The final part of the Doctor Who Season Two finale The Reality War held many surprises.

Before you read further, this is a SPOILER warning for the ending of The Reality War, if you haven’t yet watched the episode.

The episode ended with Ncuti Gatwa’s final scenes as the Doctor as he steps down from the role.

His portrayal of the Doctor won Gatwa a Best Actor award at the BAFTA Cymru Awards in 2024, as well as nominations for a BAFTA Scotland Audience Award for Favourite Scot on Screen, and Best Actor in a Drama Series at The Critics Choice Television Awards in the US in 2025.

Ncuti Gatwa was announced as the Doctor on 8 May 2022. His Fifteenth Doctor made his first appearance in the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special The Giggle, as he bi-generated from David Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor.

Speaking of his decision to leave, Gatwa said, “You know when you get cast, at some point you are going to have to hand back that sonic screwdriver and it is all going to come to an end, but nothing quite prepares you for it. This journey has been one that I will never forget, and a role that will be part of me forever. There are no words to describe what it feels like to be cast as the Doctor, nor are there words to explain what it feels like to be accepted into this iconic role that has existed for over 60 years and is truly loved by so many across the globe.”

“The fans are truly the final character and beating heart of this show and I can’t thank the Whoniverse, and the Whovians, enough for welcoming me in, and making this such a touching experience. I’ve loved every minute of it, but now is the time to hand over the keys to that beloved blue box and let someone else take control and enjoy it every bit as much as I have. I’ll truly miss it, and forever be grateful to it, and everyone that has played a part in my journey as the Doctor.”

Speaking of Gatwa’s departure, showrunner Russell T Davies said, “What a Doctor! Thank you, Ncuti! As his final words say, this has been an absolute joy, and the team in Cardiff and everyone who has worked on this show for the past few years, are so lucky to have been part of Ncuti’s great adventure as he shoots off to stratospheric new heights.”

As the Fifteenth Doctor prepared to use his regeneration energy to save the life of his companion’s daughter, his previous incarnation, Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor, took a brief break from her adventures to help guide him.

Then his blaze of regeneration energy went out into the universe and changed it to a reality where the young life he was trying to save was restored.

No bi-generation this time. As the Doctor regenerated, he changed shape into none other than the form of Billie Piper!

Piper first appeared in the Whoniverse when Doctor Who returned to screens in 2005, as Rose Tyler, the much-loved companion to the Doctor played by Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant. But just how and why she is back remains to be seen…

Speaking of the surprise twist, Russell T Davies said, “Billie once changed the whole of television, back in 2005, and now she’s done it again! It’s an honour and a hoot to welcome her back to the TARDIS, but quite how and why and who is a story yet to be told. After 62 years, the Doctor’s adventures are only just beginning!”

Speaking of her return, Piper said, “It’s no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return to the Whoniverse as I have some of my best memories there, so to be given the opportunity to step back on that TARDIS one more time was just something I couldn’t refuse, but who, how, why and when, you’ll just have to wait and see.”

And it will be a longer wait than fans had hoped because the BBC has not yet commissioned more Doctor Who.

Based on the amount of time it takes to prep, film and post-produce a full series of Doctor Who, the earliest fans could reasonably expect Doctor Who to return is perhaps one special at the end of 2026 and then a full series in 2027.

There is no word on how a future Doctor Who series will transmit or what production company the BBC will chose to produce it as the current contract with Disney and current production agreement with Bad Wolf end with the Doctor Who spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea, reported to transmit later this year.