Peter Davison, who portrayed the Fifth Doctor inDoctor Who’s original run, doesn’t believe Billie Piper is meant to be the Sixteenth Doctor. When theDoctor Whoseason 15 finale premiered last month, the ending shocked audiences worldwide. Though there had been rumors for some time that Ncuti Gatwa was set to leave the show after just two seasons, the Fifteenth Doctor’s regeneration changed the game, withBillie Piper seemingly taking on the role of the Sixteenth Doctorfollowing her original stint as companion Rose Tyler alongside Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth and David Tennant’s Tenth.
Unlikely and surprising regenerations have been something of a trend during the latest batch ofDoctor Whoepisodes, with David Tennant’s brief reprise as the Fourteenth Doctor in the 60th anniversary specials and the introduction of bi-generation, which allowed Ncuti Gatwa’s and Tennant’s Doctors to exist simultaneously (keeping the door open for any future Tennant returns).Piper’s regenerated appearanceis still somewhat of a mystery, however, andFifth Doctor Peter Davison is having trouble wrapping his mind around the change. During aninterview withStarburst Magazine,when asked how he, as the Doctor, would explain Piper’s casting, Davison responded:
“I don’t know what Billie Piper is doing. I have just read about it, and I don’t know what it’s about.It’s a completely mad idea. I don’t think she is the Doctor. I think it’s kind of just a hand grenade thrown into the final episodeto try and go “whoa, what’s this?” And then it’s almost like “get out of that”. I love Billie Piper; I think she was the best companion there’s been. But that is partly because she was written in a different way from the other companions; it was almost like she was the center of the story. You were seeing the Doctor through her eyes. I thought she was a fantastic companion, but she’s got a great career, and she’s got options galore. I don’t know why she would voluntarily choose to go back to Cardiff for a year.”
Davison’s Comments Raise An Important Point About Doctor Who’s Storytelling
Does Billie Piper’s Return Rely On Unnecessary Nostalgia?
A Doctor’s regeneration is always a big moment, signaling the end of an era and a fresh start for the franchise. Yet, as Davison points out, Piper’s return, much like Tennant’s, feels like a narrative bomb dropped out of nowhere, a way to keep fans invested in the outcome at a time when the show’s future is more precarious than ever. With Gatwa’s swift exit and the continued agreement between the BBC and Disney uncertain,Piper’s shocking appearance in the season 15 finale feels especially calculated.
Season 1, episodes 1-13
Season 2, episodes 1-13
Season 4, episodes 1, 5, 10-13
50th Anniversary Special, “The Day of the Doctor”
The Sixteenth Doctor
Season 15, episode 8, “The Reality War”
Russell T Davies' second tenure asDoctor Whoshowrunner has, despite being promoted as a new era for the show’s global reach – the show even went so far as to label Fifteen’s seasons as seasons 1 and 2 – been stuffed full of references to Classic and NuWho, with long-forgotten villains returning to plague the Doctor with canon-altering plans and familiar faces joining the Doctor and his friends at UNIT.Though Ncuti Gatwa’s casting was undeniably historic, his run as the Fifteenth Doctor has been driven by nostalgia. Piper’s return has made this more apparent than ever.
Our Take On Billie Piper’s Return To Doctor Who
Is She Truly Meant To Be The Sixteenth Doctor?
Typically speaking, given the latest season’s ending,Billie Piper would automatically be considered the Sixteenth Doctor. Yet the episode’s final credits cast doubt onPiper’s upcoming role, as she was the only “Doctor” character not credited as such. Gatwa and surprise returning star Jodie Whittaker were credited as the Doctor; meanwhile,Piper’s acknowledgment read"Introducing Billie Piper,“rather than"Introducing Billie Piper as the Doctor,“as is tradition. Additionally, Davies himself alluded that Piper’s role is more mysterious,telling the BBCthat the “how and why and who is a story yet to be told.”
In an ideal world, if Piper is confirmed as the Sixteenth Doctor, she’ll play more of a transitional role, akin to Tennant’s return in the 60th anniversary specials. Since there’s no clear word yet on when or evenwhetherDoctor Whowill return, having a familiar face in place to lead whatever comes next makes sense, so long as there’s a plausible explanation and the iconic sci-fi series makes room for a new, fresh actor to take charge afterward. For now, though, the only thing to do is wait for news aboutDoctor Who’s future.
Doctor Who
Cast
Doctor Who: Released on Jul 14, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
