Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials: Air dates confirmed
David Farnor | On 26, Oct 2023
The BBC has officially confirmed the air dates for its three Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials.
The three epic adventures will see David Tennant return as the Fourteenth Doctor with Catherine Tate reprising her role as Donna Noble. Joining David Tennant and Catherine Tate is a stellar cast including, Yasmin Finney as Rose Noble, Miriam Margolyes as the voice of the Meep, Jacqueline King as Sylvia Noble, Karl Collins as Shaun Temple, Ruth Madeley as Shirley Anne-Bingham, Jemma Redgrave as Kate Stewart and Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker, who last appeared in the series way back in 1966.
They will begin on Saturday 25th November, with episodes then airing on the following three Saturday evenings.
On Saturday 25th November, The Star Beast will see the Doctor and Donna come face to face after all these years but just how, and why, is about to be revealed.
On Saturday 2nd December, Wild Blue Yonder will take viewers on an otherworldly adventure through space and time.
The three specials will conclude on Saturday 9th December with The Giggle.
Those will tee the series nicely up for its Christmas special, which will air over the festive period and will mark Ncuti Gatwa’s first episode as the Fifteenth Doctor. Gatwa’s first full season will air next year.
Read on below for a trailer.
Watch: New trailer for Doctor Who anniversary specials
23rd September 2023
It’s only a few weeks until Doctor Who returns for its 60th anniversary this November, and a new trailer gives us a closer look at Russell T Davies’ specials has in store.
The new trailer features Neil Patrick-Harris waltzing onto the scene, as it is now revealed that he will play the Toymaker, an all-powerful enemy last seen in 1966 – but what is it that brings the Doctor face-to-face with this enemy from his past?
Also, we see what UNIT looks like in a post-MCU world, with Jemma Redgrave reprising her iconic role as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart alongside David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor and – of course – Catherine Tate as Donna.
Russell T Davies says: “This is just the start, as the fever starts to burn. We’re heading for a November full of Doctor Who surprises, for fans and new viewers alike. Stay alert!”
The three special episodes will air at a yet to be confirmed date to coincide with the 60th anniversary. Ncuti Gatwa’s first episode as the Fifteenth Doctor will air over the festive period.
Here’s the video:
Trailer: Doctor Who Anniversary Specials unveil episode titles
14th May 2023
It’s not long now until the Doctor and Donna Noble are reunited – and a new trailers gives us a first look at them back together, plus the official episode titles for Doctor Who’s three 60th anniversary specials.
David Tennant and Catherine Tate will reprise their roles as the Fourteenth Doctor and former companion Donna, joined by Yasmin Finney as Rose and a villainous Neil Patrick Harris, Jacqueline King will be reprising her role as Donna’s mother, Sylvia, and Karl Collins as Donna’s long suffering husband, Shaun. The specials will also welcome Ruth Madeley as Shirley Anne Bingham.
The three adventures that Doctor-Donna will go on will be called: The Star Beast, Wild Blue Yonder and The Giggle.
Russell T Davies, Showrunner says: “The titles are just the beginning of the Doctor’s biggest adventure yet. Autumn is coming, with three hours of danger, Donna and disaster about to be unleashed!”
Here’s the new video:
Watch: New trailer for Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary specials
26th December 2022
It’s less than a year until Doctor Who celebrates its 60th anniversary and a new action-packed trailer gives us a closer look at the three-part special.
With David Tennant back as the Doctor, the three specials will air in November 2023 before Ncuti Gatwa takes control of the TARDIS during the festive season. It has now been revealed that alongside previously announced Catherine Tate as Donna, Yasmin Finney as Rose and a villainous Neil Patrick Harris, Jacqueline King will be reprising her role as Donna’s mother, Sylvia, and Karl Collins as Donna’s long suffering husband, Shaun. The specials will also welcome Ruth Madeley as Shirley Anne Bingham.
Russell T Davies, the new/returning showrunner, says: “We wanted to give fans, friends and families a lovely little Christmas present – with a promise that 2023 will be a riot of Doctor Who goodness!”
Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary: First trailer and everything we know so far
24th October 2022
“I don’t know who I am any more…” Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor may have stepped out of the TARDIS, but a familiar face is already back to pilot the blue police box into the show’s 60th anniversary celebrations: David Tennant.
Yes, the 10th Doctor is now the 14th Doctor, who will be accompanied by Catherine Tate’s Donna Noble.
The Doctor and Donna parted ways when the Doctor had to wipe Donna’s memory, making her forget him, in order to save her life. He left her family with a warning: if ever she remembers, she will die. But with the two coming face to face once more, the big question is, just what brings the Doctor and Donna back together?
Now, we have more of an idea what new/returning showrunner Russell T Davies has planned for the anniversary: a three-part special that will air in November 2023.
These episodes will also feature Heartstopper’s Yasmin Finney as Rose and Neil Patrick Hariss as a mysterious new character.
Speaking at the time David Tennant and Catherine Tate’s return as the Doctor and Donna was announced, showrunner Russell T Davies teased: “Maybe this is a missing story. Or a parallel world. Or a dream, or a trick, or a flashback. The only thing I can confirm is that it’s going to be spectacular, as two of our greatest stars reunite for the battle of a lifetime.”
The three specials will pave the way for the next Doctor, played by Sex Education’s Ncuti Gatwa. He will officially take over the TARDIS for a first outing set to air in the festive period in 2023.
Davies adds: “If you thought the appearance of David Tennant was a shock, we’ve got plenty more surprises on the way! The path to Ncuti’s Fifteenth Doctor is laden with mystery, horror, robots, puppets, danger and fun! And how is it connected to the return of the wonderful Donna Noble? How, what, why? We’re giving you a year to speculate, and then all hell lets loose!”
Neil Patrick Harris joins Doctor Who
13th June 2022
Neil Patrick Harris has joined the cast of Doctor Who ready for the show’s 60th anniversary.
The news is the latest surprise announcement since Russell T Davies was confirmed to be taking over as showrunner of the series again, with Chris Chibnall departing alongside Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor later this year, after one more special, timed to celebrate the BBC’s Centenary.
Davies, meanwhile, is already counting down until another key anniversary in 2023, with David Tennant and Catherine Tate officially returning as the Tenth Doctor and Donna Noble next year. How exactly they will reunite, and how that will fit into the show’s future is anyone’s guess, but we do know that Heartstopper’s Yasmin Finney has also joined the cast to play Rose in “scenes that are due to air in 2023 to coincide with the show’s 60th anniversary” – and that Sex Education’s Ncuti Gatwa will also be taking over as the Doctor at some point, whether that will be this year, next year or sometime after that is anybody’s guess.
While we’re still wrapping our heads around that, the Beeb has revealed that the Emmy and Tony-winning actor and comedian Neil Patrick Harris will also appear in scenes set to air in 2023.
Davies said: “It’s my huge honour to open our studio doors for the mighty Neil Patrick Harris… but who, why, what is he playing? You’ll just have to wait. But I promise you, the stuff we’re shooting now is off the scale. Doctor beware!”
Heartstopper’s Yasmin Finney joins Doctor Who cast
16th May 2022
Hearstopper’s Yasmin Finney has joined the cast of Doctor Who.
Finney is currently wowing audiences with her performance as Elle Argent in the Netflix coming-of-age comedy, which debuted last month. Now, she’s set to step aboard the TARDIS to play Rose in Doctor Who’s next incarnation.
Finney is the latest in a wave of surprising Doctor Who announcements in the past week, with another Netflix breakout star – Sex Education’s Ncuti Gatwa – cast to take over as the Doctor from Jodie Whittaker. He joins alongside new (and returning) showrunner Russell T Davies, who appears to be hard at work preparing for Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary in 2023. Indeed, he announced at the weekend that David Tennant and Catherine Tate will return next year in some form.
Finney, meanwhile, is cryptically reported to be “filming scenes that are due to air in 2023 to coincide with the show’s 60th anniversary”.
Davies says: “Life on Doctor Who gets brighter and wilder, how can there be another Rose? You’ll find out in 2023, but it’s an absolute joy to welcome Yasmin to the Doctor Who set. We all fell in love with her in Heartstopper, one of those shows which changes the world – and now Yasmin can change the Whoniverse!”
Yasmin adds: “If anyone would have told 8 year old Yasmin that one day she’d be part of this iconic show, I would have never in a million years believed them. This show has a place in so many people’s hearts, so to be seen as a trans actress by the legend himself Russell, has not only made my year, it’s made my life. I cannot wait to begin this journey and for you all to see how Rose blossoms. Get Ready.”
David Tennant and Catherine Tate return to Doctor Who
15th May 2022
Dave Tennant and Catherine Tate are reuniting to return to Doctor Who, Russell T Davies has announced.
Davies will soon take over as showrunner on the sci-fi series, following the departure of Chris Chibnall and current Doctor Jodie Whittaker later this year. Whittaker and Chibnall’s final outing will be a special timed to celebrate the BBC’s Centenary and will see a host of familiar foes uniting against the Doctor, with other friends also returning, including Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding) and Sophie Aldred (Ace). You can see the trailer for the special and more details here.
Last week, Davies sent shockwaves through the Doctor Who world with the announcement that Sex Education’s Ncuti Gatwa would be taking over the TARDIS from Whittaker.
At the same time, there were also rumours of David Tennant potentially making a return to reteam with Davies, after his stint as the Tenth Doctor under Davies as showrunner. Now, we’ve got another surprise announcement, with Davies confirming today that David Tennant will indeed by stepping back into the TARDIS, and reuniting with his companion Donna Noble, played by Catherine Tate.
The Doctor and Donna parted ways when the Doctor had to wipe Donna’s memory, making her forget him, in order to save her life. He left her family with a warning: if ever she remembers, she will die. But with the two coming face to face once more, the big question is, just what brings the Doctor and Donna back together?
That’s the question that’s not quite clear yet, with the BBC only cryptically revealing that the duo are “filming scenes that are due to air in 2023 to coincide with the show’s 60th anniversary celebrations”.
Davies says: “They’re back! And it looks impossible – first, we announce a new Doctor, and then an old Doctor, along with the wonderful Donna, what on earth is happening? Maybe this is a missing story. Or a parallel world. Or a dream, or a trick, or a flashback. The only thing I can confirm is that it’s going to be spectacular, as two of our greatest stars reunite for the battle of a lifetime.”
