Next Story Arc Will Involve PTSD

As has been known, Ruby Sunday will eventually return to travel with The Doctor. Unfortunately, her next chapter won't be without issues, as Doctor Who will look into tackling a difficult reality some companions may face when traveling with The Doctor. Russell T. Davies stated that Ruby will wrestle with PTSD, perhaps as a result of the amount of times that she was put in peril when traveling with her esteemed ally the first time around.

Kylie Minogue Watched "Rogue"

While this final tidbit isn't really tied to a future season, it still tickled me to no end. Russell T. Davies explained to the attendees that when he was watching The BBC airing of "Rogue," he was surprised to receive a text from none other than pop singer Kylie Minogue. As it turned out, Minogue was also watching the episode and was just as surprised as fans when The Doctor played her song "Can't Get You Outta My Head" on Rogue's ship. Davies admitted that he was shocked to have learned she was keeping up with the show after her one-off appearance as Astrid Peth back in 2007.

Apparently, there will be a lot to look forward to when Doctor Who returns to Disney+ with new episodes beginning around Christmas time. I know I'm already counting down the days after all the reveals at San Diego Comic-Con, and I can't wait to hear more about this upcoming season as it gets closer. In the meantime, keep checking the 2024 TV schedule so you'll know what the premiere date is.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Doctor Who episode "Empire of Death." Watch it with a Disney+ subscription, and read at your own risk!

Disney+'s first season of Doctor Who closed by solving the big mystery of Ruby Sunday, albeit maybe not in the way fans expected. The show explained just about every wild coincidence that kept occurring, and while we still don't know who Mrs. Flood is, we do know the identity of Ruby Sunday's mother. Amidst conversations about the reveal, showrunner Russell T. Davies explained a Star Wars movie was why he chose to have Ruby's mother be just an ordinary woman.

The reveal that Ruby's mother was some average woman, rather than River Song or Jodie Whittaker's iteration of The Doctor, confused some Doctor Who viewers. Davies explained in a commentary track for the episode "Empire Of Death," however, that he was inspired to tell that story after watching Star Wars: The Last Jedi and disliking the retcon of the significance of Rey's parents:

Sci-fi fans may recall that Star Wars: The Last Jedi saw pushback from fans over the reveal, they felt let down that Rey's lineage wasn't significant in any way. The Rise Of Skywalker then changed it so that she ended up being the child of a clone of Emperor Palpatine and, therefore, imbued with his powers of the Force.

Audiences were as divided on the Rey decision as critics were on The Rise Of Skywalker, so perhaps Doctor Who fans should remember that after feeling let down by the reveal. Russell T. Davies has no regrets about his decision, as he talked about the possibilities for Ruby's parents and why he landed on the decision he did:

At the end of the season, Ruby stayed behind in her time period to catch up with her birth mother and prepare to meet her birth father in the coming days. The Doctor was left to travel alone, though I believe he will explore his origins and seek out his family in coming adventures.

As for Ruby Sunday, we do know that Millie Gibson will return next season despite The Doctor getting another new companion. Varada Sethu will also join the series after making a surprise appearance in the episode "Boom." It remains to be seen if that was just some coincidence where an actor is welcomed onto the cast ahead of landing a bigger role, but I'm sure we'll know for sure next season. For now, let's just be happy that some of our biggest questions about this season were answered, even if a few are still unanswered.

Doctor Who will return with another new episode on the 2024 TV schedule for the Christmas special, and hopefully, by then, we'll have an idea of when the next season may debut. I'm excited for more adventures with Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor and for more answers about the gods of the Pantheon as we continue.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Doctor Who episode "Empire Of Death." Stream it with a Disney+ subscription and read at your own risk!

It feels like Doctor Who has just returned, and it's already time for the season to say goodbye! Fortunately, "Empire Of Death" answered so many questions viewers had about coincidences after the return of the classic villain, Suketh the Destroyer. It also seems the series laid the foundation for The Doctor's next big adventure after resolving the Ruby Sunday mystery; at least, that's my theory.

Ruby finally connected with her birth mother in the season finale, and while it wasn't a Doctor Who legend like some theorized, it does seemingly lay the groundwork for what's next for The Doctor with Ruby staying behind. Don't worry, we already have confirmation that Millie Gibson is returning to the series, but while we wait for her comeback and the upcoming Christmas special, here's where I think the adventure is headed.

How I Think Ruby Reuniting With Her Birth Mother Will Impact The Doctor

I've mentioned previously how I was concerned with how Russell T. Davies would handle Ruby's adoption storyline because I have close connections with adoptees in my personal life. My stomach dropped when they finally tracked down her mother, and The Doctor suggested Ruby leaving her be since her mother had all that time to find her and didn't seek her out.

Fortunately, Ruby ignored him, and it ended up being a beautiful reconciliation that resulted in her two mothers finally meeting.

The Doctor's apprehension was unsurprising, considering what he revealed to Kate Stewart in the previous episode. The Time Lord admitted that he actively avoided seeking out any of his family members after traveling with his granddaughter out of fear of endangering them by engaging. In his mind, it was best to remain lonely to keep them safe.

The Doctor actively said Ruby changed his perspective on family, so I have to wonder if this means he'll finally start looking into his origins.

Will We Finally Meet More Of The Doctor's Family And Learn The Time Lord's True Origin? 

For so long, The Doctor has been defined by his loneliness. He's the last of his kind and a protector with few people in his life to hold onto. After Ruby Sunday, Russell T. Davies has a chance to change that narrative and allow Doctor Who to finally send the Time Lord on a journey to explore his own origins and find more of his family in the universe. Is this what the plan for the show is?

I can't say for certain, though it would explain why Russell T. Davies has leaned so heavily into the storyline of The Timeless Child. There's a big opportunity to pull back the curtain on the mystery of the character and figure out the origins that he himself is oblivious to.

Again, I don't know if that will happen, but I'm down for seeing it if it does. It's much better than the alternative of constantly saving and seeing Gallifrey destroyed!

Doctor Who is done for now on Disney+, but we already know that a Christmas special is coming later this year on the 2024 TV schedule and that the next season was shot with the intention of the series airing more consistently. In short, the wait likely won't be as long as in past years, but it still feels agonizing, considering how great this season was and what the finale seemingly set up!

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Doctor Who episode "The Legend Of Ruby Sunday." Watch the episode with a Disney+ subscription and read at your own risk!

Doctor Who's first season on Disney+ is nearly over, but it doesn't appear as though we'll be having a light and jolly adventure before the show closes out its run on the 2024 TV schedule. Instead, showrunner Russell T. Davies raised the stakes drastically in "The Legend Of Ruby Sunday" by bringing back a classic villain for the first time since "The Giggle." That's right, a new Pantheon god is here, and surprise, it's a deep cut to the classic run of the series. 

Russell T. Davies confirmed to CinemaBlend that after Maestro's debut, we'd see three more Pantheon gods, and one of those three just made its big debut. For those bewildered or confused by what they just saw with the latest god, here's a rundown of what happened and where we know this villain from: 

Sutekh The Destroyer Is The Newest Pantheon God

With the coincidences in Doctor Who's latest season piling up, The Doctor and Ruby enlisted UNIT to figure out the identity of the woman they kept spotting throughout time. It turns out Kate Stewart and the crew already had a lead, and she was the CEO of Triad Technologies, Susan Triad. The group assumed it wasn't a coincidence that S. Triad spelled TARDIS when swapped around and thought it might be The Doctor's granddaughter Susan. 

As The Doctor tried to get to Susan before "The One Who Waits" arrived, the TARDIS was groaning again, similar to how it had in several previous episodes. Finally, the shoe dropped when The Doctor confronted Susan, who turned out to be a servant of Sutekh The Destroyer. Back at UNIT headquarters, Sutekh emerged from the TARDIS, and we were left hanging with our minds blown on what could possibly be coming in the season finale. 

Sutekh Is A Classic Villain From Tom Baker's Era

If Sutekh isn't a name viewers are familiar with, they shouldn't feel bad. He was the main villain of the Fourth Doctor's arc "Pyramids Of Mars" (which is available to watch for free on Tubi, I might add). The Doctor encountered a villain with similar origins to the Egyptian god of legend, who believed destroying all living things freed them from the burdens of hope and choice. His destruction knows no bounds, and some believed him to be Satan himself. He was so destructive and so deadly he was sealed away within a forcefield that left him paralyzed using ancient technology.

Sutekh's servant and mummies gave The Doctor and Sarah Jane a run for their money and nearly made The Doctor free the god. Fortunately, the Time Lord was able to trap Sutekh in a time corridor for 7,000 years, halting his reign of terror for a time. 

While Sutekh only had one television adventure across four episodes, Doctor Who has brought the character back many times over the years with various audio dramas and comics. Other adventures have highlighted his brilliance, especially when it comes to technology too. In hindsight, it makes perfect sense he was the person behind Triad Technologies.  

What Does This Have To Do With Ruby Sunday? 

Sutekh's arrival is interesting and kind of detracts from all the Ruby Sunday developments we learned in the penultimate episode. Perhaps the wildest one was that we were unable to see Ruby's mother in the time window and what she was pointing to in an effort to potentially alert The Doctor decades later. Oh, and it was snowing again, which Russell T. Davies told us would be explained eventually. 

For now, it seems like Sutekh's arrival answers some of the questions we have, but there are still many unanswered ones concerning Ruby Sunday. We don't know why we couldn't see her mother's face despite having a clear view in the Time Window, and clearly, her neighbor Mrs. Flood is just as much of a mystery as we originally assumed. 

Perhaps we'll get some answers in the season finale, though I wouldn't be surprised if some of this carries into the next season considering we know Millie Gibson will return to Doctor Who. I can't wait to find out!

Unfortunately, I'll have to do exactly that as Doctor Who will stream the heart-pounding season finale on Disney+ on Friday, June 21 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Now would be a great time to watch that Fourth Doctor adventure on Tubi, and speculate on how The Fifteenth Doctor might get himself out of this jam. 

We're approaching the end of Doctor Who's first season on Disney+, and it looks like my bold prediction about Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor will come to pass. Of course, we still have to get through the two-part finale and, given the hints that showrunner Russell T. Davies is dropping ahead of the episode, I can't help but feel a little worried. So far, it's been teased that two unexpected characters will meet up, and it also sounds like a potentially upsetting development is on the horizon.

Russell T. Davies is responsible for some of Doctor Who's best episodes, and a quick look at those will show that he's not above crafting a sad ending. For that reason, my anxiety is spiking a bit over his small tease ahead of part one of the upcoming season finale, which could end on a low note. 

Russell T. Davies Hinted At A Meeting Between Two Characters

Fans have been waiting to find out who Mrs. Flood is all season, and it looks like we could get some answers on that based on the still from "The Legend Of Ruby Sunday," which is in the EP's Instagram post. Check out the photo below, which shows the first shared scene between Doctor Who cast members Anita Dobson and Angela Wynter: 

Ruby's grandmother, Cherry Sunday, is bedridden, and we haven't seen her interact with Mrs. Flood at all this season, so why are they having a "showdown," as Russell T. Davies said? Cherry looks worried in the photo, which makes me think Mrs. Flood is secretly a villain as I've assumed for some time now. Of course, the EP is as good as anyone at misleading fans with his teases, so I'll reserve my judgment until the actual episode is available to stream with a Disney+ subscription. 

The Caption In Russell T. Davies' Post Has Me Worried

The Queer as Folk scribe frequently teases upcoming episodes and often fairly cryptic. One of his most common tendencies is the use of emojis, typically pairing two hearts with another emoji. For those who didn't notice it in the post above, here's what he shared for "The Legend Of Ruby Sunday":

Two hearts and a skull? That could mean anything, but the fact they are the same color has me thinking it's tied to The Doctor. Time Lords do have two hearts, after all, which makes the skull more concerning. Surely, he's not teasing that The Doctor will die, right? 

That feels unlikely to me, especially since actors who star in Doctor Who as of late typically remain with the series for around three seasons. I feel like the series would immediately be shooting itself in the foot, having to replace a well-liked star like Ncuti Gatwa and considering he just gained a new love interest -- with Jonathan Groff's franchise debut -- his death feels unlikely. That said, it's not uncommon at all for character to die in the series, so the big question is who we might see bite the dust if that's what's being teased.

I'm hoping Ruby's adopted mother and grandmother are safe but, given Doctor Who loves to kill off characters that are near and dear to the hearts of companions, I could see either being targeted. I also don't know any other deaths that would be as impactful to viewers unless Ruby herself dies. I would hate to see that as well but, given it's been confirmed that Millie Gibson will return next season, I don't see that happening either. 

Doctor Who's "The Legend Of Ruby Sunday" premieres on Disney+ on Friday, June 15th at 7:00 p.m. ET as part of the 2024 TV schedule. I know that I'll be watching live for all the big reveals and to finally find out what's going on with all these mysteries that are piling up. 

Warning! The following contains MAJOR spoilers for the Doctor Who episode "73 Yards." Watch the episode with a Disney+ subscription and read at your own risk!

Every time I think Disney+'s Doctor Who has reached the peak of this season, it finds a way to raise the bar. While Steven Moffat's "Boom" brought back tension and fear in The Doctor, "73 Yards" brought back putting the companion up against impossible situations. Ruby Sunday was tested to her absolute limit in the latest adventure to air on the 2024 TV schedule, and while it all worked out for her, one moment, in particular, was so tragic I simply couldn't bear it. 

Without The Doctor in the mix, Ruby was forced to deal with a mysterious woman who always stayed 73 yards away and seemed to turn everyone who landed within earshot against the companion. This had devastating consequences in the episode, drawing heavily on the connection Ruby shares with The Doctor. 

The Woman In '73 Yards' Makes Everyone Who Hears Her Speak Hate Ruby, Including Her Mother Carla

With The Doctor nowhere to be found, Ruby was forced to return to England, and the woman followed her the entire way. Once home, her adopted mother, Carla, had the idea that if she sat on her cell phone while walking toward the woman, Ruby would be able to hear what was said that made people so angry and frightened afterward. Once Carla drew near, the phone cut out. Ruby didn't hear what was said, but Carla quickly ran from Ruby. 

What's worse, when Ruby tried to return to their apartment, she found the door locked and her key no longer working. Ruby attempted to contact Carla dozens of times, and when she finally answered, she told her that she was never "truly" her child, pointing out that Ruby was adopted. Ultimately, it seems everything is made right by the episode's end, but I can't shake the sickening feeling from that scene. 

Ruby Living A Lifetime Being Abandoned By Her Adopted Mother Ripped My Heart Out

While everything ultimately works out, the real soul-ripping part for me is there's an alternate Ruby Sunday who lived an entire lifetime estranged from her adoptive mother for reasons beyond her control. It's a powerful reveal, up there with ones found in some of Doctor Who's best episodes, but the pain hit me in a way so many other tragic fates for companions haven't.

As someone with a couple of adoptees in my life, I can say that a fear of loss and rejection is strong and very real. No doubt, anyone watching this episode who has dealt with adoption in any form will understand just how painful that moment is and the amount of trauma it can drill down on. 

Thankfully, we know that Ruby Sunday will return after this season, so Russell T. Davies and others will get a chance to give her many positive moments beyond this low point. 

I will confess, however, that as great as the episode is, it does give me pause to see such a traumatic reveal used for shock and sadness in this Doctor Who episode. I'd strongly advise against showing it to other adopted children who are still reconciling with their place in the world, and I do hope RTD exercises caution and understanding when continuing on with this storyline. 

He's done such a great job highlighting the big feelings of being an adoptee so far, and I'd hate to see it become trivialized or used for a cheap, sad hit at the expense of actually educating people or inspiring those it can help. 

Doctor Who continues its latest season on Disney+ with new episodes arriving at 7:00 p.m. ET. Tune in to see the latest adventure with The Doctor and Ruby, and continue to check in as we break down all the finer points of this wondrous season. 

Spoilers for the first three episodes of Doctor Who’s first season with Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor are ahead. If you haven’t seen them, you can stream them with a Disney+ subscription. 

A new era of Doctor Who is in full swing on the 2024 TV schedule, which means the legendary timelord is taking us on tons of unexpected adventures and bringing us along as he solves new mind-boggling mysteries. While I obviously have questions about the Pantheon of villains and at one point we were theorizing about if the Maestro was The Master, arguably the biggest mystery this season that’s worth theorizing about surrounds the snow that has fallen around Ruby in every episode so far. 

So, when I had the chance to talk to showrunner Russell T. Davies about the series, I had to ask him about the origins of the snow, and what we should expect from it as the season continues. 

First of all, I won’t leave you hanging and neither will Russell. When I asked him about the snow, he immediately told me we would get answers to it this season, which is exciting! In his words:

Now, while he wouldn’t give away the details behind the snow and the greater meaning it has, the showrunner did explain how he came up with the idea and teased what’s to come as the new season of Doctor Who continues to air. 

Russell T. Davies Explains How He Came Up With The Snow

If you’ve seen the first three episodes that feature Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson as the leads of the Doctor Who cast, then you know that snow has fallen around Ruby and The Doctor in moments when the companion is in grave danger. Seemingly, the snow is connected to the day she was found on Ruby Road, and Davies emphasized that point, saying: 

Davies went on to tell me that in the episode “The Legend of Ruby Sunday” – which airs on  June 14 – someone explains the mystery of the snow as “a bit Dickensian.” Continuing, he said that this element of the story adds a “romantic fairytale quality” to the show, which I love. 

The showrunner then told me that the idea for the snow came when he realized he wanted something to happen whenever Ruby’s childhood was brought up, which typically comes during life-threatening moments too. Speaking to this and the questions it raises, Davies said:

It’s become obvious that the snow is somehow connected to Ruby’s birth and where she came from. At the moment, even The Doctor is confounded by his companion and her origins, and Davies explained that this mystery is amazing and worth the wait. 

Russell T. Davies Promises That The Mystery Of The Snow ‘Delivers And More’

While Russell T. Davies couldn’t give me specifics about the snow and why it's featured heavily in the show – as he understandably said he doesn’t want to give any spoilers away – there is a “terrible threat coming” that’s connected to it. We’ve seen that ominous cloaked figure on the road Ruby was left on, and the snow keeps appearing at very pivotal moments. With all that in mind, the showrunner explained: 

So, we can expect the snow to have dark origins, and it sounds like The Doctor and Ruby have a very intense journey ahead of them. However, as the showrunner confirmed, we will know why the snow follows the timelord’s companion by the end of this season. 

To see how this snow mystery gets solved, you can stream new episodes of Doctor Who every Friday on Disney+ at 7 p.m. ET.

The first two episodes of Doctor Who Season 14 are currently available for Disney+ subscribers and, if you're a Star Trek fan, they're worth a watch. The Season 14 cast has already been a blast to watch, with new star Ncuti Gatwa leading the way. But, on top of that, the British sci-fi series made a deliberate nod to the Trek franchise that has some excited about a potential crossover. Amidst the buzz, Who showrunner Russell T. Davies talked about his steps to make the crossover easier. 

A little over a year after Russell T. Davies praised Star Trek: Picard, The Doctor implied that he and Ruby Sunday could visit the Enterprise. During a recent interview, Davies added that he'd be up for a mash-up in a recent interview. And it's a detail that confirms why I was so right to be excited for his DW return in the first place. 

Russell T. Davies Changed The Way The Doctor Referred To Star Trek 

In "Space Babies," Ruby is astonished at how the TARDIS is able to phase into a ship after traveling through space and then asked if it worked like a "matter transporter on Star Trek." The Doctor laughed at the question and replied, "We gotta visit them one day." It was a quick moment but, for those eagerly awaiting upcoming Trek shows, I'm sure it sent minds racing as to what could be in the works. 

As Russell T. Davies noted to Inverse, the moment is more significant than some may realize. While Ruby Sunday's comment would imply that the series exists as a fictional television show in her modern day, The Doctor implies Starfleet and The Federation are real: 

Just when it seemed like Doctor Who was destined to crossover with Bluey, Russell T. Davies threw me for a loop with this line. Could a crossover between these shows actually happen? If so, I have my comm badge and Sonic Screwdriver both waiting beside me for the moment it's announced. 

Doctor Who And Star Trek Have Crossed Paths Before

Longtime viewers have seen various references to Star Trek in Doctor Who over the decades, and vice versa. Fans of both may also be aware that The Next Generation went on an adventure with Matt Smith's Doctor in the comics, which is a really fun read. It's also been long speculated that Russell T. Davies wanted to have Christopher Eccleston's Doctor do a crossover on Enterprise, but the latter was canceled (with an ending the co-creator regrets) before any progress was ever made. 

Russell T. Davies did speak to the reality of that Enterprise crossover in the interview and stated that it was never anything more than an idea he said aloud to himself in his office. It's sad to learn that actual negotiations never took place, but it's still great to hear Davies is interested in making it happen. 

Will A Television Crossover Between Doctor Who And Star Trek Ever Happen? 

Unfortunately, I think we're in a time at which studios hoarding their intellectual property more than ever before. Gone are the days of Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse meeting up in Who Framed Roger Rabbit and, with Star Trek under the Paramount brand and Doctor Who now a co-production of The BBC and Disney, the odds of all parties coming to the table and agreeing to a crossover feel slim. 

Stranger things have happened, though and, with the kookiness that Strange New Worlds gets up to, I don't think it would be a stretch to see The Doctor on their Enterprise. If the legal teams could iron out the rights and such, the process of actually constructing the story would likely be even easier in comparison. I'll keep my fingers crossed, especially given how much of a blast this new era of Doctor Who is. It would be awesome to see two of the oldest TV sci-fi franchises united for one grand adventure. 

Star Trek: Discovery currently streams new episodes on Thursdays for Paramount+ subscribers, and Doctor Who debuts its Season 14 episodes on Disney+ on Fridays. With both shows in season at the moment, it's truly a great time to be a geek. 

Spoilers for Doctor Who’s “The Devil’s Chord” are ahead. If you haven’t watched the episode, you can stream it with a Disney+ subscription. 

Doctor Who is in a new era on Disney+, and that means a new legion of villains has arrived too. That’s right, along with Ncuti Gatwa taking his place as the Fifteenth Doctor in Doctor Who’s cast, actors including Neil Patrick Harris and Jinkx Monsoon have also joined as members of a league of gods called The Pantheon. So, since we’ve met two big bads from this group, I had to ask Russell T. Davies if we’ll see more, and his response has me stoked!

Russell T. Davies Revealed How Many More Villians From The Pantheon We’ll Get This Season

Ahead of Doctor Who’s premiere on the 2024 TV schedule, I had the chance to speak with the series' showrunner Russell T. Davies about the first two episodes. While talking about Jinkx Monsoon’s character Meastro, I had to ask about what it’s like creating this legion of gods, and the writer told me exactly what we can expect moving forward. 

Giving me the “scoop” about how many more Pantheon members are coming, Davies said:

Isn’t that exciting! Along with Neil Patrick Harris’ Toymaker – who was the man who caused the Doctor to bi-generate in the 60th Anniversary special – and Jinkx Monsoon’s Meastro – who can literally steal music and cause world-ending damage – we can expect “at least three” more gods from this group. That means more A-list guest stars on Doctor Who and more campy villains for the Fifteenth Doctor to take on. 

While we don’t know who will play these three characters or when they’ll come, it’s exciting to know that the Timelord will be taking on Pantheon members in so many episodes. It helps create a bigger overarching story for the season, and who wouldn’t want more of these incredibly creative characters?

Along with dishing about the number of Pantheon villains coming, Davies also told me that they will be mixed into the season, noting that other sci-fi-heavy episodes are coming too. Here’s what he had to say about balancing this season’s bad guys and what we can expect as new installments come out:

I’m so excited about how these characters will up the stakes of Doctor Who, and this balance of hard sci-fi and fantasy we'll be getting. 

In “The Devil’s Chord” The Doctor says he can’t fight beings like The Toymaker and Maestro, and since he’s not one to say he can’t do something, you know this challenge is unlike anything he’s faced before. To that point, Davies told me that these villains make you feel like you’re on a roller coaster, and I can’t wait for the ride to keep going:

As we’ll talk about more, gods like The Toymaker and Maestro open a creative door for Davies to explore as he makes episodes, and that makes the stories even more fun to watch on screen. 

Russell T. Davies Explains Why He Loves Incorporating The Pantheon Into Ncuti Gatwa’s First Season As The Doctor

With at least a trio of villains from The Pantheon coming, it’s exciting to know that we’re going to get at least three more wildly creative big bads that all connect somehow. Davies said he’s had fun crafting these stories, and in a lot of ways it’s been freeing. 

When I asked him about writing episodes with antagonists like the ones played by Jinkx Monsoon and Neil Patrick Harris, the showrunner said:

In a world of science-fiction and fantasy that’s existed for decades, it’s always so fun to see The Doctor take on new challenges. I love that Davies is creating new rules and finding fresh ways for the Timelord to defeat his adversaries, and I can’t wait to see how the season continues!

To see the three Pantheon gods Russell T. Davies teased, make sure to stream the new season of Doctor Who as it airs every Friday at 7 p.m. ET on Disney+. 

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies opened a can of worms when the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Doctors bi-generated and he suggested the twist meant multiple Doctors were now alive. The ordeal had people excited for actor David Tennant to continue playing The Doctor in the future, potentially in a series separate from Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor. Well, now, Davies has finally made clear the reality of that happening, and fans won't be pleased by what he has to say. 

The showrunner spoke to The Times about Doctor Who's new season that's about to premiere on the 2024 TV schedule. As other interviews since the 60th anniversary have gone, the questions eventually went to David Tennant's future as the Fourteenth Doctor, considering he's alive and well at the end of it. Russell T. Davies appears to be tired of that question, considering the response he delivered (via Radio Times): 

It's a brutal end for the Fourteenth Doctor, though one I don't think exists anywhere but in the Doctor Who showrunner's mind. The point of the quote, it seems, is to encourage future interviewers not to ask about David Tennant returning, especially when he already subtly clarified the actor's status as The Doctor just a week prior. 

And while David Tennant tried to be brutally honest about the odds of him returning as the timelord, it seems Doctor Who fans haven't entirely received the message. So now Russell T. Davies is making another attempt to put the topic to rest by making a definitive statement about the Fourteenth Doctor actor: 

That's about as clear as it can be, so don't expect to use that Disney+ subscription to see David Tennant play The Doctor in new episodes unless, of course, it's one of the 60th-anniversary specials. 

It is worth noting that it was the showrunner who started this whole debate in the first place. Had The Doctor regenerated as they normally do, no one would've suspected Tennant would return. 

I would also speculate that maybe Russell T. Davies didn't think at the time what a problem it could be to leave the status of one of the most popular Doctor Who actors of all time up in the air right on the heels of introducing a new actor and era for the franchise. Giving any indication that the "old Who" is still around and capable of being returned to could lead to dissension within the fandom, with some constantly wishing to return to the way things were. 

Fans will do that anyway, as this phenomenon is not unique to Doctor Who. The previous showrunner, Chris Chibnall, caused some division with the introduction of the "Timeless Child" story arc, which retconned the Doctor being a native Gallifreyan. Doctor Who intends to lean into that heavily in the new era, linking the Doctor's origins as an adoptee to his new companion, Ruby Sunday. 

Doctor Who launches on Disney+ with a two-episode premiere on Friday, May 9th. Those in the United States will get access to the new episodes at 7:00 p.m. ET, with the global rollout happening simultaneously. Having seen advanced episodes it's a blast, and I suppose it's not a spoiler to state that David Tennant is not involved. 

As Doctor Who's new era continues with Ncuti Gatwa, fans with Disney+ subscriptions are awaiting the arrival of Season 14, and there are a lot of questions surrounding David Tennant and his future in the franchise. The beloved actor returned to portray the Fourteenth Doctor for the 60th anniversary, and his bi-generation from the Fifteenth Doctor at the end made it possible for him to have further adventures down the road. Fans have speculated how that could happen, but showrunner Russell T. Davies set the record straight on the actor returning for more adventures.

Davies spent some time talking to Rolling Stone about the new era of Doctor Who, and with that conversation came a brief statement clarifying the futures of David Tennant's Fourteenth Doctor and Catherine Tate's Donna Noble. While fans have shared thoughts and hopes for them getting their own miniseries, spinoff, or even a movie, the showrunner dashed all hopes with the following when talking about when we last saw them on the 60th anniversary specials:

Russell T. Davies seems to say the door is closed on more Fourteenth Doctor and Donna Noble stories, which may come as a shock to some readers. It seemed that the beauty in establishing that Doctors could survive regeneration would create more opportunities for spinoffs, as well as more adventures where two or more Doctors are involved.

The signs that David Tennant's return as The Doctor was not a long-term gig have been there for a while, however. The actor was brutally honest with fans back in February and declared that the Fourteenth Doctor was "retired." At first, it seemed possible he was playing coy, but Davies' latest comments seem to confirm that there are no plans in store for the Fourteenth Doctor when it comes to the new era of television for Doctor Who.

While others might be stunned and/or disappointed, the move makes sense to me. Doctor Who is trying to launch a new era of the show and introduce a new cast for Season 14. To kneecap that with an announcement that David Tennant's Doctor would be getting his own series could divide the fandom and encourage others to wait on that series rather than the fresh adventures with Ncuti Gatwa's iteration.

Plus, David Tennant is a bigger star these days than he was during the series' original run. It's great that he was convinced to return for the special occasion of celebrating the 60th anniversary, but doing three episodes is a different commitment than a full season of a series or miniseries. Still, even Christopher Eccleston was convinced to work with Doctor Who again after his bad experience, so can we say for certain that Fourteen's story is finished?

Doctor Who kicks off Season 14, presumably without David Tennant making a surprise appearance, on Saturday, May 11th on Disney+. Fourteen or not, we here at CinemaBlend are thrilled for the full season of Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor and eager to see what new adventures are in store for the time-traveling alien.

There were some unhappy campers in the Doctor Who fandom when rumors came out saying Millie Gibson was leaving the series after one season. I was one of them because she was great in the Christmas special and I loved her chemistry with the new Doctor. So, it was a relief when we found out those rumors were false. Gibson will indeed be alongside Ncuti Gatwa and their new co-star Varada Sethu for a second season, and Russell T. Davies recently explained why it took so long for him to refute the initial claims that Ruby Sunday wouldn't be back. 

The Doctor Who showrunner spoke to SFX Magazine about the confusion regarding Gibson, and he had a solid reason why he stayed silent about it initially. Here's what he had to say about the rumor and why addressing these types of things immediately doesn't always work (via GamesRadar):

The showrunner wanted to make sure he could speak at length about the rumor before making a statement. Now that he can talk more about what's in store for Doctor Who Season 14, he can tease more about Ruby's connection to The Doctor and spend less time refuting some wild rumors the internet cooked up because of what he might've said initially. As someone whose job partly entails speculation based on minimal information doled out by showrunners, I get it. Sometimes, it's best to just wait for more information or for when the episodes are available with a Disney+ subscription. 

I'd imagine this two-year journey with Ruby Sunday will reveal who dropped her at the doorstep of the church where she was found, or maybe that reveal will only be the beginning of a much larger mystery. One can never be too sure when the questions end and answers begin in Doctor Who, but that's always where the most fun happens. 

Fortunately, we don't have to wait too much longer for new episodes to premiere on the 2024 TV schedule, as Doctor Who Season 14 is launching on May 14. The first trailer was filled with awesome moments set to the wonderful music of David Bowie. Plus, now that we don't have to worry about it being Ruby Sunday's final season, I'm even more thrilled about what is on the way. 

Even when I did think she was leaving, it was hard not to get amped up about the upcoming episodes after hearing the rumors about who Jinkx Monsoon is playing. Wait, should I believe those rumors anymore now that we know everything about Millie Gibson's short tenure on the show has been debunked? Perhaps it's just wise to take everything with a grain of salt until it's shown on screen and remember that all rumors are just that until proven otherwise.  

Doctor Who returns to Disney+ with new episodes this May, and many here at CinemaBlend are thrilled about that. Hopefully, it is just as exciting as what we've seen in this new era thus far, and we get some answers about The Doctor's true origin and where they actually come from. 

For a few months, rumors ran around that had many of us thinking we wouldn't see Millie Gibson as the Doctor's companion Ruby Sunday after the season of Doctor Who that's about to air on the 2024 TV schedule. However, have no fear Whovians! Not only will Gibson be returning to star alongside Ncuti Gatwa in the Fifteenth Doctor's second season, but Varada Sethu will be joining them too, and I have to say that this trio looks "fantastic!"

While it was believed Millie Gibson would be leaving after the first season of Doctor Who that will air on Disney+, and Russell T. Davies mentioned that she'd be returning to the show Coronation Street, this news from Disney and the BBC confirms that she'll be coming back for the sci-fi classic's second season on the streamer. 

In a press release from Disney and the BBC, it was also confirmed that Varada Sethu would be a new companion "alongside current companion Ruby Sunday." That statement along with this sweet photo from the 2025 season's table read of Sethu, Gibson and Gatwa (shown above) fully affirms that The Doctor will be galavanting around the universe with two companions next season. 

Showrunner Russell T. Davies had nothing but wonderful things to say about this trio, and he noted that he can’t wait for the three of them to work together to save the universe in 2025, saying in the press release:

Personally, I’m a big fan of having three folks in the TARDIS. Some of the best Doctor Who episodes featured Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor and his companions Amy and Rory, and I love the Three Musketeers energy that comes with the timelord having two travel pals. So, yes, I’m stoked that Varada Sethu, Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson will be leading the next season of Doctor Who.

While it’s thrilling that we now know Millie Gibson will be coming back to Doctor Who, I also can’t wait to get to know Varada Sethu’s character. The actress’s resume includes projects like Andor and Jurassic World Dominion, so she’s more than ready to take on the timey-wimey adventures in Doctor Who. She also can’t wait to get to work, as she said in the cast announcement:

The cast of Doctor Who’s 14th season in the modern era is already iconic, and this news about the companions made the 15th season just as exciting. 

At the time of this writing, we don’t know the name of Varada Sethu’s new companion or if she and Millie Gibson will appear in every episode of Doctor Who’s season slated for 2025. However, the news did confirm that they’d both be traveling with Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor at the same time.

As we learn more about this trio’s adventures in the Fifteenth Doctor’s second season, we’ll be sure to keep you posted. For, now we all need to prepare for the first season of Doctor Who starring Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson, because it will start airing for those with a Disney+ subscription on Friday, May 10 at 7 p.m. ET, and UK fans will be able to steam it on BBC iPlayer starting at midnight on May 11.

New Doctor Who episodes are coming soon on the 2024 TV schedule, and as we approach them Russell T. Davies has been more willing to dole out details ahead of its arrival. This week, we learned more about one of the most exciting additions to the Season 14 cast, Jinkx Monsoon, and the name of her character. What's even more thrilling is that the reveal led to a theory I have about who she'll play that would make the new season even better. 

The Doctor Who showrunner, who oversaw the 60th anniversary and Christmas specials that are currently available to stream with a Disney+ subscription, spoke to Empire (via Digital Spy) about Jinkx Monsoon and the upcoming episode featuring The Beatles. When speaking about the drag queen, Russell T. Davies had great things to say, but it's the name reveal of her villainous character that grabbed my attention the most: 

Another way to describe a "maestro" is a "master of the arts," which should set off alarm bells in the heads of many Whovians. The Master is one of the best villains on Doctor Who, and they have used different names before to conceal their identity. When The Master previously had a female identity, she was known as "The Mistress" and went by "Missy" for short. Considering this is a musically-themed episode, could The Master be playing up the premise and going with the name Maestro? 

Based on the official looks we've seen of Jinkx Monsoon's character, I could certainly buy that Maestro is The Master operating in disguise. I would think The Master would want to go into hiding and be a bit more cautious, considering The Toymaker turned them into a gold tooth in their mouth at one point. A humbling experience like that would make even an egocentric villain like The Master lay low for a time. 

If Maestro is indeed "The Master," then I am a bit bummed to learn that Sacha Dhawan's time as the character is up. Dhawan was cryptic about whether he'd be a part of the new era, so it's not a complete shock, assuming this theory is true. With that said, Jinkx Monsoon could also be playing an entirely new villain, and if she is, then there's hope that Dhawan might return to the role. 

Regardless of who Monsoon's "Maestro" may or may not be, I am thrilled that Doctor Who is doing an episode about The Beatles. It's far too often that pop culture shows don't pay reverence to iconic pop acts due to licensing rights. Fortunately, Russell T. Davies found a loophole in making an episode that he revealed about copyright law, which will likely mean this episode won't break the bank playing the most iconic hits of the Fab Four. Overall, the Maestro seems like a great villain for an episode like this, and it'd be such a fun twist if she ended up being an iteration of the iconic Master.

I'll be on the lookout for more on this theory as well as the premiere of Doctor Who Season 14 on Disney+ on Saturday, May 11. Those who have yet to watch the 60th anniversary and Christmas special should certainly do so, or they'll roll into the new era of The Doctor feeling a bit lost. 

Doctor Who now exists as a co-production between Disney and The BBC, making a Disney+ subscription the easiest way to watch in the U.S. and certain other markets. So far, we have seen the immediate effects of a sizable increase in the budget for episodes, and also a larger potential viewership stateside. Russell T. Davies recently commented on why looping in another company beyond The BBC was so necessary, and it's made me wonder how big Disney's influence will be in the future.

Davies was a guest on the They Like To Watch podcast and spoke about Doctor Who's partnership with Disney. The returning showrunner noted that beyond feeling like streaming was a necessary avenue where many major franchises are already at, the move was also just as much about preparing for the longevity of the show in an era where The BBC is struggling financially. In his words:

The BBC has long made headlines over needing to cut content and budgets, and to find more funding with each year that goes by (via $ Barrons$ ). Essentially, it sounds like Davies' plans for Doctor Who couldn't be sustained financially by the British network alone, which made bringing in a mega-studio like Disney more of a necessity. Now we have $ gorgeous Doctor Who trailers with David Bowie$ playing over them and an opportunity for the show to flourish as more viewers discover it streaming.

The most interesting part of what Russell T. Davies said is that the move was a necessity should The BBC cease to exist. One could gather then that if The BBC does fold or relinquish Doctor Who, it could solely become a Disney production. I'm not sure how British fans would feel about their beloved series being housed by an American organization, but it's not uncommon, especially in the world of streaming.

How Much Could Doctor Who Be Disney-fied In The Future?

One does have to wonder what would happen if Doctor Who eventually called Disney its sole production company. I think it's a given we'd see The Doctor and the TARDIS at Disney parks worldwide, and I'd love to see a section of the park dedicated to the character. Maybe Whoopi Goldberg would finally get that offer to guest star, considering she missed her chance to be the first female Doctor.

I could understand the fear of Disney meddling in the franchise, but truthfully, it feels like a perfect pairing. Doctor Who has never been a show that's heavy on swearing or graphic violence, and the company has made enough hit shows over the years to know better than to make the series some completely Americanized adventure series. Full transparency, however, if Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor bi-generated into a Doctor with an American accent who handled things in a completely separate spinoff, I wouldn't be mad about it.

Doctor Who Season 14 will premiere on Disney+ on Thursday, May 11th. Tune in to witness Ncuti Gatwa's first full season as the Fifteenth Doctor, and get ready for some adventures that cover everything from The Beatles to Victorian times.

With the new season of Doctor Who on Disney+ and a new Doctor set to launch in May, fans are looking forward to the next chapter of the storied franchise. With every new Doctor comes big changes and things we’ve never seen before, but the new season is also taking fans back, as Russell T. Davies, who helped relaunch the series back in 2005, has returned as showrunner, and now we know another former showrunner will also be back, as Steven Moffat is writing an episode of the new installment.

Steven Moffat left Doctor Who at the end of Peter Capaldi’s run as The Doctor in 2017, and he certainly indicated at the time, and later, that he had no intention of returning. Speaking with the the official Doctor Who website, Moffat apologized to fans who may have felt misled by his previous comments, and he joked that he’s only back because his continued attempts to beg Davies to let him return were finally successful. Moffat cheekily said:

Any fan of modern Doctor Who has to be at least a little bit excited by this news. While Steven Moffat’s time as Doctor Who showrunner was somewhat divisive, his time on the show before that, when he wrote individual episodes of the series under Russell T. Davies as showrunner, produced some of the most popular episodes of the series. For example, Moffat wrote “The Empty Child” and “Blink” which are considered two of the best Doctor Who episodes. The idea of perhaps getting a new episode with a new Doctor on that level is too cool to overlook.

Moffat's time as showrunner on Doctor Who as well as Sherlock, was characterized by long-term plotlines that never seemed to conclude. Instead, there was always a next step or another level of mystery. Moffat's episodes, however, always had a satisfying end, and one assumes that's what we'll get with a single Moffat-written Doctor Who episode. 

Details on the Moffat-penned episode are being kept under wraps. We know the episode will be directed by Julie-Anne Robinson, but no info on the story or when it will arrive was revealed. However, we do know when Doctor Who's new episodes will be available to those with a Disney+ subscription, as it's set to premiere on the 2024 TV schedule on May 10.

Doctor Who brought back a showrunner for the first time with Russell T. Davies' return for the 60th Anniversary and the upcoming season on the 2024 TV schedule. Now it seems another former showrunner might be joining the Disney+ era. Chatter about this all started because Steven Moffat's name was spotted recently in reference to having a role in an upcoming episode, but despite this proof, there's some other information that leads us to question what is happening. 

As we await updates on Doctor Who Season 14 and its arrival for those with a Disney+ subscription in the spring, news might've leaked about Steven Moffat returning in Season 15. No, he's not taking over as showrunner, but this proof suggests he'll have a role Whovians previously thought was spoken for. 

Steven Moffat Was Noted As The Christmas Special's Writer

The speculation about Steven Moffat started when Doctor Who Filming Locations shared an interesting note on the CV of Doctor Who producer Alison Sterling on social media. A screenshot highlighting her role on Season 15 of the Doctor Who Christmas special noted that the episode was directed by Alex Pillai and written by Steven Moffat. If this news is correct, it would be Moffat's first episode since the 2017 Christmas special "Twice Upon A Time." All we know about the story so far is that it features Nicola Coughlan, who you likely know as the star of the Bridgerton cast. 

Moffat's Name Was Quickly Removed After It Was Noticed

Not long after the discovery, Alison Sterling's CV was changed, with Steven Moffat and Alex Pillai's names removed. This led some fans to believe the post was just a mistake, but others weren't quite so sure. 

It seems odd that Sterling's CV would get the correct and officially announced director for the episode and not the episode's writer. I could believe the mistake if Davies stepped in after Moffat's departure as showrunner, but he hasn't been a part of the series since 2017. It's an intriguing situation, especially since there's been no public comment from The BBC as of writing post-removal. 

Russell T. Davies Said He Was Writing The Special Himself, But That Was A While Back

Another interesting element to this is Russell T. Davies made a big show of the fact that he spent his previous Christmas writing the 2024 special (via Cultbox). So, to hear that Steven Moffat was listed as the writer is confusing. Is it possible the two collaborated for a holiday special? 

Considering Moffat worked for and with Davies before taking over as Doctor Who's showrunner in Season 5, I would believe it. It's also worth noting that Davies shared his plans for the new era of Doctor Who with Moffat before the 60th anniversary. I'd reckon Moffat knew about the wild bi-generation twist based on his cryptic statements on the plans, and he could possibly even return for something related to that. 

It would be exciting to see Steven Moffat contributing to Doctor Who again, even if it's on a one-episode basis. He and Russell T. Davies are responsible for a bulk of Doctor Who's best episodes, though that comes with the territory of being two-thirds of the showrunners of this modern era. Even so, I'd love to see what they could cook up in a collaborative Christmas special, assuming that could happen and it really wasn't just an honest mistake. 

Doctor Who Season 14 will arrive at some point on the 2024 TV Schedule, but we're still waiting on an explicit release date. To go back and watch Moffat's episodes of Doctor Who, you can stream them with a Max subscription.

It's a new era of Doctor Who, and while there are a lot of changes in play now that Russell T. Davies is back in control, the past has not been forgotten. With his first eps, Davies has keep alive some of the most important elements of Chris Chibnall's run, including some of Jodie Whittaker's biggest moments, despite fan complaints through her years in the role. The actress was recently asked for her thoughts on those callbacks, and her response makes me desperate for her to return to the franchise. 

Doctor Who's 60th anniversary and Christmas specials, currently available to stream with a Disney+ subscription, made many nods to Doctor Who's polarizing "Timeless Child" arc, the Flux season, and other moments from Jodie Whittaker's time portraying The Doctor. Speaking with Radio Times, the actress gave her positive reaction to seeing the series reference her era of the show, saying:

Doctor Who has brought the "Timeless Child" storyline front and center, as The Doctor and new companion, Ruby Sunday, bonded over both being adoptees who didn't know their birth family. Ruby actress Millie Gibson reportedly won't be back for a second season, but the episodes she stars in will open the door for The Doctor to explore his own beginnings and whatever life he had before being found and taken to Gallifrey. 

Multiple references to Seasons 11, 12, and Flux shouldn't have been a huge surprise for Doctor Who fans keping up on behind-the-scenes news, as Russell T. Davies repeatedly made it clear he won't erase Jodie Whittaker's Doctor from the canon. It appears fans who don't like the Doctor potentially having an unlimited number of regenerations will just have to deal with it, or at least wait for some future storyline to futz with The Doctor's history once again. Let's be real: one of the franchise's biggest consistencies is how inconsistent it can be with its own history. 

Even so, it's great to see Jodie Whittaker sharing such happy thoughts about the references. It's a shame her run fell under so much scrutiny, as the story decisions and other bits that drew ire didn't really have anything to do with her enjoyable performances. She delivered great work as The Doctor, and it would be awesome to see her return for at least a one-off episode, even if only for praise to be showered on her portrayal without some of the drama that Seasons 11 and 12 stirred up. 

Jodie Whittaker didn't originally want to be in Doctor Who, mainly because of the immense fame tied to the role that vaulted other former stars to mainstream fame after leaving Doctor Who. She ended up landing the gig anyway and really embraced the role despite not being heavily familiar with the franchise beforehand Clearly, she's invested in the story now, so it would be great to welcome her back in the future. 

Jodie Whittaker's run of Doctor Who is available to watch on streaming, and those unfamiliar with the run should absolutely give it a chance. This is especially true considering how heavily the run is being referenced in the latest episodes, as fans might need to be well-versed on everything the Thirteenth Doctor got up to before Fourteen's rise.

Updated with video.

As anyone with a Disney+ subscription will tell you, the latest wave of Doctor Who specials has been a rollercoaster ride of reactions and revelations. With “The Church on Ruby Road” acting as the first Christmas special in a while, showrunner Russell T. Davies’ vision was pretty much intact, save for one particular note the new producing partner had for Ncuti Gatwa's first full episode as The Doctor. 

Frankly, I’m happy that Davies agreed, as it made sure Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor was in the show as soon as possible. That's because this tweak, involving Fifteen's entrance, inadvertently reflected Russell's past in the Doctor Who canon.

Disney’s Note On How Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor Was Introduced

BBC’s ongoing docu-series Doctor Who: Unleashed (via comicbook.com) saw the once and current showrunner admitting that Disney actually did have a note for the 2023 Christmas special. And as he revealed through his own remarks, Davies admitted that the new Doctor Who partner actually had a point: 

While we do see Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor in small moments throughout “The Church on Ruby Road,” the moment added at the last moment occurs roughly eight minutes into the special. This allowed Gatwa to spring into full Doctor action early, and it’s a moment that shows off the charm and authority this Time Lord’s new face fully commands. 

But looking closer at how Doctor Who’s latest offering is timed, I once again totally agree that Russell T. Davies added this scene. Especially when part of that moment includes this gem of an interaction: 

Without The Doctor getting “snowmanned” in order to save a pedestrian, it appears that they wouldn’t have shown up until around the 19:12 mark. That’s when Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday jumps onto that ladder to the Goblin airship, resulting in the hysterically fitting conversation that takes place between Doctor and Companion, as they respectively run and drift above the ground. 

Though Ncuti Gatwa’s pants-free bi-generation scene was our proper introduction to the character, that still seems a bit of a stretch for a Doctor Who adventure to not bring The Doctor properly into the fold. It makes even more sense for this Disney-suggested tweak to have taken place, as Davies’ history in making an entrance with the character has shown in hindsight.

Why Disney's Doctor Who Tweak Made Perfect Sense

Looking back at when Russell T. Davies first reintroduced The Doctor in 2005, the timing of Fifteen’s modified entrance feels even more proper. It’s roughly seven and a half minutes into “Rose,” one of the many Doctor Who episodes available through a Max subscription, that we see Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor swoop in for the first time to save young Rose Tyler (Billie Piper). 

Considering that this was the grand reintroduction of this pop culture icon, after nine years of inactivity, one would have expected that moment to be properly goosed for all its worth. It's a balancing act that takes place whenever a new Doctor arrives, and it just so happens that this latest Russell T. Davies starter arrived at that conclusion with some gentle outside nudging.

The more I think about it, the more there’s room for parallels between Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor and the Ninth Doctor. Between the wardrobe, the introduction, and the bittersweet recollection of his past that acted as one of the takeaways from “The Church on Ruby Road,” there’s a familiar energy that’s making its way into the Doctor Who fabric, with a new spin attached.

While I’m still a bit shaky on how much I’ll enjoy this new era of Russell T. Davies, there’s still a lot of promise in the air for what’s to come. This brings us to the crushing realization that Doctor Who won’t be back in action until we hit the spring collection of the 2024 TV schedule. 

Though should you have read through this rundown without watching the episode, and would like to know how to stream “The Church on Ruby Road,” that information is as readily available as the force of mavity. Along with this episode being on Doctor Who's new home, Disney+, there are also three other David Tennant-led specials that made up the 60th-anniversary tribute to Doctor Who that you can check out. 

Doctor Who recently concluded its 60th anniversary on the 2023 TV schedule, but not before massively shaking up the franchise. After the series revealed the fates of David Tennant and Ncuti Gatwa's Doctors as the first ones to experience bi-generation on-screen, many wondered what this meant going forward. Now, Russell T. Davies has shed a little light on the situation and his plans for the immediate future now that we know the Fourteenth Doctor is still around. 

Russell T. Davies participated in a Q&A press conference following the premiere of "The Giggle," in which DailyMail.com and others were present. Someone asked him about the plans for Tennant going forward now that he's still in Doctor Who and his character didn't transform into Ncuti Gatwa's incarnation. For those hoping we'd be getting news of a Tennant-led Who special to binge with our Disney+ subscription in the near future, I wouldn't hold my breath based on the showrunner's response: 

It looks like, for the time being, Russell T. Davies is going to remain focused on building up Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor and telling the story of him and his new companion, Ruby Sunday. The showrunner already teased a big reveal about Millie Gibson's character ahead of the Christmas special, which could lead into a carryover story from Jodie Whittaker's run as the Thirteenth Doctor. Clearly, there's already a lot in store.

The positive of this news is that the fear of Ncuti Gatwa's inaugural run as The Doctor being stepped on by David Tennant's return can officially subside. It appears that Russell T. Davies understood the importance of letting the new Doctor get time to shine. Knowing that there are no immediate plans to use David Tennant may help those who tuned in just to see the former Tenth Doctor give the new iteration of the time lord a shot. 

The reveal is curious, however, especially given how monumental the bi-generation was for the Doctor Who universe as a whole. For those unaware, Russell T. Davies dropped a major reveal during the commentary track for "The Giggle." He said that when the Fourteenth and Fifteen Doctors bi-generated, the entire line of Doctors did as well. This would feasibly mean that every Doctor is currently alive and available to appear in their own standalone specials, depending on the willingness and ability of former Doctor actors who left the show. 

While this option was always available thanks to the show's time travel, the new knowledge that the Doctors technically never regenerated allows for them to age as humans do, and actors looking older does not need to be something explained by the story.

If there are no immediate plans to use David Tennant or any of the other former Doctors in stories, then why did Doctor Who do the bi-generation? Perhaps Russell T. Davies doesn't want to spoil any potential plans without setting up the story for the new Doctor, which is understandable. It's also possible he wanted to do something big for the franchise but doesn't have a long-term plan in place for how it will work. I guess we'll just have to wait, see and hope that we get to see some of the old Doctors again. 

Tune in for the Doctor Who Christmas special on Monday, December 25th on Disney+ to see the Fifteenth Doctor's first official adventure. I know I'm excited for this new era and to see what Ncuti Gatwa can do as The Doctor. I'm also grateful we'll get some time with him without having to worry about him sharing the spotlight with other Doctors in the process. 

There were rumors suggesting that Doctor Who would feature a bi-regeneration in the months leading up to "The Giggle," but it was admittedly hard to believe it would actually happen. Then I tuned into the final 60th-anniversary special with my Disney+ subscription and saw it with my own eyes. It's wild how Russell T. Davies pulled that off with Ncuti Gatwa and David Tennant. As surreal as that was on its own, however, Davies recently revealed another major detail that shook me to my core, and it could mean big things for the future of the franchise. 

In a commentary track for "The Giggle," which is unfortunately not officially available to fans in the United States, Russell T. Davies dropped a pretty substantial reveal about the bi-regeneration (via @WilliamWhoDW on X). Read what Davies said to David Tennant and executive producer Phil Collinson when they watched the latest regeneration scene:

There is some dispute amongst fans regarding whether Russell T. Davies was delivering actual information with this comment or just theorizing. It if is indeed the former, then this is a major development. Assuming that every Doctor bi-regenerated into their next incarnation but continued to live, then it's feasible that every single Doctor is still alive and somewhere out there in the universe. I'm absolutely shaken by what that could mean, assuming again, he's genuine about this piece of information. 

If every former Doctor is still alive, this presents yet another new and inventive way for a former protagonist to have adventures in the Whoniverse. More importantly, it would allow the franchise to bring back actor like Jon Pertwee or Sylvester McCoy to play The Doctor without explaining why they don't look like their past selves. Assuming they all lived for this long, they had to have aged!

I had already theorized that Doctor Who did the bi-regeneration to open the door for potential standalone adventures with David Tennant's Fourteenth Doctor without having to address him looking different from how he did as the Tenth Doctor. Assuming Russell T. Davies has canonized the return of every previous bearer of that title, it would appear his plans for the Whoniverse are much grander than that. The franchise now has the ability to bring back Matt Smith and others who left the show for their own new live-action adventures or even entirely different series. 

This is great for someone like Peter Capaldi, who went on the record as not liking multi-Doctor adventures. Granted, he's someone who openly stated he doesn't want to return to Doctor Who, so there's no telling how receptive he'd actually be to reprising his role. 

There are also additional hurdles with a star like Christopher Eccleston, who returned for other adventures but had issues with Russell T. Davies during his initial run and may not want to return to live-action. All this to say that while it's now easier than ever to get past Doctors into stories, it remains to be seen how successful the franchise would theoretically be at doing that. But again, we still have to keep in mind that these thoughts came solely from Davies, and we'll have to wait and see if this logic is officially established within the series itself. In the meantime, fans will be plenty occupied with Ncuti Gatwa's upcoming episodes, which will hopefully be as great as these specials were. 

Doctor Who's 60th anniversary specials are available to stream on Disney+, and the upcoming Christmas special will stream on Monday, December 25th. It feels like there's a lot to look forward to with this franchise in the next couple of years, so be sure to catch up if you aren't already!

The third and final Doctor Who 60th anniversary special, titled “The Giggle,” is just a few days away from appear, and with it will bring arguably the most famous member of the 60th anniversary’s cast. Las year, it was announced that Neil Patrick Harris was joining Doctor Who to play, as showrunner Russell T. Davies described him “the greatest enemy the Doctor has ever faced,” and this was later revealed to be The Toymaker. Funny enough though, though Doctor Who has developed a wider global fanbase since the show relaunched in 2005, the How I Met Your Mother alum had never heard of it when he was approached for the role.

Davies recounted how he looped Harris into the Doctor Who 60th anniversary proceedings during an interview with EW, as well as explained what made the actor the perfect fit for this role:

The Toymaker is actually an established Doctor Who villain, although unlike adversaries like the Daleks, Cybermen and Master who frequently appear, this character hasn’t appeared onscreen since “The Celestial Toymaker” serial premiered in 1966. Michael Gough played him back in the day, and most of the serial is now missing. Nearly 60 years later, Neil Patrick Harris is getting to put his stamp on The Toymaker, and though he wasn’t familiar with the timey-wimey ride that is Doctor Who, Davies knew that his penchant for games and magic tricks made him just the man to revive the long-absent antagonist.

There’s still a lot of mystery surrounding what The Toymaker is up to “The Giggle,” although as teased in the Doctor Who trailer released in September, he’s responsible for the wave of madness that’s swept the Earth, which was set up at the end of “Wild Blue Yonder.” This time around, The Toymaker will face off against David Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor and Catherine Tate’s Donna Noble. Here’s what Russell T. Davies had to say about Neil Patrick Harris acting opposite Tennant and Tate:

In addition to bringing The Toymaker back, “The Giggle” will also officially introduce Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor, although we did get a cameo from him a few weeks back when he was inserted into the 2013 docudrama An Adventure in Time and Space. So even though it was just last year we watched Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor shockingly regenerate into the Fourteenth Doctor, and a only few weeks back when we watched him establish a hilarious tie to the Daleks, David Tennant’s new iteration of the Time Lord is already stepping away from the spotlight. What I’m interested to learn, though, is if we’ll see more from The Toymaker following the 60th anniversary, whether he’s reprised by Neil Patrick Harris or a new actor takes over the role.

Although Doctor Who continues to air on BBC One in the United Kingdom, a Disney+ subscription is now required to watch new episodes elsewhere in the world. Following the release of “The Giggle” on Saturday, Ncuti Gatwa’s first full Fifteenth Doctor story, “The Church on Ruby Road,” drops December 25 on the 2023 TV schedule.

Doctor Who delivered another special for the franchise's 60th anniversary, and it might have been one of the series' trippiest episodes in quite some time. Fan reception to "Wild Blue Yonder" seemed positive overall, though there was one thought that quite a few people had after hearing David Tennant's Fourteenth Doctor utter a specific line. Some believed a major factual error was made and, now, showrunner Russell T. Davies is explaining himself on social media. 

When it was revealed that The Doctor and Donna were at the edge of the universe, the former remarked that they've "never been out this far before." Seasoned Who fans that tuned in to see the 60th anniversary's cast and other surprises were quick to point out that's not true. With that, they declared that Russell T. Davies accidentally scripted in a factual error. Davies explained on Instagram, however, that he did not, but rather decided to drop mentions of those past exploits from the script. He also shed light on why he did that:

The returning Doctor Who showrunner apparently wanted everyone to know that he was aware of the show's past and acknowledged that both the First, Fourth, and Thirteenth Doctors had traveled to the location before. So, no, it's not an error or retcon as, apparently, the Doctor was just keeping his sentiments brief. 

Personally, I think that the moment, as it currently stands, isn't an error. It's possible that the Doctor hasn't been "out that far" even though the characters have been on the edge of the universe. Granted, I'm not sure how far someone can travel into the edge of nothingness, but it's probably just my 21st-century human brain limiting my understanding of it all like the Doctor told Donna. 

For those curious about how that moment was handled in the original draft of the script, Russell T. Davies shared the details in a photo alongside his explanation. Take a look at the script, which directly references Jodie Whittaker's Doctor: 

As you can see, Jodie Whittaker's iteration of the protagonist received a bigger mention in "Wild Blue Yonder," which is available to stream now with a Disney+ subscription. When The Doctor was speaking to the imposter Donna in the special, the two had a deep conversation about the events of Flux and the Timeless Child reveal. It represented a moment of deep vulnerability for the main character as well as evidence that Chris Chibnall's run on Doctor Who is here to stay. Of course, I already had that theory, given the latest reveal about new companion Ruby Sunday that's set to drop in the Christmas special. 

I personally feel that outside of the horribly shot intro in "The Star Beast," Russell T. Davies has done a great job on the first two Who specials. Now, there's only one left to go, and it's going to bring in the biggest non-Who American star attached to these productions, Neil Patrick Harris. Will the specials go three for three, and will we get the perfect set-up for Ncuti Gatwa's first full episode as the eponymous character? We'll find out soon enough. And as time goes on, I'm sure fans will be keeping an eye out for anything else they feel is a canonical issue.

Watch Doctor Who's 60th-anniversary specials on Disney+ as part of the 2023 TV schedule, and tune in for the final chapter on Saturday, December 9th. I'm so pumped for the final special, especially now that we know that the ending just marks the beginning of this brave new era of the beloved sci-fi franchise. 

Doctor Who's 60th anniversary is fast approaching, but it's just the start of a whole new era in the franchise. The specials will set the tone for returning showrunner Russell T. Davies' second run on the BBC series and allow him to alter or change elements from the past he'd rather not include in the future. Fortunately, for those who are fans of Jodie Whittaker's run as The Doctor, there's nothing to fear when it comes to retcons, and I'm so relieved to read that. 

Chris Chibnall's run on Doctor Who brought about a lot of changes, the biggest of which being The Doctor's origin with "The Timeless Child" story. The change was divisive amongst Doctor Who fans, and given the franchise has retconned several plot points over the years, some wondered if the Timeless Child and events for Doctor Who: Flux would be quietly erased. According to Russell T. Davies in a recent interview with Doctor Who Magazine, these arcs will be talked about in the special "Wild Blue Yonder" and beyond (via Radio Times):

For those who need a refresher, "The Timeless Child" established The Doctor was not a native of Gallifrey, but a child from another universe found by a Shabogan scientist named Tecteun, who eventually learned the child had limitless regenerative capabilities and found a way to pass this trait on to other Shabogans. Thus, the Time Lords were born, as well as a time-meddling organization known as The Division. The Doctor was a part of this organization, but when Tecteun realized The Doctor was too moral to be a part of it, she had their memory wiped. This explained why The Doctor wasn't aware they originally had unlimited regenerations or were not native to Gallifrey. 

As a Doctor Who fan who loved the bold new origin of The Doctor, I'm beyond thrilled by the news that it will continue to be acknowledged. When the BBC announced Russell T. Davies was coming back, as well as the return of David Tennant and Catherine Tate for the 60th anniversary, it certainly felt like an effort to roll back the progress the show had made. I worried the show might try to minimize Jodie Whittaker's run and therefore minimize an important part of the series' history. 

Fortunately, it appears that Russell T. Davies is fine with maintaining The Doctor's new origin story for now, which I feel is the correct call. While we still have yet to learn for sure whether or not the Doctor maintained their limitless regenerative capabilities after Tecteun's experiments, to erase the story would remove a significant amount of meaning to Jodie Whittaker's run as The Doctor. And, in the case this does mean The Doctor has limitless regenerative capabilities, I might point to my reaction of Whittaker's final episode arguing against a retcon, which showed there are always fates worse than death. 

We might see that during the upcoming Doctor Who episodes, all of which will be available with a Disney+ subscription. The 60th anniversary has a talented cast gathered for the specials, and of course, the newly converted Whovian and incoming Doctor actor Ncuti Gatwa is on the way. It's an exciting time to be a fan, and I'm optimistic it'll stay that way for many years to come. 

Catch the premiere of Doctor Who's 60th anniversary on Disney+ starting on Saturday, November 25th. Now would be a great time to start streaming Doctor Who online, though those wishing to watch previous seasons of modern episodes will need to hop over to Max. 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe now spans across multiple realities, so it's only logical that at least one of Marvel's Disney+ series would eventually feature Britain as its core setting. Just such a plan was set to happen sooner rather than later, at least based on recent comments from Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies, who claimed that Marvel reached out about him putting a "British" series together, and I have some thoughts about what it could have been, since he's not even clued in. 

The iconic showrunner, who returned to Doctor Who to help work on its 60th anniversary, recently talked about his conversation with Marvel during an interview with SFX Magazine. Russell T. Davies couldn't say much about the conversation, mainly because he was in the dark on what exactly was being asked as well: 

There's not currently a British Marvel series that's available to watch with a Disney+ subscription, so my guess would be the company either scrapped the plan or it's still in development. So then, what could Marvel have wanted Russell T. Davies on for its shared universe? I have some thoughts, purely based on speculation and what we know about the MCU. 

Captain Britain 

Captain Britain is an obvious choice for a British superhero to get a series, and there have been big names that circled the role over the years. Simon Pegg is a popular name that was attached, and for a time, it seemed like Pegg was interested in bringing Captain Britain to the MCU. The actor later clarified his comments, however, saying he'd rather be an audience member when it comes to hero movies. Still, that doesn't mean Marvel hasn't continued to look for a Captain Britain and had one in mind when Russell T. Davies was approached. 

Black Knight

Dane Whitman popped up at the end of The Eternals and was played by English actor Kit Harington. Harington recently clarified he won't be appearing in the Blade movie, which has me asking what he was brought in to do. The hero Black Knight feels ripe for a Marvel series, and who better than to helm a story about a character steeped in Arthurian legend than someone like Russell T. Davies? It doesn't get more British than that. 

Peggy Carter

The story of Peggy Carter seemed like it could be revived when she was introduced as the variant Captain Carter, but the character's death in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness that left actress Hayley Atwell frustrated kind of shut the book on that. Still, Carter is a beloved character in the Marvel Universe people seem to get behind, and seeing as Daredevil received another series, maybe she could after Agent Carter? 

A Series Set In Britain, But Not About A British Hero

Another possibility is that Marvel had an idea for a series set in Britain, but not necessarily a story about a British hero. While that might be a bummer to those in the UK, superhero shows like Secret Invasion have featured American characters overseas before. It's not the sexiest option given all discussed prior, but it is a possibility. 

Perhaps more information about a British Marvel series will surface in the coming months. In the meantime, fans of Russell T. Davies can catch his latest efforts when Doctor Who debuts its 60th anniversary on Disney+ starting on Saturday, November 25th. Tune in for a new era of the beloved series, and maybe watch an episode of a Marvel show afterward. 

Doctor Who's new specials celebrating the franchise's 60th anniversary are coming up soon, and there are already plenty of reasons for new and old fans to be excited. Part of the anticipatory glee ties into returning stars David Tennant and Catherine Tate as The Doctor and Donna Noble, as well as the all-around mystery surrounding these upcoming canonical installments. And now Tennant's latest comments hinting at what's ahead have officially sent my expectations sky-high.

As we eagerly await the premiere dates for Doctor Who's first episodes following Jodie Whittaker's run, David Tennant spoke briefly to Empire Magazine about his first impressions of the specials' scripts. And two of his thoughts made my eyes light up upon reading them. In his words:

Doctor Who has been around for a long time, so to make the claim that one of its specials is unlike anything the series has ever done before is bold indeed. It's something I'd believe, however, with Russell T. Davies and his celebrated screenwriting skills back on board. If anyone could deliver an episode that fans haven't seen before, I'd put easy money on him delivering. And presumably not in a "we've never seen a whole episode taking place in a broom closet" kind of fashion.

I am also interested in hearing about Russell T. Davies being "off the leash," which does seem to be a theme surrounding his grand return as showrunner. So far, it seems The BBC is handing him the reigns to the franchise to set it up for future success, and perhaps that means allowing for any kind of storytelling imaginable to help set up something entirely new. 

One key part of this new and inventive story presumably hinges on why David Tennant's upcoming performance is noted as being the 14th iteration and not the classic 10th iteration he'd portrayed before. Tennant spoke briefly about that detail, though assured that there are some clear similarities between his two Doctors that fans will be able to pick up on. As he put it:

The Doctor has never turned into a previous iteration before, though based on what we know so far, this is not technically the same Doctor. I'll admit I'll be a bit miffed if the whole 14th Doctor explanation is just done more or less as a formality and the new Doctor is, for all intents and purposes, the 10th Doctor with a goatee. At the same time, we don't necessarily want to see Tennant play the Doctor differently than he did the first time around, so perhaps I can live with it. 

There's a big cast attached to Doctor Who's 60th anniversary, and it's all paving the way to the eventual torch passing to Ncuti Gatwa as the new lead of the series. We're still somewhat in the dark on just how much Gatwa will appear in the specials, but even if it's fleeting, we should see more of him in the holiday special the month after. Here's hoping we're all dying for more when it rolls around because the anniversary specials delivered on the hype!

Doctor Who's 60th anniversary specials are coming in November, and you'll need a Disney+ subscription to watch them. Hopefully, we'll have some official dates for when the specials will air soon, and we won't have to wait much longer to finally see what all the mystery is all about. 

We’re getting closer to the arrival of Doctor Who’s 60th Anniversary, which means the trio of specials under once and future showrunner Russell T. Davies are almost upon us. As the 14th Doctor’s new face, taking on the familiar form of actor David Tennant, goes on a new adventure, a lot of questions are starting to crop up. Such as, is Donna Noble really destined to die? 

A fresh look at these first post-Jodie Whitaker adventures was released by the BBC, and it's as if someone has been reading the fandom's collective minds. Mixed in with explosions, Neil Patrick Harris' menacing villain called the Toymaker, and UNIT's new Avengers-style headquarters is a moment where Tennant's new Doctor looks his old friend in the face and tells her the following: 

The past has become the future yet again, as David Tennant isn’t the only face back for another anniversary adventure. Previous companion Donna Noble, played once again by the iconic Catherine Tate, is along for the ride yet again. Some Doctor Who fans are worried about what this means, and rightfully so, as Donna's memories are the potential weapon that could lead to another tragic Whovian exit. 

Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary cast has a lot of heavy hitters, with Neil Patrick Harris and the next Doctor Ncuti Gatwa, also in the mix. And that cloud of questions expands to their characters as well, especially since Gatwa is confirmed to be present in these specials. 

Getting another glimpse of the Sex Education alum in this trailer only reinforced that, and the next age of Who looks even more impressive. But once again, my thoughts return to Donna Noble supposedly being "destined" to attract aliens; and what this could mean for her continued survival in this legendary sci-fi universe.

I mean, if we're ready to dive deep, there's a chance some sort of remnants from the "Doctor-Donna" human-Time Lord meta crisis are what have marked Chiswick's sarcastic ass-kicker as a target. It’d be a very Doctor Who decision to make that canon, as that’s exactly what seems to be the deal with The Doctor themself.

This still leaves us with one huge question that needs to be answered: is there a way around the threat of Donna Noble’s memories? Sure, I still want to know how the 15th Doctor factors into everything, and who the hell Neil Patrick Harris' Toymaker is in this trio of 60th Anniversary specials; that’s a given. But above all of that, I’m really hoping that Donna’s life can be saved. If she has to go out though, I hope it’s with the best-damned fight she can muster against the forces of evil; as Ms. Noble deserves a hero’s death after all she’s been through.

With “The Star Beast,” “Wild Blue Yonder,” and “The Giggle” being the titles for the incoming Doctor Who specials, this November’s kick-off of the big event is all the more tantalizing. The wait continues, as BBC viewers and those with a Disney+ subscription are currently counting the days before the return of The Doctor!

Jodie Whittaker’s time as the Thirteenth Doctor ended nearly a full year ago, but rather than regenerate into Ncuti Gatwa’s forthcoming iteration of The Doctor, “The Power of The Doctor” ended with David Tennant, who previously starred in Doctor Who as the Tenth Doctor, taking her spot. Now officially classified as the Fourteenth Doctor, Tennant will star in this fall’s three episodes celebrating the show’s 60th anniversary, and he’ll be paired back up with Catherine Tate’s Donna Noble. Russell T. Davies, who’s back to show running Doctor Who for the 60th anniversary and Gatwa’s first season, has now shared why he decided to bring Donna and a Tennant-played Doctor back together.

Russell T. Davies originally launched the Doctor Who revival in 2005, which first starred Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor, then he oversaw all of Tennant’s era until they both departed in 2010. The Doctor/Donna pairing was primarily spotlighted in Season 4, and while speaking with EW, the showrunner explained that his reasoning for reuniting these two stems from both plot-related reasons and simply wanting to see Tennant and Tate play off each other again after more than a decade:

Catherine Tate debuted as Donna Noble in Doctor Who’s 2006 Christmas special “Doomsday,” where she was a bride mysteriously teleported from her wedding into The Doctor’s TARDIS. By the end of the special, Donna declined to travel with The Doctor, but she ended up regretting this decision in the years to follow. Fortunately, they crossed paths again in the Season 4 premiere, “Partners in Crime,” and by the end of that episode, Donna didn’t hesitate to become his companion, with the two of them sharing a strong platonic relationship, a sharp contrast from the romantic feelings previous companions Rose Tyler and Martha Jones had for the Tenth Doctor.

Unfortunately, the events of Season 4’s finale resulted in Donna’s memories of The Doctor being erased, as if she ever remembered him, her mind would “burn up.” As such, although Tate reprised Donna for the two-parter “The End of Time,” which bid farewell to the Tenth Doctor and ended with him regenerating into Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor, the characters never directly crossed paths. But with the 60th anniversary, evidently something’s changed, as Donna will come into contact with the Fourteenth Doctor and eventually recover her memories of Ten without her mind being shattered. 

Why and how has that happened? That’s hard to say for now, but it paves the way for Russell T. Davies to tell this “third act,” seemingly implying that this will definitely be the last time we see them together. Fingers crossed this reunion doesn’t end on a tragic note like Season 4 did for these two. But David Tennant and Catherine Tate aren’t the only familiar faces who are back. 

The cast of Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary episodes, titled “The Star Beast,” “Wild Blue Yonder” and “The Giggle,” includes Jacqueline King’s Sylvia Noble (Donna’s mother), Karl Collins’ Shaun Temple (Donna’s husband) and the late Bernard Cribbins as Wilfred Mott (Donna’s grandfather). The newcomers include Yasmin Finney as Rose Noble (Donna and Shaun’s daughter), Ruth Madly as Shirley Anne Bingham and Neil Patrick Harris as a mysterious character Russell T. Davies has described as “the greatest enemy the Doctor has ever faced.” And, of course, the specials will lead to the Fourteenth Doctor regenerating into Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor.

Doctor Who fans living outside of the United Kingdom and Ireland will need a Disney+ subscription to watch the 60th anniversary specials and future episodes. Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more coverage on this timey-wimey show, and consult our 2023 TV schedule for details on other programming arriving later in the year.

Doctor Who welcomed back Russell T. Davies following the exits of showrunner Chris Chibnall and lead Jodie Whittaker, and it appeared that the rest of the cast members from the previous seasons were written off as well. Following the 60th anniversary specials, we'll see Ncuti Gatwa take over with new companions, seemingly removing any holdover cast from the Chibnall era. That was the impression, anyway, until recent comments from The Master actor Sacha Dhawan.

Dhawan made his debut as the latest incarnation of The Master in Doctor Who Season 12 and was a thorn in the side of the Thirteenth Doctor for a handful of adventures, including her final one before regeneration in "The Power Of The Doctor." While The Master didn't regenerate at the end of the special, there was always a possibility of that occurring off-screen and him getting a new face, just like what happened with his previous incarnation as Missy. 

Radio Times spoke to Sacha Dhawan recently and asked if he had been in contact with Russell T. Davies about appearing in upcoming during his run. Dhawan said the following, which, while cryptic, should set off some alarm bells for Doctor Who faithful: 

Usually, if an actor isn't involved in a show they're directly asked about, they'll just say so. Sacha Dhawan has nothing to gain by being cryptic if he's not currently involved in Doctor Who, so if I were a betting man, I'd put money on seeing him when we all tune in for new episodes with our Disney+ subscriptions later this year. 

Just how significant Sacha Dhawan's presence will be if he does return is an entirely different story. The Master typically doesn't make a ton of appearances per season and sometimes doesn't appear at all. Dhawan did say he's involved in a "few things," however, so maybe his Master will return and is getting a meaningful arc during Ncuti Gatwa's debut season. 

As of writing, Sacha Dhawan isn't on the cast list for Doctor Who Season 14 or the 60th-anniversary specials. If he is appearing, it's looking like Russell T. Davies wants to keep his appearance under wraps. I can't say I would blame him after the surprise return of The Master in Season 12, which remains one of my favorite episodes of Jodie Whittaker's run. 

Bringing back Sacha Dhawan as The Master would be a major plus for me in Russell T. Davies' return to Doctor Who, though it's not as though the acclaimed showrunner needs to do anything to win fan approval. He's responsible for some of the greatest episodes the franchise has ever done, so I would wager that the BBC, Disney+, and fans are likely trusting in his judgment for what the show does and doesn't need. I just can't wait to see what he'll do next, which makes the hiatus ahead of new episodes in the fall almost unbearable. 

Doctor Who will return with its 60th-anniversary specials in November. After that, we'll see the official start of Ncuti Gatwa's run as The Doctor, assuming he doesn't play a bigger role in the 60th like recent rumors have alleged.