It’s official, David Tennant is coming back to Doctor Who yet again. While it would arguably make more sense for the Scottish actor to return as the Fourteenth Doctor, his latest U-turn sees him stepping once more into the shoes of the Tenth Doctor instead. It’s not a totally unexpected move, given the state of the franchise since the Disney deal began (and then expired). On the other hand, it does arguably reek of desperation. Tennant is one of the most beloved figures among Whovians. Therefore, bringing him back is quickly becoming a sure-fire way to reinvigorate interest.
Since Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor stepped away from the show in 2025, the divisive return of Billie Piper, seemingly as Doctor Who‘s main character, resulted in production grinding to a halt. Spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea saw out the BBC’s co-production deal with Disney, and then it was announced that Doctor Who‘s dented reputation wouldn’t result in a multi-year break, as was largely expected. The show will return with a Christmas special in 2026, with the script being penned by showrunner Russell T Davies. The recent announcement that Tennant is coming back will invariably have an impact on the franchise’s future. That said, the knock-on effect is actually relatively indirect.
David Tennant’s New ‘Doctor Who’ Audio Adventures Make Fourteen’s 2026 Return Unlikely
It still hasn’t been announced who’ll be leading the 2026 Doctor Who Christmas special. As something of a comeback episode, this decision is vital. Using Piper would almost definitely create more problems than solutions, so I’m hoping Davies walks back that particular twist. However, Doctor Who fans can at least get excited about more from the Tenth Doctor, with Tennant set to reprise the role in a run of fifteen Big Finish audio adventures. While not part of the main canon, these stories are often great, and are easy to unofficially accept into the main continuity if you so desire.
Due to the lack of news about who will be in the TARDIS this December, many fans have been speculating that Tennant would once more get the nod as Fourteen. After all, he’s still in existence after that surprise bi-generation twist in 2023’s “The Giggle.” While a permanent return as the show’s star was unlikely, it could have been a safe bet to temporarily bring back Fourteen during this strange, transitional period for Doctor Who. He could have once more been used as a sort of bridge Doctor to introduce his successor, similar to how Gatwa was brought into the fold. However, the Big Finish announcement all but rules that out.
Three of the new Fifteen audio adventures will feature Ten as part of a multi-Doctor story.
Because Tennant is now set to feature in a new set of Doctor Who adventures in 2027, coming back as Fourteen in the show itself would be absolute overkill. I even say that as someone whose favorite Doctor is David Tennant. There are plenty of other options, and Tennant has already enjoyed two live-action comebacks as the iconic Time Lord since his original departure as the face of the franchise in 2010’s “The End of Time: Part 2.” I maintain that Tennant should (and probably will) come back to our screens as Fourteen at some point, but 2026 is not the year for it to happen. It would essentially come across as Doctor Who owning up to the fact that it has no idea how to save itself, other than maybe bringing back David Tennant again. For now, we’ll just have to enjoy his audio-only performances as Ten.
It’s a Good Thing That David Tennant’s Live-Action Comeback (Probably) Isn’t Happening In 2026
Doctor Who‘s main character is central to the show’s success, and the nature of how a new version of the Doctor enters the story is equally important. Unfortunately, this particular element of the show’s formula has been very gimmicky in recent years. It started with Tennant’s unexpected return in 2023, replacing Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor in what was otherwise a fairly standard regeneration sequence. Then, bi-generation brought in Ncuti Gatwa to appear alongside Tennant. Most recently, Fifteen’s apparent transformation into Billie Piper took things a step too far. Bringing back Fourteen for the 2026 Christmas special would seem like Russell T Davies doesn’t know how to move the story forward in a way that’s not just a big publicity stunt. If anything, another David Tennant comeback would feel like a similarly quirky creative decision.
Doctor Who has a long history of being built on change. While it does occasionally revisit and borrow from its own past, those instances are often standout moments rather than mainstays of its storytelling approach. The show needs to grow and change to survive, and the constant comings and goings of the same star, no matter how beloved, hamper that progression. The Disney era was probably a little too extreme in how radically different it felt compared to previous seasons, but it was roughly the right idea. Specifically, bringing in a new Doctor like Gatwa was certainly on-brand.
So, rather than bringing back Tennant, Piper, or another recognizable face this Christmas, Davies needs to officially introduce the newcomer who’ll be playing the Sixteenth Doctor. With another full Doctor Who season already confirmed for 2027, bringing in a new Doctor during the festive period would be a great way of getting fans ready for an era that actually feels fresh. Favoring nostalgia always feels like a safer bet than breaking new ground, but Doctor Who needs to find a way to be bold and effective, rather than just walking in circles around David Tennant.
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Doctor Who
- Release Date
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2005 – 2021-00-00
- Network
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BBC
- Directors
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Graeme Harper, Euros Lyn, Douglas Mackinnon, Jamie Magnus Stone, Charles Palmer, Rachel Talalay, Joe Ahearne, James Strong, Jamie Childs, Saul Metzstein, Toby Haynes, Wayne Che Yip, Nick Hurran, Richard Clark, James Hawes, Daniel Nettheim, Colin Teague, Keith Boak, Azhur Saleem, Adam Smith, Andrew Gunn, Nida Manzoor, Lawrence Gough, Paul Murphy
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Doctor Who
4.5
/5- Release Date
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May 11, 2024
- Network
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BBC One
- Directors
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Alex Pillai, Peter Hoar, Ben Chessell, Julie Anne Robinson, Jamie Donoughue, Amanda Brotchie, Dylan Holmes Williams
- Writers
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Steven Moffat, Pete McTighe, Kate Herron, Inua Ellams, Juno Dawson
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
