The Scotsman

Tennant and Tate will reprise roles as the Doctor and Donna Noble in return to Doctor Who for show’s 60th anniversar­y

- By KERRI-ANN ROPER

David Tennant and Catherine Tate are returning to Doctor Who, the BBC has announced.

Scottish actor Tennant, 51, first stepped into the Tardis in 2005 to play the 10th Time Lord with his final episode airing on New Year's Day in 2010, with comedic actress Tate, 52, starring as companion Donna Noble.

The duo have reunited to film scenes that are due to air next year to coincide with the 60th anniversar­y celebratio­ns of the popular TV series. Doctor

Who's returning showrunner Russell T Davies said: "They're back! And it looks impossible – first, we announce a new Doctor, and then an old Doctor, along with the wonderful Donna, what on earth is happening?

"Maybe this is a missing story. Or a parallel world. Or a dream, or a trick, or a flashback.

"The only thing I can confirm is that it's going to be spectacula­r, as two of our greatest stars reunite for the battle of a lifetime."

Tennant took over the starring role in 2005 from Chris

topher Eccleston and was succeededb­ymattsmith­whilebilli­e Piper's companion role was the first in the programme's 2005 revival and was followed by Tate as Donna. Opinionate­d Donna helped to save civilisati­on from the Daleks during her spell with the 10th Doctor but she had her memories of her adventures in the Tardis wiped, because the powers the Timelordha­dgivenhert­hreatened to overwhelm her brain.

Tennant was also seen in the 50th anniversar­y special, The Day Of The Doctor, in 2013.

It was recently announced that Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa will be taking over from Jodie Whittaker to become the show's 14th Doctor.

The 29-year-old becomes the fourth Scot to take up the post, following on from Sylvester Mccoy, fellow Royal Conservato­ire graduate Tennant and Peter Capaldi.

Showrunner Chris Chibnall, who cast Whittaker as the first female Doctor, is leaving to be replaced by Davies, who was behind the programme's 2005 revival and left in 2009.

Tennant and Tate's collaborat­ions extend beyond Doctor Who.

They worked on a stage version of Much Ado About Nothing together in 2011, with Tennant also cropping up on Tate's sketchshow­thecatheri­netate Show.

 ?? ?? 0 Returning to show: David Tennant and Catherine Tate
0 Returning to show: David Tennant and Catherine Tate

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom