Russell T Davies offers a firm answer to whether David Tennant will return to Doctor Who in the foreseeable future after his 60th anniversary return.
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies offers a firm answer as to whether David Tennant will return following the Fourteenth Doctor’s 60th anniversary conclusion. Tennant returned as the new incarnation of the Time Lord to lead three anniversary specials, reuniting with Catherine Tate’s former companion Donna Noble. In the final special, “The Giggle,” a fabled bi-generation occurs in the Fourteenth Doctor’s supposed final moments, leading to the Time Lord splitting between his current self and the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa), and allowing Fourteen to settle on Earth as his next incarnation flies away to new adventures.
Following the Doctor Who 60th anniversary’s conclusion, Davies revealed in a Q&A attended by SFX Magazine (via GamesRadar) that Tennant’s time has passed following his trilogy of milestone adventures. The series’ focus will remain on Gatwa’s adventures for the foreseeable future. Check out Davies’ full response below:
Sorry, it’s the age of Ncuti now. It’s ‘David Who..?’ No plans, genuinely, because it’s a busy time. These two are gonna just sail across the universe and capture your hearts, so it’s time to look at these two.
Why The Fourteenth Doctor Is Best Left Alone For Now
While Fifteen kicks off his own solo adventures with Doctor Who’s 2023 Christmas special, the Fourteenth Doctor is stepping away for some time. While he still has his own TARDIS, the Fourteenth Doctor is now a proud member of the Noble family, settling in France to rest and process everything he has been through since leaving Gallifrey. While he is still open to additional adventures, he is content to finally spend time with his family and allow the next Doctor to protect the universe.
As such, it is unlikely a Fourteenth Doctor spin-off is in the cards, despite Davies’ plans to expand the Whoniverse. While Rose Noble (Yasmin Finney) is expected to return in Doctor Who season 14, Davies confirmed that Tennant’s retired incarnation will be limited to mentions, rather than on-screen appearances. Though it would be interesting to continue checking in with Fourteen, keeping focus on Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor is for the best, allowing the actor to lead the series and leave an impression on viewers.
Davies has already brought back several classic Doctors through the Tales of the TARDIS spin-off, showing that he is willing to revisit previous versions of the Time Lord. However, with the Doctor Who showrunner firmly stating that the Fourteenth Doctor is taking a permanent sabbatical from world-saving, it is clear audiences shouldn’t expect Tennant to reappear anytime soon. However, with the character finding the family he once thought he could never have again, there is comfort in knowing that the Time Lord is finally at peace.
