Doctor Who: “David Tennant was simply born to play the Doctor!”

Showrunner of the cult English series between 2018 and 2022, Chris Chibnall has just handed over the baton. He will watch as a simple spectator the special 2023 episodes, with the return of David Tennant, while waiting for Ncuti Gatwa to take power.

It’s time for the doctor to return! After the end of the era Jodie Whittaker, Doctor Who returns this weekend in the guise of David Tennant, on the occasion of a special trilogy, for the 60th anniversary of the series, to be seen in France on Disney Plus! This November 25, we will discover “The Star Beast”, first episode of this trilogy, followed by “Wild Blue Yonder” on Saturday December 2 and “The Giggle” on Saturday December 9. Russell T. Davies is now in charge, after taking back the TARDIS from the hands of Chris Chibnall. Showrunner between 2018 and 2022, Chibnall was a juror at the Séries Mania festival last spring. Première had the opportunity to chat with the English author, to talk about his years Doctor Whobut also the comeback of David Tennant and in sight, the exciting arrival of Ncuti Gatwa in the shoes of the doctor, from 2024.

One year after you left Doctor Whowhat do you want people to remember from your time in the TARDIS?
Chris Chibnall : The casting of Jodie Whittaker. The first woman to play the Doctor. It was really important to me. Afterwards, there is everything else: the stories we wrote during these three seasons, the pleasure we had every day on the set. Because it’s still fun to be showrunner of Doctor Who. But above all I will remain as the one who cast the first Doctor Who feminine.

How has the transition been with Russell T. Davies, who took over the reins this year?
We had some discussions, obviously, about how he saw things going forward. But hey, Russell was already there before me (he was showrunner from seasons 1 to 4 in the early 2000s), so I think it was the easiest transition in the history of Doctor Who! I didn’t need to brief him. Just, I told her the last stories we were going to tell with Jodie, what a perilous situation I was going to leave her in. He was surprised (laughs). And that’s about it. I asked him not to tell me anything about what he had planned, because I don’t want to spoil myself! I become an ordinary spectator again Doctor Who starting this November and it’s perfect!

Who had the idea to bring back David Tennant before Ncuti Gatwa?
It’s Russell (T. Davies). Everything that happens after Jodie leaves is Russell’s doing. As soon as we regenerate the Doctor, it’s over for me. The baton has been passed. But I think bringing David back was a brilliant idea. He was one of the best Doctors, so who better to celebrate the series’ 60th anniversary?

Why do you think David Tennant is a fan favorite Doctor?
That’s a good question… (he hesitates) I don’t really know. I myself worked with David (on Broadchurch). He has this incredible energy. A particular dynamism. A sense of humor also hits the mark. And then he loves the Doctor. So he puts every ounce of who he is into the character. He embodies all his contradictions in a certain way. Afterwards, there is the magic of an actor who stumbles upon the perfect role for him. David was just born to play the Doctor!

Why is Ncuti Gatwa the perfect choice to succeed Jodie Whittaker and David Tennant?
As soon as it was said that Ncuti Gatwa was going to be the next Doctor, everyone said: yes, of course! Except no one really suggested his name until he was cast! This is the genius of the casting director Doctor Who, Andy Pryor, and Russell T. Davies, who chose it. Ncuti really has this human warmth going for him, in addition to this humor that he infuses into his characters. He will also be the first Doctor to become known thanks to Netflix, which is not insignificant. Unlike previous British actors, he already has an international aura, and that is very important for developing the series.

And he is younger than the previous doctors, he has just Sex Education… The idea is also to bring a new generation of fans to Doctor Who ?
Without a doubt ! This is something very important. We must continue to renew the audience of Doctor Whoespecially as part of the new deal with Disney Plus (which will now broadcast the series in France and the United States).

Were you consulted for the choice of Jodie Whittaker’s successor?
No no ! No way ! When you are showrunner of Doctor Who, you do your time. Once your era is over, you hand over and it’s over.

You believe that Doctor Who will it ever end?
As long as there are great actors to play the Doctor, great writers to write the series… Technically, this could be the series that never ends!