By and large, a new era of Doctor Who forsakes any continuity with its predecessor. A new showrunner means a new vision, meaning what came before is typically left in the rear view. David Tennant reprised his role as the Tenth-turned-Fourteenth incarnation of the Time Lord, succeeding Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor.
As the new era beckons with the 60th-anniversary specials in November, what becomes of Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor, and how will the series adapt to her absence as Russell T Davies’ second era, or RTD2 for short, begins?
Davies, who revived Doctor Who in 2004 is back and heading up the sci-fi series, has replied to online discussion suggesting Whittaker’s era of Doctor Who has been “erased” from the show’s marketing material, not to mention the fact Tennant regenerated into his own costume.
This point was later clarified by Davies after the finale aired. Writing for the Showrunner segment in the latest monthly edition of Doctor Who Magazine (H/T The Radio Times), Davies discussed his thoughts on the final cut of The Star Beast, the first in the trilogy of 60th-anniversary specials.
Jodie Whittaker’s TARDIS, to some degree, will still appear in the episode, since the TARDIS was unaffected by her regeneration. “Oh my God, the TARDIS, the Jodie exterior, she has NOT been erased (and yet by not erasing her, are we erasing the argument that she’s been erased and therefore this is an act of erasure, IS IT?).”
Make of that as you will.
“Oh my God, that’s London, too much London?, I liked Sheffield, SHEFFIELD SNUB,” Davies wrote, referring to the decision to set Whittaker’s era in Sheffield over London, a mainstay location throughout the revival. “It’s still very rude to the people of Sheffield, I will post about this and get REACTIONS to the SNUB.”
Doctor Who can be streamed via the BBC iPlayer, with classic episodes on Britbox. What are you most excited to see from the future of the series? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Miriam Margolyes will voice a character in the upcoming 60th-anniversary specials of Doctor Who.
