Karen Gillan in Doctor Who

Karen Gillan on Doctor Who return: “Never say never”

Screen OD staff

Karen Gillan has said that she would be open to return to Doctor Who and that she would “never say never” to the possibility of being on the BBC sci-fi show again, especially if she was able to return with previous co-stars.

The 34 year-old TV and film actor who has appeared in movies including Guardians of the Galaxy and Jumanji to name but a few played Amy Pond on Doctor Who between 2010 and 2013 said she would be both interested and keen on the idea if she was asked.

Speaking to Wired magazine as part of their “Answer the Web’s Most Searched Questions” series, Gillan was asked about a return to the show that catapulted her to being a household name more than a decade ago.

“Never say never,” she answered.

“If I was asked, I would be really interested and keen… it would be really amazing”

She added that if she were to do it, she’d like it to be a part of a mini-reunion with other cast members.

“I would like to do it with Matt Smith and Arthur Darvill if I was going to go back.”

Gillan played Amy Pond opposite Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor and Arthur Darvill played Rory Williams, Amy’s fiancee and later husband on the series. Rory and Amy featured together as the Eleventh Doctor’s companions until they left the series together in 2013 at the hands of the Weeping Angel’s in the episode The Angels Take Manhattan.

There are a good deal of changes happening in the next year or so over at Doctor Who towers, and therefore perhaps there could be an opportunity for this return to happen. Sometime in the second half of 2022, the final episode of the Chris Chibnall era, and also the final episode of Jodie Whittaker’s tenure as pilot of the TARDIS, will be broadcast as part of the 100th anniversary celebrations of the BBC. We already know that several former companions and monsters will be returning for this show, but could there be even more surprises?

There is also the small matter of the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who in 2023, which happens to coincide with the sensational return of Russell T Davies as showrunner of the programme. Davies was responsible for bringing Doctor Who back to screens in 2005 after the show was cancelled in 1989 as well as many of the best Doctor Who episodes, and there has been fierce speculation about who he will install as the next star of the show. But with a big birthday coming up for Doctor Who, surely RTD will also be planning something exciting to mark the occasion? And as we saw the return of former Doctors and companions for the 50th Anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor, it would make for a good opportunity to bring back Karen Gillan, alongside Matt Smith and Arthur Darvill were they all as keen.

Of course, for now, that is all speculation – but for many fans, they will be pleased to know that Karen Gillan, who was very much a fan favourite on the series in her role as Amy Pond, would consider a return should she be asked.

But before we start to think about who will return, the biggest question that remains unanswered for Doctor Who fans is who will take over from Jodie Whittaker? Some are still rumouring that this in itself might be a return in the shape of David Tennant, but as is often the case when the role is up for grabs, his name is one of dozens that are circulating.

Adventures in space, time and speculation continue…

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