Well, we didn't see that coming. The latest season finale of Doctor Who has aired, and it ended with...wait for...a regeneration! Yes, after only two seasons, Ncuti Gatwa has exited the role of the Doctor. That surprising enough, but it was an even bigger shock to see the actor he regenerated into: Billie Piper, who famously played the role of companion Rose Tyler when Doctor Who was first rebooted in 2005.
There have been rumors floating around that Gatwa was on his way out, but the seal on this reveal wasn't completely airtight, but I still feel like most fans didn't see it going down exactly how it did.
“You know when you get cast, at some point you are going to have to hand back that sonic screwdriver and it is all going to come to an end, but nothing quite prepares you for it," Gatwa told the BBC. "This journey has been one that I will never forget, and a role that will be part of me forever. There are no words to describe what it feels like to be cast as the Doctor, nor are there words to explain what it feels like to be accepted into this iconic role that has existed for over 60 years and is truly loved by so many across the globe."
"The fans are truly the final character and beating heart of this show and I can’t thank the Whoniverse, and the Whovians, enough for welcoming me in, and making this such a touching experience. I’ve loved every minute of it, but now is the time to hand over the keys to that beloved blue box and let someone else take control and enjoy it every bit as much as I have. I’ll truly miss it, and forever be grateful to it, and everyone that has played a part in my journey as the Doctor."
Since Russell T Davies brought the show back in 2005, most actors who play the Doctor have stayed in the role for at least three seasons, so this feels a little premature. We don't know if there's part of the story that's being kept from us. For right now, Davies — who is again the showrunner after stepping away for a long stretch — is honoring Gatwa for his hard work. "What a Doctor! Thank you, Ncuti!" he said. "As his final words say, this has been an absolute joy, and the team in Cardiff and everyone who has worked on this show for the past few years, are so lucky to have been part of Ncuti’s great adventure as he shoots off to stratospheric new heights."
Then there's the other part of this equation: Billie Piper is the Sixteenth Doctor! "It’s no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return to the Whoniverse as I have some of my best memories there, so to be given the opportunity to step back on that TARDIS one more time was just something I couldn’t refuse, but who, how, why and when, you’ll just have to wait and see," Piper said.
Davies, ever the hype man, weighed in as well: "Billie once changed the whole of television, back in 2005, and now she’s done it again! It’s an honour and a hoot to welcome her back to the TARDIS, but quite how and why and who is a story yet to be told. After 62 years, the Doctor’s adventures are only just beginning!"
Before this finale, Davies himself was contemplating Doctor Who going on hiatus for a while, or at least that's what it sounded like. The series has gone into hibernation before, only to come back with a new face years later. There's also been uncertainty around the show's partnership with Disney, which helped produce these last two seasons with Gatwa. With ratings falling, many wondered if this finale episode would bring the series to a close, at least for now.
This does not seem like a close. It feels like Davies and the BBC have plans for what happens next. That said, we haven't heard anything solid about another season, nor what will happen next with the Disney deal, although Davies has said that Doctor Who could continue on the BBC no matter what happens at Disney.
First trailer for new Doctor Who spinoff revealed
There is a spinoff already on the way to Disney+, called The War Between the Land and the Sea. In fact, the trailer just dropped:
This five-part miniseries will premiere on BBC platforms in the U.K. and on Disney+ elsewhere. There's no release date yet, but we expect it later this year or early in 2026. As for what happens next for the main show, we'll watch and wait.
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