Doctor Who fans had quite the Sunday night when Jodie Whittaker’s 13th Time Lord regenerated into David Tennant in the dramatic conclusion of the show’s BBC centenary special. It was previously announced that Scottish actor Tennant, who first stepped into the Tardis in 2005 to play the 10th Doctor, would be returning to the sci-fi series for the show’s 60th anniversary celebrations – but it was not revealed in what capacity.
However Bristolians were granted a little sneak peak of the popular Time Lord’s return when he was spotted filming for the show in Bristol back in June. Streets were shut down while parts of the TV special were filmed in the city centre and delighted fans were able to see Tennant alongside his former companion Donna Noble, played by Catherine Tate, on set.
American actor Neil Patrick Harris was also spotted in character for the filming. Dressed in a formal white jacket and tuxedo, the star was pictured preparing to face Doctor Who.
READ MORE: BBC Doctor Who Special: Pictures show apocalyptic scenes as filming take places
In Sunday night’s episode, we only got a tiny glimpse of Tennant back as the Doctor right at the end of the episode. Right before the credits rolled on the 90-minute special, Whittaker took the limelight for a final time as she said her goodbyes and then looked into the sun, saying: "Right then, Doctor Whoever I'm about to be...tag you're it."
Moments later she was re-energised into Tennant, who returns to the role that won him plenty of plaudits between 2005 and 2010. He looked completely startled, remarking: "What?! What?! What?!" as the show's legendary theme tune then kicked out.
That means fans of the show are still very much in the dark about the next iteration of the Time Lord.
What we do know from the scenes filmed in Bristol is that it’s going to be pretty action packed. The scenes shot in Bristol back in the summer involved explosions, wreckage, crashed and burning cars and Tennant striding through the chaos.
A black cab was seen parked at a worrying angle at the junction of Marsh Street and Baldwin Street, with a Mini that was repeatedly set on fire. Paper and debris was spotted flying about everywhere, with screams, punch-ups and a huge number of extras running hither and thither - before out of the chaos came Doctor Who, played this time by David Tennant.
Following Sunday’s 90-minute special, the BBC confirmed Tennant would become the 14th incarnation, with Tate reprising her role as his former companion for three special episodes set to air in November 2023. Ncuti Gatwa will then take control of the Tardis as the 15th Doctor, with his first episode due to air over the festive period in 2023.
Read next
- Doctor Who fans in Bristol cancel work to watch ‘surreal’ film shoot
- Doctor Who filming in Bristol - Hollywood star Neil Patrick Harris spotted on his birthday
- Doctor Who production transforming Bristol city centre ahead of filming
- Doctor Who filming in Bristol begins with David Tennant striding through the explosions and chaos
- Doctor Who filming in Bristol LIVE: Updates as the Time Lord in the centre
