Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Special: All You Need to Know
Get ready for an awe-inspiring celebration as Doctor Who marks its 60th anniversary! Discover the latest news, confirmed release date, star-studded cast, thrilling story, and catch a glimpse of the highly-anticipated trailer Brace yourself for an extraordinary Doctor Who experience!
Article Overview
Doctor Who's 60th anniversary specials will feature David Tennant and Catherine Tate reprising their roles, alongside Neil Patrick Harris as The Toymaker.
The 60th anniversary episodes of the BBC will be the inaugural collaboration with Disney, resulting in their release exclusively on Disney+. The episodes will be unveiled on November 25, December 2, and December 9, 2023, while the storyline and complete cast details are being kept confidential.
The upcoming 60th anniversary specials of Doctor Who will feature the return of David Tennant and Catherine Tate, alongside Neil Patrick Harris making his much-anticipated debut in the franchise as The Toymaker. Doctor Who, created by Canadian television impresario Sydney Newman, has held a significant place in UK culture since its premiere in 1963. After a 16-year hiatus and a failed attempt at an American reboot, the show made a triumphant comeback in 2005 and gained worldwide popularity.
2023 marks the show's sixth decade on air, and the excitement surrounding the Doctor Who's 60th anniversary specials is in the air. David Tennant will reprise his role as The Doctor, albeit as the 14th iteration rather than the 10th, while Catherine Tate returns as Donna Noble, both under the direction of the esteemed Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies. The first of the three new episodes is scheduled for release in November 2023, sparking numerous discussions about the highly anticipated Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials.
Most Recent News On The Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials
The latest news regarding the highly anticipated Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials was revealed on October 25, 2023. After a long year of waiting, the release date for the new Doctor Who episodes has finally been announced. This exciting announcement coincided with the unveiling of the first trailer for the 60th anniversary specials.
The three specials, namely The Star Beast on November 25, Wild Blue Yonder on December 2, and The Giggle on December 9, hold immense significance for the show. Not only do they mark the celebration of Doctor Who's 60th year and the return of David Tenant, but they also mark the first collaboration between the BBC and Disney in producing new Doctor Who episodes. As a result, these special episodes will be available exclusively on Disney+ for viewers to enjoy.
The Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials Are Confirmed
The Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials were announced in September 2021. Alongside this announcement came the news that Russell T Davies would be returning to the franchise as showrunner, replacing Chris Chibnall. Joining Davies in this endeavor is the production company Bad Wolf, which was founded by former Doctor Who executive producer Julie Gardner. Bad Wolf is collaborating with the BBC and now Disney to transform Doctor Who into a global brand. This collaboration is expected to bring about a "radical" change for the show, as BBC drama director Piers Wenger has promised. These changes will be evident in the upcoming 60th anniversary specials, which will be helmed by Russell T Davies.
Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Special Release Date
The 60th anniversary of Doctor Who will be marked by the arrival of three new episodes. The release dates for the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special in 2023 are as follows:
Episode 1: "The Star Beast" - November 25, 2023
The Wild Blue Yonder on December 2, 2023
The Giggle on December 9, 2023
The three Doctor Who 60th anniversary episodes will all be arriving on Disney+ in the US at the same time they air on the BBC in the UK.
Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials Cast
The Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials have unveiled some of the cast, but the BBC and Disney surely have more surprises planned for the show's return, considering its tremendous milestone. David Tennant (Good Omens, Jessica Jones) is making a comeback as The Doctor, hinted at during Jodie Whittaker's departure when she regenerated into him.
Tennant has been confirmed not to reprise his role as the 10th Doctor in the cast of the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials. Instead, a new character, the 14th Doctor, has regenerated with the same appearance as the 10th Doctor. The reasons behind this will be revealed during the specials. Ncuti Gatwa, known for Sex Education and Barbie, will also make his debut as the 15th Doctor in the 60th anniversary specials, before Doctor Who season 14.
Returning alongside Tennant is Catherine Tate, known for her roles in The Office and Hard Cell, who will once again play Donna Noble. Donna still has no memory of The Doctor, so it will be intriguing to see how their reunion unfolds. Yasmin Finney, from Heartstopper, will portray Rose Noble, Donna's daughter. It has been hinted that Donna's daughter will embark on new adventures with Donna and The Doctor.
Neil Patrick Harris, known for his roles in "How I Met Your Mother" and "A Series of Unfortunate Events," has generated significant buzz as one of the cast members for the highly anticipated Doctor Who 60th anniversary special. He will be portraying The Toymaker, an iconic villain who hasn't been seen since 1966. But Harris is not the only familiar face returning to the show. Jaqueline King, known for her roles in "55 Degrees North" and "Coronation Street," as well as Karl Collins, from "The Bill" and "Hollyoaks," will be reprising their respective roles as Sylvia Noble and Shaun Temple.
Of course, the ensemble cast for the three 60th anniversary specials of Doctor Who is expected to include many more talented actors. Miriam Margoyles, known for her roles in "Harry Potter" and "The Age of Innocence," has been confirmed to lend her voice to The Meep. Meanwhile, Jemma Redgrave, famous for her appearances in "Howard's End" and "Bramwell," will be returning as UNIT research chief Kate Stewart. However, the complete cast list is likely to be kept under wraps by Disney and the BBC until the release date in order to avoid spoiling any surprises.
Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Story
The plots for the upcoming Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials have yet to be unveiled, but speculation over the storyline remains a hot topic among fans. Of particular interest is the Doctor's second regeneration into David Tennant and the implications this holds for the future of the show and the Doctor Who timeline.
In a statement about the return of David Tennant and Catherine Tate to Doctor Who, Russell T Davies offered tantalizing hints regarding the 60th anniversary storyline. He suggested that it could be a missing story, a glimpse into a parallel world, a dream, a trick, or even a flashback. What he can confirm is that it will be a spectacular event as two of the show's greatest stars reunite for an epic battle.
If the return of the Doctor and Donna is seen as a deception, it could be aligned neatly with the presence of Neil Patrick Harris portraying the trickster god, the Toymaker. Leaked images from the set have also hinted at a reimagining of the beloved Doctor Who comic strip, "Doctor Who and The Star Beast," wherein the Doctor and his companions fall victim to the cunning machinations of an innocent-looking, fluffy white creature that conceals its murderous intentions. This speculation seems to be confirmed by the existence of an episode entitled The Star Beast.
Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Special Trailer
The Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials debuted their first full trailer in September 2023, with the Disney announcement trailer following on October 26, 2023, courtesy of the official Disney+ YouTube channel. Despite its brief duration of 1:00, the latest trailer for the upcoming Doctor Who episodes successfully builds upon the previous month's BBC release, effectively setting the tone for the next season.
Neil Patrick Harris takes center stage, while Donna embarks on a journey to rediscover The Doctor's true identity. But the excitement doesn't end there as the trailer for the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials also reveals the show's new home on Disney+ and the introduction of Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor, setting the stage for the highly anticipated premiere in November 2023.
Editor's P/S
As an enthusiastic fan of Doctor Who, I am incredibly excited about the upcoming 60th anniversary specials. The return of David Tennant and Catherine Tate is a dream come true for many fans, and I can't wait to see them back in action. I'm also intrigued by the casting of Neil Patrick Harris as The Toymaker. He's a talented actor, and I'm sure he'll bring something new and exciting to the role.
The fact that the 60th anniversary specials will be airing on Disney+ is also a big deal. It's a sign that the show is reaching a wider audience than ever before, and I'm excited to see how new fans react to it. I'm also curious to see how the specials will tie into the rest of the Doctor Who universe. Will we see any familiar faces from the past? Will the specials set up any future storylines? I can't wait to find out!
