Ncuti Gatwa leaves Doctor Who with the return of a special character to the show
Ncuti Gatwa announces his departure from “Doctor Who” following the end of season 14, marking a brief tenure in the role.
Ncuti Gatwa is officially leaving the Doctor Who cast after the premiere of the series 14 finale. The actor has been playing the "Doctor" since 2023, and this marks the second-shortest time any actor has played the character. But his departure brings a surprise to the fans.
The ending of Gatwa's Doctor marks the return of a well-known character beloved by the fans. It has been confirmed that Rose Tyler, portrayed by Billie Piper, will return to the series. Tyler was the Doctor's companion in series 1 (2005) and series 2 (2006).
What happened in the Doctor Who Finale?
Doctor Who with Gatwa is the 14th season in the new era of the show. The story follows him and Ruby Sundays (Millie Gibson) through several time travel missions. The latest plot was developed around Omega, the founder of the Time Lords, and how he will return.
At the climax of the episode, the Doctor sacrifices himself to bring back Poppy, a baby character. When the Doctor finished the process, he regenerates into his, apparently, new incarnation, now portrayed by Billie Piper. In the ending credits, it reads: Introducing Billie Piper.
Billie Piper, a companion on the Series 1 and 2 of Doctor Who is officially returning to the series, but her role is not clear yet. Photo: BBC
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Will Billy Piper be the new doctor?
It appears that Piper will be the sixteenth Doctor on the show; however, this is not confirmed yet. According to her, fans should wait to find out what will happen with the future of the series and her return. The actress has always been open to returning to the show, having participated in a special in 2008, two years after her last episode.
Despite Piper's return, there was another special guest in the last episode. The Thirteenth Doctor, portrayed by Jodie Whittaker, helped the Fifteenth Doctor (Gatwa) bring back Poppy. Jodie was the first and only woman to play the "Doctor" since the show aired and is also a fan favorite.
