Doctor Who fans were treated to a familiar face as Jodie Whittaker’s 13th Time Lord regenerated into David Tennant in the dramatic finale to the BBC’s centenary special.
It was previously announced that Scottish actor Tennant, who first entered the Tardis in 2005 to play the 10th Doctor, would be returning to the sci-fi series for the show’s 60th anniversary celebrations – but it was not revealed in what capacity.
Following Sunday’s 90-minute special, the BBC confirmed that Tennant will become the 14th incarnation with Catherine Tate reprising her role as his former companion Donna Noble for three special episodes to be broadcast in November 2023.
SPOILERS 🚨 Watch the regeneration of the Thirteenth Doctor… 🔥 #Which doctor pic.twitter.com/7m4WzWow0q
— Doctor Who: The Power of the Doctor 🔥 (@bbcdoctorwho) October 23, 2022
Ncuti Gatwa will then take control of the Tardis as the 15th Doctor, with his first episode set to air over the festive period in 2023.
Speaking about the future, the show’s new host Russell T Davies, said: “If you thought David Tennant’s show was a shocker, we’ve got plenty more surprises on the way.
“The path to Ncut’s 15th Doctor is loaded with mystery, horror, robots, puppets, danger and fun.
“And how does it relate to the return of the wonderful Donna Noble? How, what, why? We’re giving you a year to speculate, and then all hell will break loose.”
“Can someone tell me what the hell is going on here?” #Which doctor pic.twitter.com/DSvzlBzDjb
— Doctor Who: The Power of the Doctor 🔥 (@bbcdoctorwho) October 23, 2022
Whittaker’s last venture as the Doctor was loaded with drama as it saw her fight for her existence against some of her deadliest enemies: the Masters, the Daleks and the Cybermen.
The episode, titled The Power Of The Doctor, also saw the surprise return of actors who have played Time Lords from across the ages, including Colin Baker, Peter Davison, Paul McGann and Sylvester McCoy.
It opened with the Doctor thrown straight into action along with companions Yasmin Khan, played by Mandip Gill, and John Bishop’s Dan Lewis, after being called to help a spaceship under attack by the Cybermen.
As she faces this threat from outer galaxies, others are produced in different time periods – one in Siberia in 1916 and another in present-day London.
In an art gallery located in the British capital, two of the Doctor’s companions from previous eras were reunited – with Janet Fielding reprising her role as Tegan Jovanka, companion to the Fourth and Fifth Doctors, and Sophie Aldred returning as Ace , companion of the seventh. Doctor.
Saying hello back to Tegan (@jfmouthonlegs) and Ace (@sophie_aldred) to the Doctor Who universe! #Which doctor pic.twitter.com/laz7AuG6lR
— Doctor Who: The Power of the Doctor 🔥 (@bbcdoctorwho) October 23, 2022
They are brought together to explore why a dozen seismologists have disappeared and how 15 of the world’s most valuable paintings, including the Mona Lisa and The Scream, have been destroyed.
As the Doctor comes to investigate, the answers become clearer as they realize that the Master, played by Sacha Dhawan, has been behind the disappearances in order to orchestrate a plan to kill the Time Lord.
As he launches his master plan, which joins forces with the Cybermen and the Daleks, the Doctor is overwhelmed and forced to regenerate into the Master.
The Doctor’s companions are left to fend for themselves in her place with a group of them including Yasmin, Dan, Ace, Tegan and Graham O’Brien played by Bradley Walsh hatching a plan to rescue her from the Master’s capture.
As this happens, the Doctor seems to land in a world of oblivion where she is confronted by previous incarnations of the Doctor who offer her advice.
Among them were Baker, Davison, McGann and actor David Bradley to portray the late William Hartnell, with McCoy later appearing to assist Ace.
Their advice helps the Doctor initiate an AI hologram projection of herself back into the Tardis to help guide her companions.
The Power of the Master! #Which doctor pic.twitter.com/HmJ0XdaTKV
— Doctor Who: The Power of the Doctor 🔥 (@bbcdoctorwho) October 23, 2022
They finally manage to reverse the forced regeneration so Whittaker enters her body again, but she ends up in a final battle against the Master that leaves her scarred and destined for true regeneration.
Whittaker and Gill take one last trip into space as their characters sit in the Tardis and look down on the earth.
As they say their final words, Whittaker says: “A wise person once told me that goodbyes only hurt because what came before was so special,” adding “I’ve loved being with you Yas and I love to be me”.
Once she is alone, Whittaker’s Doctor takes one last look at the sunrise before regenerating into Tennant who immediately seems confused as to why he has returned to the Time Lord’s body.
“I don’t know who I am anymore…”
Doctor Who returns 2023. Read more here ➡️ https://t.co/RTBWn0CHbp #Which doctor pic.twitter.com/67fPU46DTc
— Doctor Who: The Power of the Doctor 🔥 (@bbcdoctorwho) October 23, 2022
After the episode, a trailer for the 60th anniversary special episodes aired, showing Tennant and Tate facing off against a deadly nemesis played by Neil Patrick Harris and a brief look at Gatwa’s 15th Doctor.
Whittaker, 40, became the first woman to portray the Doctor when she took over the role from Peter Capaldi in 2017.
Showrunner Chris Chibnall will also leave the programme, to be replaced by Davies, who was behind the show’s 2005 revival.
