By El Kuiper
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Doctor Who's former showrunner, Steven Moffat, has revealed the qualities he believes the Sixteenth Doctor needs to succeed, no matter how Billie Piper's return to the show plays out. Moffat served as showrunner for the iconic British sci-fi series between 2010 and 2017 and had a hand in casting two popular Doctors: Matt Smith's Eleventh and Peter Capaldi's Twelfth.
Though Moffat's predecessor, Russell T. Davies, has taken over Doctor Who again for the BBC and Disney's second new modern era, Moffat still had plenty to say about the mystery surrounding the Sixteenth Doctor. When Moffat was asked what qualities he's looking for in the next Doctor, the writer and producer told RadioTimes.com:
"Attractive, but odd. There's something utterly odd, a sort of benevolent, kindly, slightly incompetent impersonation of a human being. The Doctor is never quite right. He's really trying, or she's really trying. [They're] not quite there. 'I'm really cool because I got a bow tie.' 'I've got a nice suit.' 'I put my trainers on.' There's just something off-kilter about them. Above all, it's someone that little kids would want to run up and take that [person's] hand and feel absolutely safe. That's what the Doctor's about. Somewhere between Indiana Jones and Willy Wonka. But also, there's got to be an edge, slightly dangerous – the most dangerous [person] in the universe. All of those things. It's a tall order."
At the end of Doctor Who season 15 (or season 2, depending on your persuasion), Fifteenth Doctor Ncuti Gatwa regenerated into a surprisingly familiar face: Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant's former companion, Billie Piper's Rose Tyler. Whether Piper will be the official Sixteenth Doctor is still unclear. RadioTimes.com asked Moffat what he knew about this massive twist, and he responded:
"I genuinely don’t have any insider information, but they have hedged their bets. They've not said [she’s the Doctor], so I don’t know. I don’t even know if they know!"
What This Means For Doctor Who
Moffat's not the only one in the dark about Billie Piper's potential future as the Doctor. Even showrunner Russell T. Davies has admitted he isn't sure about the extent of her role, though his nonchalant response could be a way to keep the fans' wildest theories at bay. Additionally, at this year's Florida Supercon, Piper herself revealed that she was approached about the cameo "last-minute."
In "The Reality War" credits, Billie Piper was credited as "Introducing Billie Piper," rather than "Introducing Billie Piper as the Doctor." Both Ncuti Gatwa and Jodie Whittaker were credited as "the Doctor."
Piper's return has certainly proven to be a buzz-worthy way to keep the show in the cultural zeitgeist for longer, as the BBC and Disney continue to negotiate a potential renewal of their production deal. The BBC has confirmed that Doctor Who will return with or without Disney's involvement, but ending the show on such a massive cliffhanger has undeniably kept audiences invested in the show's future.
Our Take On The Sixteenth Doctor
According to Steven Moffat's criteria, Billie Piper could be an excellent Doctor, whether it's in a transitional role, akin to David Tennant's return in the 60th anniversary specials, or in a (less likely) permanent capacity. Billie Piper's enthusiasm and energy on Doctor Who have always been infectious; she has great chemistry with her co-stars and knows what it means to be the Doctor.
That doesn't necessarily mean she should be the Doctor, however. Davies' second tenure on Doctor Who has been fueled by nostalgia, including David Tennant and Catherine Tate's roles, as well as multiple references and storylines plucked from Classic Who, like Sutekh, the Toymaker, the Rani, and Omega.
Whether Piper ends up being the official Sixteenth Doctor or not, her return risks becoming just another nostalgic item to check off, rather than having a genuine narrative purpose. Both she and her character deserve better than that. Let's hope Davies and the other Doctor Who writers have a few more intriguing tricks up their sleeves when they finally officially introduce the Sixteenth Doctor.
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Follow
Followed
Doctor Who
TV-PG
Drama Adventure Science Fiction
5/10
330 7.3/10
- Release Date
- May 11, 2024
- Network
- BBC One
- Directors
- Alex Pillai, Peter Hoar, Ben Chessell, Julie Anne Robinson, Jamie Donoughue, Amanda Brotchie, Dylan Holmes Williams
Cast
-
Ncuti Gatwa
The Doctor
-
Millie Gibson
Ruby Sunday
WHERE TO WATCH
Streaming
BUY
- Writers
- Steven Moffat, Pete McTighe, Kate Herron, Inua Ellams, Juno Dawson
- Franchise(s)
- Doctor Who / Whoniverse
- Creator(s)
- Donald Wilson, Sydney Newman
