Doctor Who fans were sent into meltdown on Saturday night, as the jaw-dropping finale saw Billie Piper unveiled as the next incarnation of the Time Lord.
However, while her reveal understandably sparked a huge frenzy on social media, others have been quick to spot one key problem with her regeneration, following Ncuti Gatwa‘s long-speculated exit from the show.
The actress is well-known to longtime Who fans, having previously played The Doctor’s companion Rose Tyler, and The Moment interface in the show’s 50th Anniversary Special.
But in the finale’s last seconds, it appeared that Ncuti’s Doctor, had regenerated into Billie, with her first words being: ‘Oh hello!’
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, some fans were quick to note in the episode’s closing credits, Billie was not credited as ‘The Doctor,’ with it instead simply stating: ‘Introducing Billie Piper.’
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Doctor Who fans were sent into meltdown on Saturday night, as the jaw-dropping finale saw Billie Piper unveiled as the next incarnation of the Time Lord
While her reveal understandably sparked a huge frenzy on social media , others have been quick to spot one key problem, following Ncuti Gatwa’s long-speculated exit from the show.
Posts included: ‘Lowkey bugging me it just said ‘introducing Billie piper’, there’s definitely something else at play here
‘Notice how they’re not saying Sixteenth Doctor. Notice how the credits don’t even say who she is playing. Odd.
‘Note that it said “Introducing Billie Piper” – and not “Introducing Billie Piper as the Doctor”. Maybe no one’s been appointed, and this is a red herring?
‘Don’t be fooled. Billie IS NOT the Doctor. Where is “and introducing Billie Piper as The Doctor”.
‘I haven’t missed the Introducing ‘Bille Piper’ as the Doctor being missing in the credits. Something fishy is going on here. Let me tells ya.
‘I just noticed that the regeneration energy never stopped while #BilliePiper said “Oh Hello” and the credits didn’t have her as being introduced as The Doctor, so that’s another thread to add to the left hanging list #DoctorWho
‘It’s very likely NOT Billie Piper as the new Doctor – remember she was only in the credits as “Introducing Billie Piper” where the other two were “The Doctor”. Definite bait and switch coming up.’
Billie herself then seemed to further fuel the speculation with a cryptic Instagram post, which showed herself posing with a white rose, alongside two throwback snaps of her iconic Who character Rose Tyler.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter , some fans were quick to note in the episode’s closing credits, Billie was not credited as ‘The Doctor’
Billie herself then seemed to further fuel the speculation with a cryptic Instagram post, which showed herself posing with a white rose
Her post was captioned: ‘A rose is a rose is a rose!!!’
Her post was captioned: ‘A rose is a rose is a rose!!!’
While initial reactions to the news on X were positive, other die hard fans tuning in had mixed reactions to Saturday’s episode.
Retired teacher Steve Hatcher, 66, of Ashbourne in Derbyshire, who runs Whoovers – a Doctor Who fan club, told the PA news agency: ‘The question in the mind was, is it going to be a regeneration to a new Doctor, which it was, or is it just going to be a regeneration to black and an uncertain future?
‘So I’m very relieved that they’ve found a new Doctor and she’s a brilliant actor and I’m sure that’ll be terrific, so Doctor Who continues, I would say, on the basis of that, it was a terrific episode.’
James Ashway, 27, from Bristol, who helps run the Doctor Who Appreciation Society’s magazine, said: ‘It was an episode which threw the kitchen sink in terms of returning characters, Jodie Whittaker and obviously now Billie Piper as well as the new Doctor.
‘I’m a bit speechless to be honest, there’s quite a lot of stuff to take in, but I think it was an interesting episode which pivoted in the middle to tell two different stories, one wrapping up the end of that season and obviously telling Ncuti Gatwa’s regeneration as well, so very enjoyable.’
However, Brendan Noble, 57, of Middlesbrough, a former English teacher who runs the Sense Sphere YouTube channel said: ‘I think we’ve just had what I would have called EastEnders in space. I am absolutely shocked, irritated, frustrated, people are contacting me now in absolute shock and horror at what’s just happened.
‘It’s lazy writing, hodgepodge of exposition, escapism, nonsense, (Russell T Davies) was throwing every toy from the Doctor Who box at the telly, hoping that some of it would make sense in the way of entertaining you.’
Billie will now be the second woman to take on the role as the Time Lord after Jodie Whittaker portrayed the 13th doctor.
She replaces Ncuti, who leaves Doctor Who after two seasons in the science-fiction series.
The actor’s time on the long-running science fiction programme came to an end as The Reality War episode brought this season to a close on Saturday.
The two-part season finale saw the Doctor face the Rani in a battle to save the world after making the decision to safe the life of one little girl.
As he bid farewell to companion Belinda Chandra, played by Varada Sethu, he said: ‘I hope you’ll see me again, but not like this.’
The finale also saw Whittaker, the 13th doctor, make a guest appearance as Gatwa’s Doctor appeared to be travelling through alternate universes.
In a statement released by the BBC, Ncuti Gatwa said: ‘You know when you get cast, at some point you are going to have to hand back that sonic screwdriver and it is all going to come to an end, but nothing quite prepares you for it.
‘This journey has been one that I will never forget, and a role that will be part of me forever. There are no words to describe what it feels like to be cast as the Doctor, nor are there words to explain what it feels like to be accepted into this iconic role that has existed for over 60 years and is truly loved by so many across the globe.
‘The fans are truly the final character and beating heart of this show and I can’t thank the Whoniverse, and the Whovians, enough for welcoming me in, and making this such a touching experience.
‘I’ve loved every minute of it, but now is the time to hand over the keys to that beloved blue box and let someone else take control and enjoy it every bit as much as I have.
‘I’ll truly miss it, and forever be grateful to it, and everyone that has played a part in my journey as the Doctor.’
Reacting to the news Billie said: ‘It’s no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return to the Whoniverse as I have some of my best memories there, so to be given the opportunity to step back on that Tardis one more time was just something I couldn’t refuse.’
After Doctor Who was broadcast, Billie Piper posted on Instagram ‘A rose is a rose is a rose !!!’ with images from her previous time on the show playing the Doctor’s companion Rose Tyler.
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies said: ‘What a Doctor! Thank you, Ncuti! ‘As his final words say, this has been an absolute joy, and the team in Cardiff and everyone who has worked on this show for the past few years, are so lucky to have been part of Ncuti’s great adventure as he shoots off to stratospheric new heights.’
Billie starred as Rose opposite Christopher Ecclestone’s Ninth Doctor when the show was revived by Russell T Davies in 2005 (pictured in 2006)
Ncuti later broke his silence after becoming the second shortest tenure as The Doctor, lasting just two seasons
The BBC programme is also said to have been paused for an extended break amid criticism about recent plots involving non-binary aliens, incels and even a pregnant male extra-terrestrial.
A small number of social media critics have pointed to the diversity of the cast, a drag queen villain, and introduction of transgender and non-binary characters.
However, both Davies and Gatwa have strongly dismissed this criticism as from a minority, with Davies telling BBC Radio 2’s 20 Secrets From 20 Years: ‘Someone always brings up matters of diversity.
‘And there are online warriors accusing us of diversity and wokeness and involving messages and issues.
‘And I have no time for this. I don’t have a second to bear (it). Because what you might call diversity, I just call an open door.’
Gatwa told Attitude magazine in 2024 that the hateful comments the sci-fi show has received after casting a black man is ‘fascinating, because there’s so much energy they’re putting into it … I think they need to go find a hobby is one thing’.
During his time, he has had companions in the form of Andor actress Varada Sethu, and former Coronation Street actress Millie Gibson, who played Gatwa’s companion Ruby Sunday since the 2023 Christmas episode The Church On Ruby Road.
Highlights of his two series have included a Regency-themed episode that saw him have a burgeoning romance with the character Rogue, played by Mindhunter actor Jonathan Groff, the explosive Boom episode and the arrival of the classic Time Lord villain, the Rani.
