Well, here is the most foregone of forgone conclusions: it’s just been announced by the BBC that David Tennant (you know, the Tenth Doctor) will return to Doctor Who for the 50th Anniversary special, which begins filming this week to air in November. Everyone was being incredibly hush-hush about who would be rejoining the show for its golden anniversary for months, but speculation always was that if anyone were to return for what would likely be a multi-Doctor adventure, Tennant would surely be there in a heart(s)beat.
That’s not the only bit of casting news, either. Billie Piper will also be returning as Rose Tyler, the first companion of the new series. Where in the Tenth Doctor and Rose’s timeline their portion will take place is anyone’s guess, but I’m hoping writer Steven Moffat is smart enough (he is) to explain it and have it make sense. As much as I like the 20th Anniversary special “The Five Doctors,” they really played fast and loose with the various Doctors’ experiences. And a final bit of casting, someone who has never been in Doctor Who: the great John Hurt will also be joining, presumably to play the character who gives the Doctor his sonic screwdriver just before having an alien burst out of his chest.
This, I’m sure, was just the first of what will be many guest casting announcements that we’ll get in the coming weeks. If the BBC does anything well, it’s parse out information very slowly. For more on the Anniversary, which is written by Moffat and directed by Nick Hurran, check out BBC’s official Doctor Who blog.
I left out Karen Gillan’s Amy Pond, she was in the same league as Martha in intensity, great cameo for her on this episode!
Love Rose, Clara even more, but Martha was and still is the best of all the Doctor’s companions!
Matt Smith will be missed, he was the most “Human” of all the recent Doctors, let’s see what the 12th has in store!
Why does everyone, including the person who wrote the headline where he puts the returning cast, assume that Billie Piper is playing Rose…Moffatt did not like the whole Rose, romance thing, so why would he bring Rose back, a charachter he does not like. Billie Piper will not be returning as Rose Tyler…but Billie Piper is in it…so I am curious now…
Kill off the metacrisis doctor?? Don’t give moffat ideas!!!!!
do you reckon that the david tennant will play the mortal doctor (the doctor created in the tardis with the doctor donner) that was left in the paralel universe? because Billie piper is also in that universe
hmmmmmm
I want Mickey back
Awesome! Excited to see David back as the doctor, he’s my 2nd favorite. Matt Smith is my first favorite though.
the only sad thing is that Sarah Jane Smith (Elizabeth Sladen) is no longer an option.
how about some Capt. Jack “the Face” Harkness…
Not to spoil but true fans would get it.. LOL
I am so excited to see The (10th) Doctor and Rose Tyler in the T.A.R.D.I.S. again!
You know Rose returning will make all of us nerds cry. Or maybe that is just me.
Its just you know I really miss her. *tear*
Actually any chance we can get Mickey Smith Defender of the Earth?
HOLYCRAPHOLYCRAPHOLYCRAPHOLYCRAPHOLYCRAPHOLYCRAPHOLYCRAP
Soooo happy that David is coming back, he is my favourite “new” Doctor!
Not so happy about Rose…but hey, I remember watching her episodes right when they first aired and back then, I was young enough to not notice all the iffy moments but I still disliked her…so I’ll try not to dislike her the instant I see her in this xD
I can’t wait .The news about David Tennant made my day …year …decade .Whatever !!
I had a feeling he would be coming back, not that thrilled about Rose but meh. I kind of hope its only a two doctor thing as much as I love the other Doctors they are getting a bit elderly and maybe just non doctor cameos would be cool.
This news just made my year. Tennant donning the pinstripes and overcoat once again is amazing. The chemistry between Smith and Tennant could only be super awesome!
My guess when it comes to the timeline of Rose and the Doctor is that this will probably be the Metacrisis Doctor who was left in the alternate reality with Rose. This will certainly cause for an interesting plot, as Moffet will be tearing down the walls of the universe again.
This also begs to question: What if he kills of the Metacrisis Doctor? That would be something Moffet would do.
Filming will start in a week or so. The decision to announce the casting was probably because they’ll be doing location shooting, so the secret would have been out anyway.
David is with out a doubt the most dedicated Doctor Who fan ever.
Rose Tyler = The Bella Swan of Doctor Who, leachy-can’t-live-without-the-Doctor-whiny-selfish-brat. :p
Just because we don’t like Rose doesn’t mean we’re crazy. We’re not calling YOU crazy for liking her, are we?
Same, I love Rose! the people up there are crazy!
I LOVE ROSE TYLER!!! FAVORITE COMPANION! Least favorite: Martha Jones.
Great news!! I pretty much expected this, but great to have the confirmation. I love the multi-Doctor stories from the classic show, and can’t wait to see who else might be coming back for this! Bring in the big guns, Paul McGann, Eccleston, Tom Baker, Peter Davison… Alons-y!
I’ll I gotta say about Billie Piper is SCHA-WINNG!! David’s pretty hot too (I guess?) In all seriousness having D.T. and Matt Smith on at once should be VERY entertaining.Also Chris got a Great review for Talking Dead today in the L.A.Times
They announce these developments to build excitement so that many people will tune in for the show so they get excellent ratings and can continue to create the show. I’m pretty excited!
I’ll never understand why the networks feel it’s necessary to announce stuff like this. It would be so much better if they kept it hush-hush, used anagrams, and had the announcement of their involvement be the actual airing of the show.
Why, oh why, can’t there be surprises anymore?
@Shaun O. I am thinking the same thing. Also, I really want Eccleston to come back, I feel it won’t be the same without him.
Boo to haters! Yay, Rose!
Very excited to see this. Really, the most practical way to handle it would be to bring back Rose and the human Doctor from the alternate universe. Since,ya know, they ARE supposedly still out there, and it would eliminate the need to explain why there are two Doctors in the same timeline… again…
Oh but their denials were both so CONVINCING! This is shocking news…!
Same here, Assad! Rose is my least favorite companion! :/
Hell yes on both counts!! What the hell is with the Rose hating? I liked her very much as a companion.
David Tennant, yay!
ROSE?? Goshdarnit, no! Grrrrr…