David Tennant Returning As Doctor Who Again?

By Kevin C. Neece | Published

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Perennially popular Doctor Who star David Tennant is about to return to the venerable science fiction franchise for his third appearance as the Doctor and, according to RadioTimes.com, he’s not opposed to a fourth.

Of course, he’s very well known as the Tenth Doctor, perhaps the most widely loved in the contemporary version of the series that began with Christopher Eccleston in 2005. It’s become common knowledge that Tennant will be returning as the Fourteenth Doctor later this year, but he also made an appearance as the Tenth Doctor in the 2013 episode “Day of the Doctor,” which celebrated the franchise’s 50th anniversary.

David Tennant Is The Only Actor To Portray Two Different Incarnations Of The Doctor

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A decade later, as Doctor Who celebrates its 60th anniversary, David Tennant is returning for a third time in a surprise move after the end of Jodie Whittaker’s run as the Thirteenth Doctor. The shocking and fan-pleasing transformation sequence inducted Tennant as the first actor to portray two different incarnations of the Doctor. If it was going to happen to anyone, we would want it to be Tennant, and we’re happy to see him coming back to the series again.

David Tennant Is Open To Returning To Doctor Who After The Anniversary Specials

But after Ncuti Gatwa takes over as the Fifteenth Doctor following the return of David Tennant to Doctor Who during the upcoming Christmas season, could Tennant possibly return to the role again in the future? Well, as wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey things go, the possibility of yet another comeback is something the Scottish actor is not about to take off the table. After all, as he admits, there is ample evidence that nothing is quite impossible in the world of Doctor Who.

David Tennant Could Return To The Beloved Series For Another 30 Years

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As David Tennant told SFX, it’s always a possibility that he could be asked to return in the future, saying it would be “disingenuous” to pretend he might not. The actor says he won’t say never to the idea because, after all, no one would believe him.

When reminded that Patrick Stewart is still playing Jean-Luc Picard at the age of 82, Tennant says, “How nice,” and reflects on the idea that it should be his goal to finish up the role of the Doctor in 30 years, when he reaches the same age.

Tennant Returns To Doctor Who November 25

David Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor will make his debut on November 25 when Doctor Who returns for three special Christmas episodes that will feature the beloved star. When the next regular season picks up, fans will be treated to the premiere of Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, whose new companion will be Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson of Coronation Street fame.

Anticipation is high for both the previously announced debut of Gatwa and Tennant’s surprise stint, not to mention the return of Russell T. Davies, whom fans hope will set the franchise right after major writing missteps during the previous season.

The Christmas Episodes Will Stream On Disney+

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In the UK, David Tennant’s return to Doctor Who will premiere on the BBC. Internationally, that distinction belongs to Disney, with Disney+ serving as the exclusive home of the series in markets outside the UK. The first of the new Christmas episodes will premiere on November 25.