David Tennant ‘returning to Doctor Who after Ncuti Gatwa’s shock exit’ say bookies as BBC show faces axe
DAVID Tennant is 'returning to Doctor Who after Ncuti Gatwa's shock exit' say bookies as the hit BBC show faces the axe.
David made a return to the series for three episodes in 2023 but is 5/1 to become the permanent replacement for Ncuti, placing him third in the betting.
Other contenders include Josh O’Connor who has been linked with the vacant James Bond role in recent weeks but leads the market here at 2/1, with Jack Lowden second at (4/1).
Lee Astley, spokesperson for, said: “Ncuti Gatwa’s tenure as Dr Who appears to be coming to a premature end.
"And we reckon there’s a firm chance the BBC turn to David Tennant once again to try and steer the series back on track.
“Tennant is arguably the most-loved Doctor in the programme’s history and is 5/1 to replace Gatwa on a full-time basis after his cameos in 2023.”
David Tennant
The Sun recently revealed the show is facing the axe, with star Ncuti Gatwa poised to quit and crew claiming to be laid off.
The recent series suffered abysmal ratings with fans outraged by the BBC shoehorning woke storylines.
However, bosses have postponed any decision until Ncuti’s second season has aired later this year.
But Ncuti, is already believed to have filmed his regeneration exit scene — and crew fear the BBC will shelve the show after 62 years.
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An insider said: “Ncuti doesn’t want to be tied to the series beyond this and plans to relocate to Los Angeles with several Hollywood projects standing by for him.
"His team also see a lot of fan backlash from the series, and don’t want the perception of him still being The Doctor to get in the way of any future work.
“The show has been poorly managed in recent years and there’s a lot of people who’ve been working on this show for years and now being cast aside due to poor leadership.
“People warned some episodes were getting too caught up on an agenda rather than telling a story and those people got shouted down, ignored.”
So will David return? A fan of Doctor Who since childhood, David had a small role in the BBC's animated Doctor Who webcast Scream of the Shalka.
He also appeared in several audio plays based on the Doctor Who television series which had been produced by Big Finish Productions.
Doctor Who returned itself to our screens in March 2005, with Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor.
David replaced him as the Tenth Doctor making his first, brief appearance in the episode "The Parting of the Ways".
He continued in the role for three series of Doctor Who, broadcast in 2006, 2007 and 2008, plus Christmas specials.
He then played the Doctor in four special episodes in 2009, before his final episode aired on 1 January 2010, where he was replaced by the Eleventh Doctor, portrayed by Matt Smith.
However, David returned with Billie Piper to Doctor Who for the 50th anniversary special, "The Day of the Doctor", broadcast on 23 November 2013.
In 2016, he returned once again in the role of the Tenth Doctor alongside Catherine Tate as his former companion Donna Noble in three new stories.
Six years later, in relation to the show's 60th anniversary, it was announced that David would once again return to the show, alongside Catherine, who would reprise her role as Donna Noble.
The show aired in 2023 with David as the Fourteenth Doctor, a role previously expected to be played by Ncuti Gatwa, who instead followed on as the Fifteenth Doctor.
Will he return again? Well his podcast series 'David Tennant Does A Podcast With' was last heard from in 2020.
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But a season 3 release date has just been announced which includes a Doctor Who reunion.
Among the first four guests announced for season 3 include Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies, who worked on the show with Tennant for several years - so watch this space!
