David Tennant, who played the Tenth Doctor from 2005 to 2010, has returned to the role of the Time Lord for a special scene for BBC Children in Need. The scene, which aired on Friday 17 November, was written by Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies and featured Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor, who regenerated from Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor in the BBC centenary special last year.
In the scene, the Doctor lands the TARDIS in a park and meets a mysterious new character, played by actor and comedian Mawaan Rizwan. The Doctor soon discovers that he is not the only one who has traveled through time and space and that he has to face one of his oldest enemies. The scene also serves as a teaser for the three 60th anniversary specials that will air later this month, starring Tennant and Catherine Tate as Donna Noble, his former companion.
Tennant said: “Every year that I was on Doctor Who we did something for BBC Children in Need, so it only feels right to be doing something this year. Children in Need is a national tradition, it’s certainly a BBC tradition, and Doctor Who is part of that. I’m so glad we’re able to give Children in Need viewers this little extra treat.”
Rizwan said: “It was such an unbelievable joy to work with my Whoniverse idols David Tennant and Russell T Davies. My inner child was losing his mind on set.”
Davies said: “Doctor Who has a fine tradition of supporting BBC Children in Need, and I hope that fans and new viewers alike will be able to watch, enjoy, and contribute to this wonderful cause.”
The TARDIS returns for three special episodes
The scene was not the only treat for Doctor Who fans, as BBC Children in Need also gave a glimpse of the making of the scene, as well as a preview of the upcoming anniversary specials. The first episode, titled The Star Beast, will air on Saturday 25 November, and will see the Doctor and Donna encounter a cute and cuddly alien creature that is not what it seems. The second episode, titled Wild Blue Yonder, will air on Saturday 2 December, and will take the Doctor and Donna to the farthest reaches of the galaxy, where they will face a deadly threat from the past. The third and final episode, titled The Giggle, will air on Saturday 9 December, and will reveal the secret behind the Doctor’s regeneration, as well as introduce the Fifteenth Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa, who will take over the TARDIS in the festive special.
The anniversary specials will also feature a stellar cast of guest stars, including Yasmin Finney as Rose Noble, Donna’s daughter; Miriam Margolyes as the voice of the Meep, the adorable alien; Jacqueline King as Sylvia Noble, Donna’s mother; Karl Collins as Shaun Temple, Donna’s husband; Ruth Madeley as Shirley Anne-Bingham, a journalist who investigates the Doctor; Jemma Redgrave as Kate Stewart, the head of UNIT; and Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker, a sinister figure who plays with the Doctor’s life.
Doctor Who fans can also watch the companion series Doctor Who: Unleashed, which will air on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer after every episode of the specials. The series will give an access-all-areas look at the creation of Doctor Who, featuring interviews with the cast and crew, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Doctor Who celebrates 60 years of adventures
Doctor Who is one of the longest-running and most popular sci-fi shows in the world, having started in 1963 and featuring 15 actors as the Doctor so far. The show follows the adventures of the Doctor, a mysterious alien who travels through time and space in the TARDIS, a blue police box that is bigger on the inside. Along the way, the Doctor meets various companions, friends, and foes, and saves the universe from various threats.
The show has a loyal fan base, known as Whovians, who enjoy the show’s mix of drama, comedy, horror, and science fiction. The show has also spawned various spin-offs, books, comics, audio dramas, games, and merchandise. The show has won numerous awards and accolades and has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest-running science fiction television show in the world.
Doctor Who is a BBC Studios production for BBC One and BBC America, co-produced by Bad Wolf and Disney. The show is distributed by BBC Studios.
