Doctor Who: RTD’s Update On David Tennant’s Fourteen Is Great For Ncuti Gatwa, But Still Has 1 Problem

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies has finally given a definitive answer regarding the future of David Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor, and while his statement is good news for Ncuti Gatwa, it creates a glaring problem. After playing the tenth incarnation of the character between 2005 and 2010, David Tennant returned to Doctor Who to play the Fourteenth Doctor for the show’s 60th anniversary specials. Tennant’s Doctor Who future was previously uncertain, but now Davies has clarified the matter. However, the showrunner’s statement asks as many questions as it answers.

The ending of Doctor Who‘s 60th anniversary specials saw Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor opting to retire and live a quiet life with Donna Noble and her family. The decision was prompted following Doctor Who’s first bi-regeneration, which resulted in Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor. With two Doctors both spending time on present-day Earth, there was always the possibility that they would bump into one another. Davies’ recent statements have given a firm answer regarding a future Tennant return, and it comes with both pros and a big con.

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Why It’s Good David Tennant’s Fourteen Won’t Return In Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor Who Run

The Fifteenth Doctor Will Have Room To Breath

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Russell T. Davies confirmed the fate of both Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor and Catherine Tate’s Donna Noble, saying of the 60th anniversary specials, “That was their ending.” Not only is it a thing that Davies has nipped any Tennant return speculation in the bud early on, but it also feels like the right decision to keep him out of the main show. After all, the upcoming series 14 marks Ncuti’s Gatwa’s debut season as the Fifteenth Doctor, and as such, all focus should be on him.

David Tennant is easily the most popular actor to play the Doctor in the modern era, if not of all time. There is a real danger that Tennant returning, even for just one short scene, would greatly overshadow things. Arguably, Ncuti Gatwa’s first scenes during the final 60th anniversary specials were blighted somewhat by having to share the screen with Tennant. Like every Doctor Who actor, Gatwa deserves his time in the spotlight, so he can make the character his own. Besides, Tennant has already had more than his fair share of Doctor Who screen time by now.

The One Problem With David Tennant’s Fourteen Doctor Not Returning

It Doesn’t Make A Whole Lot Of Sense

Though it’s definitely for the better that David Tennant won’t be reprising his role as the Fourteenth Doctor for Ncuti’s Gatwa’s run, it does create one notable problem. The idea of the Doctor simply removing himself from all the action and adventure just isn’t very believable. In the world of Doctor Who, alien invasions and other threats to humanity are semi-frequent occurrences. The Fourteenth Doctor, no matter how happily retired he is, would surely struggle to turn a blind eye to people in need, knowing that he could help.

In the likely event a threat is posed to modern-day Earth, the hanging question will always be, “Why didn’t the Fourteenth Doctor help?.” Furthermore, the Doctor has had difficulty taking to the quiet life in some of their previous incarnations. This was shown to be the case in the Eleventh Doctor episode, “The Power of Three”, as well as during the Twelfth Doctor’s stint as a lecturer in season 10. A basic foundation of Doctor Who is that the Doctor can’t help but interfere, making the Fourteenth Doctor’s fate questionable.