Several attendees at the Gallifrey One convention in Los Angeles 19 and 20 February tweeted information from panels in which Doctor Who executive producer Matt Strevens and other panellists were interviewed and answered questions from the audience.
Strevens answered questions about the two upcoming 2022 Doctor Who specials, Legend of the Sea Devils and the Doctor Who BBC centenary special.
Legend of the Sea Devils
Strevens attended the Doctor Who wrap party in what looks like it could be a costume from Legend of the Sea Devils, as seen in one of the photos in casting director Andy Pryor’s Instagram post.
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Matt Strevens revealed that there is more to come regarding “Thasmin” (Thirteen + Yasmin), a continuation of the revelation in Eve of the Daleks that companion Yaz has romantic feelings for the Doctor and the Doctor’s knowledge of those feelings as revealed by companion Dan. He also revealed that entertaining this fan shipping theory was not part of the original plan.
In one of the panels, Mandip Gill revealed that, although Thasmin wasn’t planned, she did feel that it was genuinely portrayed and that conversations were had about making sure it was. However, Gill had no idea that the possible romance was going to be addressed until she became involved in Eve of the Daleks production.
Not discussed at Gallifrey One is the Legend of the Sea Devils transmission date. However, director Haolu Wang’s CV lists it as a 60-minute special airing Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022.
Doctor Who BBC Centenary Special
According to people quoting Matt Strevens at Gallifrey One, showrunner Chris Chibnall has not yet chosen an official title for the Doctor Who BBC Centenary Special, which the panellists refer to as the “regeneration special” because it’s the special where Jodie Whittaker’s thirteenth Doctor regenerates.
A completely packed house for Mandip Gill, Jo Martin, Sacha Dhawan and Matt Strevens tonight at Gallifrey One 2022 (moderated by Matthew Sweet). #gally1 pic.twitter.com/heEGLvnHhy
— Gallifrey One (@gallifreyone) February 20, 2022
Strevens also revealed that the special will likely transmit in October 2022 and Mandip Gill assured at the same convention that a teaser for the centenary special will be shown at the end of Legend of the Sea Devils.
Who will be in the centenary special? Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill, John Bishop and Bradley Walsh were all spotted filming for the special. Will Sacha Dhawan’s Master be in it? That is looking very likely. It is also looking very likely that Jo Martin’s Fugitive Doctor will be in it – though the original tweet from the convention attendee who mentioned it was deleted.
As for what is coming next when Bad Wolf and Russell T Davies take over Doctor Who production with the next Doctor, Strevens says he and Chris Chibnall have no idea who will portray the fourteenth Doctor.
The next episode of Doctor Who, titled Legend of the Sea Devils, will air in Spring of 2022.