David Tennant addresses speculation that he’s playing the Tenth Doctor again by stating that only the character’s face will be the same.
While David Tennant may be returning to Doctor Who for the series’ 60th Anniversary specials, he wants to remind fans that he’s not playing the Tenth Doctor.
Per Radio Times, the actor set the record straight on his character, debunking speculation that his particular incarnation of the Time Lord was taking control of the T.A.R.D.I.S. once again. “The Doctor’s been three different people in the meantime, so I’m not necessarily the same version of the Doctor that I was before,” Tennant explained. “I’m not the Tenth Doctor now, I’m the Fourteenth. Well, strictly speaking we don’t know what the actual number is anymore, do we?”
Details on The Doctor’s latest regeneration are still scarce but the moment in question left many fans reeling. While many believed Ncuti Gatwa would be the actor left standing after Jodie Whittaker’s departure, Tennant’s return shocked audiences. Showrunner Russell T. Davies has promised that the upcoming specials will answer enthusiasts’ most pressing questions while also setting up the franchise’s future.
Tennant and Ten
As for Tennant, the actor previously confessed that his decision to join the trench coat and suit once again was largely motivated by his own age. “Initially, it was a casual conversation going, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun to do a one-off?’ Then Russell [T Davies] was back running the show and suddenly it could be something bigger,” he said. “But there’s really no pressure. It’s a victory lap, in a way — you get to enjoy something that had meant so much to you, one last shot before you get too old to do it again.” Despite his eagerness to reprise his beloved role, Tennant was still hesitant to dive right in since he wasn’t sure if he could really just slot back in without causing too much of a stir.
“It was like being handed a very lovely present,” the actor said. “It was joyous, it was great fun. It was a very happy, joyous time 15 years ago. And returning to that could’ve been… well, who knows? It might’ve felt awkward, it might’ve felt difficult, I might not have been able to run as fast.”
Doctor Who returns in three 60th Anniversary specials in November 2023. Season 14 of the hit sci-fi series is slated to premiere in 2024.
