‘Doctor Who’ Specials Landing on Disney+ Next Month

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Preview

Long-running science fiction series ‘Doctor Who’ comes to Disney+ next month.
David Tennant returns for his second set of episodes as the character.
Ncuti Gatwa will inherit the role from Tennant after three new special episodes.

Once the purview of either late night PBS broadcasts and BBC America airings in the States, UK science fiction series ‘Doctor Who’ took a big leap forward last year when Disney Branded Television hatched a deal with rights owners the BBC to boost the series’ budget considerably in return for the exclusive rights to show it outside of Britain and Ireland.

And with the show’s 60th anniversary coming up (the show has aired, off and on, since 1963), returning show-runner Russell T. Davies –– who helped re-launch the series in 2005 and oversaw it until 2008 –– has crafted three big special episodes to celebrate.

Both the BBC and Disney have been keeping quiet about when the specials will air, but the news has finally arrived via a new trailer, which reveals air dates of November 25th, December 2nd and December 9th (three consecutive Saturdays, for those keeping track).

‘Doctor Who’ explained

David Tennant as The Doctor on ‘Doctor Who.’ Photo: Disney+.

If the title has you furrowing your brow and exclaiming, “Doctor What?”, allow us to offer brief enlightenment.

While it has been primarily a British series, ‘Doctor Who’ has scored a following in the States and elsewhere in the world thanks to its compelling blend of science fiction, history and adventure.

The show follows the adventures of an alien Time Lord known as “The Doctor” who is able to regenerate (he –– and in his most recent incarnation, she –– has been played by 13 actors so far).

The Doctor and companions journey through time and space in the TARDIS; a time-travelling ship disguised as an old-fashioned British police box, saving the universe with a combination of wit, bravery and kindness.

Orbiting around them is the wider Whoniverse –– infinite galaxies and countless civilizations filled with incredible friends and dangerous foes.

Debuting in November 1963, it ran until 1989 when it was effectively cancelled by the BBC. It returned in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston as the ninth incarnation of The Doctor, who was followed by David Tennant as the 10th.

Several other actors, including ‘The Crown’s Matt Smith have tackled the role since then, and in 2022, Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor regenerated into a new 14th Doctor once more played by Tennant (Davies has said that this is a version of the character who will somehow share the face and personality of the 10th).

The three specials are titled ‘The Star Beast’, ‘Wild Blue Yonder’ and The Giggle, and see The Doctor reunite with old companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate), even though he wiped Donna’s memory to protect her when they parted the last time.

They’ll be up against a new incarnation of an old villain called The Toymaker, here played by Neil Patrick Harris.

Who else is in the ‘Doctor Who’ special episodes?

Neil Patrick Harris in ‘Doctor Who.’ Photo: Disney+.

Additional new cast for the specials includes Yasmin Finney as Rose Temple-Noble, Miriam Margolyes as the voice of a small furry alien known as the Meep and Ruth Madeley as Shirley Anne Bingham.

Returning performers are Jacqueline King as Sylvia Noble, Karl Collins as Shaun Temple, and Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart.

What’s the future for ‘Doctor Who’?

David Tennant as The Doctor and Catherine Tate as Donna Noble on ‘Doctor Who.’ Photo: Disney+.

Following the specials, the mantle of the main character will be inherited by ‘Sex Education’s Ncuti Gatwa, who star alongside a new companion called Ruby (Millie Gibson).

Quite what Gatwa’s 15th official Doctor (you can briefly glimpse him at the end of this new trailer) will be up to is a mystery for now, but he’s expected to debut at some point during the holiday season, setting up a new run of episodes next year.