Controversial Doctor Who Showrunner Reacts To Surprise Billie Piper Regeneration Twist

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It’s been a turbulent year for Doctor Who. Not only is Ncuti Gatwa leaving after just two seasons playing the Doctor, but Disney+ has also ended its agreement to distribute the show alongside the BBC. Despite this, one of the biggest surprises came at the end of Gatwa’s last episode when the Doctor regenerated into Billie Piper.

Billie Piper is well-known to fans of Doctor Who. She famously played Rose Tyler, the Doctor’s companion, during the first two seasons of the show’s 2005 revival and made several later guest appearances. While some fans didn’t like the idea of her becoming the Doctor herself, others found the concept interesting.

According to the Radio Times, Chris Chibnall, the showrunner during Jodie Whittaker’s time as the Doctor, shared some thoughts on how Ncuti Gatwa’s time on the show might end, but didn’t reveal any details. The former executive producer also said he made a point of not asking current showrunner Russell T. Davies for any spoilers.

I had no idea what was happening while I was watching,” Chibnall explained about Ncuti Gatwa becoming the Doctor. “All I knew was that Jodie Whittaker was appearing in that episode. And after it finished, I made it very clear to Russell T Davies that I didn’t want to be told anything about what was coming next. I really enjoy watching the show as a fan again.”

“I don’t ask, and I don’t want to know,” Chibnall explained. “That feeling takes you back to being a child, maybe five years old, watching Doctor Who. To be in that position again, having experienced the show from the inside – though I didn’t actually have a TARDIS! – it’s wonderful to simply sit back and wonder, ‘What happens next?’”

Chibnall also talked about the unexpected way Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor regenerated into David Tennant, who was already a popular Doctor. He admitted he initially didn’t want to know about the change, but the producers insisted he needed to, as he was an executive producer on the episode.

Is Billie Piper Really Playing The 16th Doctor In Doctor Who?

While Chris Chibnall hasn’t revealed much about Billie Piper’s unexpected return, fans have been buzzing about what her role will be – some even wondered if she’d become the next Doctor. Considering Piper has been back as Rose before, appearing as a holographic version of her in the 50th anniversary special, it’s possible she could be playing Rose again, or even a different version of the Doctor.

Honestly, I was a really late addition to the project, and I’m not allowed to say exactly how I was involved. But filming it was a surprisingly emotional experience, and I genuinely think the ending is fantastic. It was just a really moving experience, and the whole process of making it felt secretive and exciting – kind of like a spy movie! It seems like I constantly have to be careful about what I say when it comes to Doctor Who, which is a bit of a running joke at this point.

Whether Ncuti Gatwa continues as the Doctor or someone new takes over, Doctor Who is expected to come back sometime after the Christmas special in 2026. Now that the BBC’s agreement with Disney has ended, it’s unclear which streaming service will show the series internationally.

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2026-01-04 06:18