The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot

‘The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot’ Doctor Who sequel plans scrapped

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In an interview with Radio Times, Peter Davison revealed that his plans to create a follow-up to his hit 2013 sketch, The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot, for this year’s 60th anniversary of Doctor Who have been scrapped.

“I came up with an idea. It was deemed, by those I showed it to, as utterly unacceptable, although I thought it was very funny! It’s a different world now. And I am always – I wouldn’t say – pushing the boundaries. My sense of humour is maybe a little out of sync with the sense of humour that now exists…”

“So, in the end, it became very clear to me that there were too many compromises I’d be asked to make in the making of it and I thought it just best to leave it alone – because the original was perfect!”

The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot was created as part of the 50th Anniversary celebration of Doctor Who and penned by fifth Doctor actor Peter Davison who starred in the 2013 skit along with fellow Doctor actors Sylvester McCoy, Colin Baker, and Paul McGann. It also featured appearances from more recent stars of the show David Tennant, Matt Smith, Jenna Coleman, and John Barrowman, as well as Doctor Who executive producers Steven Moffat, and Russell T Davies.

In a 2020 interview with Den of Geek, Colin Baker stated that he and three of his fellow Doctor actors, Peter Davison, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann were willing to participate in a sequel of the 2013 comedy spoof.

“⋯I’ve spoken to Peter, Paul and Sylvester about it, and they’re all up for it. If it happened, we’d do it.”

Despite their enthusiasm for a sequel, Doctor Who fans are left to enjoy the original comedy skit as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations in November 2023.

Doctor Who will return in November 2023 with three 60th anniversary specials starring David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor and Catherine Tate as companion Donna Noble. In the following festive period, Ncuti Gatwa will star in his first full Doctor Who episode as the Fifteenth Doctor. A new Doctor Who series starring Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson will debut in 2024.