David Tennant’s Return In Doctor Who Gets A Definitive Response From Showrunner Russell T Davies

• Russell T Davies definitively rules out David Tennant’s return to Doctor Who.
• Bringing back Tennant could ruin his story, and undercut Gatwa as the new Doctor.
• Season 14 of Doctor Who aims to create a new legacy with Gatwa in the starring role.

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has given a definitive statement on the chances of David Tennant returning to the franchise. Davies revived the cult British science-fiction show in 2005, with Christopher Eccleston cast as the Ninth Doctor, but he was promptly replaced after just a single series by Tennant’s Tenth Doctor, who became a fan favorite. Davies departed as showrunner in 2010, which coincided with Tennant also leaving the role, before the two returned to the franchise in 2023, where Tennant regenerated as the Fourteenth Doctor and starred in the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary specials.

Davies remains as showrunner, and is already planning the future of the franchise with Gatwa, but the Queer As Folk creator spoke to The Times to address lingering rumors surrounding the possibility of Tennant returning once again. Tennant left after the specials and was replaced by incumbent Time Lord Ncuti Gatwa, who will head up Doctor Who season 14, which premieres May 11. Davies has definitively ruled out any chance of a return for the star, commenting ‘…he is absolutely not coming back.‘ Check out Davies’ comments below:

I think he died. I’m going to start saying that. He went to Venice, 2063, when the city sank, and he went into a whirlpool, which is really sad … David is parked and retired and it’s all Ncuti’s show now. Genuinely. Not that David might be coming back — he’s absolutely not coming back.

Why Did Davies Choose To Bring Tennant’s Doctor Back?

Another Return Could Ruin Tennant’s Story

Doctor Who has always been a show that is constantly evolving, but the unexpected decision to bring back Tennant caught many by surprise. Though it has never been definitively confirmed why Davies made this decision, there are several reasons why this decision could have been made. Davies himself was returning to the franchise after a long absence and likely wanted an actor he was familiar working with, who could bridge the gap between the Thirteenth and Fifteenth Doctors. Furthermore, reuniting a popular franchise pairing was bound to appeal to audiences, and increase interest in the specials.

Though some viewers may hold faint hope that Tennant could return once again, Davies’ comments seem pretty definitive. Being that Davies cast Tennant in the role, and presided over his tenure on the show – regarded as the most successful of the revival period – viewers will have to take him at his word. The specials end with the Fourteenth Doctor getting a happy ending, something no other actor in the role has ever had. Bringing Tennant back would not only potentially ruin his ending, but undercut Gatwa as the new Doctor.

Can The Gatwa Doctor Who Era Shake Off The Specter Of Tennant & Create Its Own Legacy?

The New Season Is Designed To Be A Jumping On Point

It is an exciting time for Doctor Who, and the return of Davies saw the casting of Gatwa as the franchise’s first starring Black Doctor, and a soft reboot for the series, branding Gatwa’s positively reviewed Doctor Who season 14 as season 1. This suggests that Davies is keen to bookend the era that has come before, drawing a line under past events, and taking the franchise in a new direction that is focused on looking forward, not backward.

This bodes well for creating a new legacy for the show, and helping Gatwa establish himself as a franchise star in the same way Tennant was able to. The feeling among many viewers seems to have been that Doctor Who has been due a revamp for some time, and the stage could be perfectly set for this to happen, with Davies and Gatwa both keen to explore fresh ideas with a show that provides endless possibilities.