Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has revealed that he convinced David Tennant and Catherine Tate to reunite for the show’s 60th anniversary before being approached by BBC bosses.
The duo will reprise their roles as Time Lord and his companion Donna Noble for a trio of specials later this month, 15 years after they last traveled together in the TARDIS.
And in a Q&A ahead of the first special on November 25, Russell revealed that he convinced David and Catherine to return after taking part in a Who ‘tweetalong’ during the 2020 Covid lockdown.
He also revealed that Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan has joined the cast and will appear in the show’s Christmas special in 2024.
“I actually just love David and Catherine together,” Russell said. ‘And I love that TARDIS. David loved that set so much that he thought it would be absolutely brilliant to run around it like that. After eight takes, not so fun. In the end he was exhausted.’
Revealed: Dr Who showrunner Russell T Davies has revealed he convinced David Tennant and Catherine Tate to reunite for the show’s 60th anniversary before being approached by the BBC
Iconic duo: The duo will reprise their roles as the titular Time Lord and his companion Donna Noble for a trio of specials later this month, 15 years after their last stint
Russell added that it was Catherine who suggested that she would like to reprise her role as Donna in an upcoming episode.
“Catherine said, ‘Oh, I’ve always loved Donna Noble and wouldn’t it be great to make more?’ And I said, ‘Oh yeah, yeah, yeah,’ like that. And then she asked David. She said, “Do you want to make more?” And he immediately said he would,” Russell said.
‘So then she told me that and I felt really honored to go to the BBC and say, ‘Look, these two stars have just said they’d love to come back.’ I knew it was the 60th anniversary coming up. . Simple as that.
“So I just sent that email about Christmas Eve or something – the best Christmas present you ever had!”
“All I got was a reply that said, ‘Thank you. We will think about it.”
The first special, titled The Star Beast, is based on a 1970s Who comic about Beep The Meep, in which Miriam Margolyes will voice the alien.
It’s an old conversation from 1979 that I’ve always loved,” Russell said.
“You have to get Donna to get her memory back, so you need that, which takes a whole episode, and at the same time you need an alien invasion.
New face! Russell also confirmed that Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan has joined the cast for a festive special next year, and is currently filming her scenes
Heartstoppers’ Yasmin Finney will also star in the first special, playing Donna’s daughter Rose, with Karl Collins and Jaqueline King reprising their roles as Shaun Temple and Donna’s mother Sylvia respectively.
After joining forces with Disney+ to take Who in a global new direction, Russell said it was a “joy” to make the most of a huge new budget for the show.
“It’s not a Star Wars budget,” he said. ‘Still, it’s more than most of the things I’ve made in the last ten years combined. So learning how to do that has been a year-long process. But it happened with such joy.”
He also revealed that viewers will learn why the Doctor has been restored to his old appearance, adding: ‘The mystery of his face will continue for the next two specials. It’s not a huge plot, but it actually has a nice payoff. So keep tuning in.”
David and Catherine will star in the trio of specials before Ncuti Gatwa takes over as The Doctor on Christmas Day, in an episode entitled The Church On Ruby Road
Russell also confirmed that Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan has joined the cast for a festive special next year, and is currently filming her scenes.
He said: ‘Nicola Coughlan (joins) at Christmas next year. We are now filming Christmas 2024.”
Another big name joining the cast is Neil Patrick Harris and Russell admitted the actor had no idea what he was signing up for as he had never seen the show and only worked with him on his Channel 4 series It’s A Sin.
He added: “Neil had never heard of it. In fact, he read the script and called me and said, “So the Doctor is an alien?” He really had started all over again.
“I was lucky to know him because I had already worked with him on ‘It’s A Sin’, he was in the first episode and was so glorious in that, and so we knew him.
“He was perfect for this because Neil likes magic and magic tricks, and the Toymaker also plays with cards and he does magic tricks and magic tricks and stuff, and Neil already does that.”
Russell added: “He’s phenomenal. That’s a great villain that will scare you, he has so much range and had so much fun with it.”
The first Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Special – The Star Beast – airs on Saturday 25 November on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK, and on Disney+ internationally.