{"id":37766,"date":"2025-09-02T02:59:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T02:59:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/37766\/"},"modified":"2025-09-02T02:59:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T02:59:08","slug":"ex-doctor-who-boss-shares-verdict-on-billie-pipers-surprise-regeneration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/37766\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Doctor Who boss shares verdict on Billie Piper\u2019s surprise regeneration"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat has shared his thoughts on Billie Piper’s surprise return to the series. <\/p>\n

‘The Reality War’, the finale for the 15th season of BBC’s long-running sci-fi show<\/a>, saw Ncuti Gatwa exit his role as the iconic Time Lord<\/a>, with the character regenerating into Piper at the end of the episode. <\/p>\n

Crucially, Piper, who had previously played Rose Tyler in the series<\/a>, wasn’t credited as The Doctor, leaving fans to wonder if the actor would be playing the 16th iteration of the Time Lord. <\/p>\n

What to Read Next<\/p>\n

Moffat, who served as the showrunner between 2010 and 2017, spoke with RadioTimes.com<\/a> about the surprising development, though he remained coy on the exact nature of Piper’s role.<\/p>\n

“I genuinely don\u2019t have any insider information, but they have hedged their bets,” said Moffat, who returned to the series as a writer last year. “They’ve not said [she\u2019s the Doctor] so I don\u2019t know. I don\u2019t even know if they know!”<\/p>\n

\"ncuti<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Related: Best film and TV tours for 2025<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Though he was unsure of Piper’s role, Moffat did provide some insight on what he would look for when casting The Doctor, saying: “There’s something utterly odd, a sort of benevolent, kindly, slightly incompetent impersonation of a human being.”<\/p>\n

Piper, who last appeared in the series in 2013, previously spoke about her shock return<\/a>, saying: “It\u2019s no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return to the Whoniverse as I have some of my best memories there.<\/p>\n

\"billie<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Related: BBC boss responds to Doctor Who’s future “with or without Disney” after fan concern<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

“So to be given the opportunity to step back on that TARDIS one more time was just something I couldn\u2019t refuse, but who, how, why and when, you\u2019ll just have to wait and see.” <\/p>\n

“Billie once changed the whole of television, back in 2005, and now she\u2019s done it again,” added current showrunner Russell T Davies. “It\u2019s an honour and a hoot to welcome her back to the TARDIS, but quite how and why and who is a story yet to be told.”<\/p>\n

Doctor Who<\/strong> airs on BBC One in the UK and <\/strong>Disney+<\/strong><\/a> elsewhere. Classic episodes of <\/strong>Doctor Who <\/strong>are available on BBC iPlayer in the UK.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Take our interdimensional Doctor Who quiz!<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n

Interested in talking about <\/strong>Doctor Who<\/strong>? Visit our dedicated sub-forum<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Read more <\/strong>Doctor Who<\/strong> news on our dedicated homepage<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Digital Spy’s new print issue is here! Buy <\/strong>Oasis – Live in ’25<\/strong><\/a> in newsagents or <\/strong>online<\/strong><\/a>, now priced at just \u00a38.99.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Lettermark\"<\/p>\n

Reporter, Digital Spy<\/strong> George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies<\/a> and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. \u00a0His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible<\/a> and John Wick<\/a> to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
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