Doctor Who producer reveals Tom Baker was invited to return but 'could not do it'

Doctor Who fans were treated to the return of FIVE Time Lords to mark the end of Jodie Whittaker’s stint at the helm of the TARDIS.

Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann joined the 13th Doctor for her final battle with the Master, played by Sacha Dhawan.

Jo Martin also made a welcome return as one of the doctor's future incarnations.

The actor David Bradley represented the first Doctor, originally played by William Hartnell, who died in 1975.

While the absence of late actors Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee, the second and third Doctors, was understandable, some viewers were confused why the fourth Doctor, Tom Baker, had not joined the BBC1 90-minute special.

Jodie Whittaker is making her final appearance as the 13th Doctor (James Pardon/BBC Studios)

Tom Baker is a favourite Time Lord among fans (PA)

Showrunner Chris Chibnall explained the actor, now 88, was unable to take part. He stressed: “We asked Tom, but sadly he could not do it. He was not available. Such a shame.”

Chibnall said he had not invited back any of the post-reboot Doctors because of what is being planned for next year to mark the show’s 60th anniversary.

John Bishop played Dan Lewis (BBC Studios/James Pardon)

As well as David Tennant, there is speculation that Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi could stage comebacks in the episodes, devised by returning Doctor Who boss Russell T Davies. Chibnall said: “I didn’t want to tread on anything that might be happening in future, so those ones felt the right ones.

Peter Davison as Doctor Who returned in the latest episode (Birmingham Mail)

“I wanted it to be classic Doctors and there’s not a huge amount of those. It was a bit of an instinct, and we asked them, and they said yes.”

He said most of them had jumped at the chance to take part in the special, which marks the BBC ’s centenary.

Paul McGann played the eighth Doctor (BBC)

“I didn’t tell anyone we were going to be doing it, I just put it in the script. It’s about as metaphysical as the show’s been. I just thought this was the moment we can ask.

Sylvester McCoy also made a return to the BBC series (PA)

The late William Hartnell originally played the first doctor (PA)

“They were all really keen. We got incredible messages back. To see those people back on the set was an incredible thing.”

Other characters included John Bishop as Dan, Bradley Walsh as companion Graham and Bonnie ­Langford as sidekick Mel from the 1970s.

Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa will replace Whittaker as the next Doctor.