Classic Doctors assemble for The Power of the Doctor

Screen OD staff

The Power of the Doctor was promised to us as “one for the Whovians” by Jodie Whittaker when she teased her final episode of Doctor Who before the sci-fi show aired on Sunday 23rd October for the first time – it’s fair to say it didn’t disappoint.

Not only did the episode contain one hell of a twist at the end when the expected regeneration of Jodie Whittaker apparently changed order from Ncuti Gatwa, who we know will be the next full-time Doctor to include once again David Tennant as the Fourteenth, but it also featured a lot of familiar faces from Doctor Who past.

We had been pre-warned that a number of old stars would be in the feature-length special that would also be the last with Chris Chibnall at the helm. Sophie Aldred’s return as Ace and Janet Fielding’s reprising the role of Tegan were released in advance with photographs, as was Jemma Redgrave appearing in the episode as Kate Stewart.

However, with all talk of a multi-Doctor episode being planned for the show’s 60th anniversary in 2023, fans were perhaps surprised to see several classic Doctors appear on screen in this episode, which coincided with the 100th birthday weekend celebrations for the BBC.

In a sequence of events that saw the Master hijack the regeneration process, it was revealed that all of the states of the previous Doctor remain as states of the Doctor’s consciousness, which meant there was an excuse for many of the classic Doctor Who stars to appear.

Fans were treated to Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann who played the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Doctors respectively.

Of course, the episode was dominated by the shocking regeneration of Whittaker to David Tennant, and of course the questions around how he is the Fourteenth rather than just the Tenth 2.0.

We got our first glimpse of Ncuti Gatwa in character in the teaser reel that followed the final credits, and it is understood he will make his first full debut in the festive period of 2023.

Before that, we have a 60th anniversary special and a lot more surprises to come!