Billie Piper is reprising her iconic Doctor Who role opposite Christopher Eccleston in honour of the revival’s 20th Anniversary
Billie Piper is returning to the Doctor Who universe opposite Christopher Eccleston, as the BBC show marks 20 years since its modern revival.
The actress, 42, is set to reprise her role as Rose Tyler for a series of Big Finish Audio dramas, which will be released in August 2025.
Billie starred as Rose opposite Christopher Ecclestone’s Ninth Doctor when the show was revived by Russell T Davies in 2005.
She went onto star alongside David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor in the second series, leaving viewers in floods of tears with her heartbreaking exit in finale episode Doomsday.
Billie went onto return as Rose Tyler for Who’s fourth series, and the show’s 50th Anniversary Special in 2013, but this is the first time she will be working with Christopher since the first series 20 years ago.
Discussing the 12 hour-long audio episodes, Billie said: ‘I can’t think of a better time for Rose to reunite with her first Doctor than now.
‘Twenty years after she first ran into the TARDIS and towards adventure, here we are again, me and Chris, ready to have fun facing the universe – and the monsters – together.’
A description of the pair’s new adventures says the Doctor’s past ‘returns to haunt him’ and ‘enemies old and new are waiting’.
Chris, 61, who only played The Doctor for a single series, went onto say he’s equally happy to be back starring alongside Billie again.
He said: ‘I am so happy to be back recording more adventures for the Ninth Doctor with Billie. I don’t think my Doctor exists without Rose. He’s a ‘one man, one companion’ kind of alien.
‘There’s a resilience and a bravery and a deep empathy to Billie as Rose. They complete each other.’
Revealing more details of the new audio series, producer Matt Fitton added: ‘Twenty years after the Ninth Doctor and Rose burst onto our screens, Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper are back with that brilliant dynamic – the Doctor showing Rose the universe, and Rose showing him the best of humanity.
‘Across 12 episodes, slotting neatly into that 2005 series, we have more Jackie Tyler, more Powell Estate, plus friends and enemies old and new through time and space.
‘Our writers have done an amazing job recapturing the spirit of that very special season, and Chris and Billie have embraced these scripts with delight and gusto.
‘They’re having a blast, back on that trip of a lifetime – and they sound fantastic!’
Since 1999, Big Finish have produced multiple audio dramas featuring Doctor Who stars, with big names including David, Catherine Tate, Peter Davison and Jodie Whittaker reprising their roles from the original show.
While Doctor Who first hit screens in 1963, it was axed by BBC bosses in 1989, and following a poorly-received movie in 1996, Russell decided to bring back the show in 2005.
Since then, six more actors have played the titular Time Lord, with Ncuti Gatwa currently playing the role of The Doctor, with his second full series set to hit screens later this year.
