Doctor Who: The Giggling Gaffe Excludes an Iconic Foe
Unveiling the secrets of Doctor Who's highly anticipated 60th anniversary special, 'The Giggle' Discover the startling revelation of a scrapped dialogue that would have left fans thrilled, as it hinted at the long-awaited appearance of a beloved nemesis Is the Rani set to make a comeback in the upcoming 2023 Christmas special?
The final Doctor Who 60th anniversary special, ‘The Giggle’, was supposed to include a reference to a classic villain in a scrapped dialogue.
The main antagonist of the special, the Toymaker (played by Neil Patrick Harris), is an old adversary of the Doctor. A nearly all-powerful and immortal villain, he originally appeared in the 1966 serial ‘The Celestial Toymaker’.
'The Giggle' also foreshadows the return of the Doctor's archenemy, the Master. Although the renegade Time Lord is still imprisoned within the Toymaker's gold tooth at the end of the special, the ominous laughter suggests a looming comeback. Additionally, the universe-threatening Flux is referenced in the final Doctor Who 60th anniversary special, while a mention of another villain was ultimately excluded from the script.
Doctor Who: The Giggle cut a reference to a major villain
As revealed in Doctor Who Magazine (per Radio Times), ‘The Giggle’ originally included a reference to fan-favorite rogue the Rani.
#DoctorWho cut reference to the Rani from David Tennant regeneration https://t.co/JeJGdtd3rG pic.twitter.com/C1tAIn6p7R
— Radio Times (@RadioTimes) January 4, 2024
In the original script, the Doctor's former companion, Mel Bush (Bonnie Langford), was supposed to mention the antagonist by name during the special's regeneration scene. Mel explains why she has never seen the Doctor regenerate before and blames the Rani for it.
"Well, the TARDIS was attacked by the Rani, who was this evil Time Lady, although not evil, more like amoral," Mel recaps the start of 1987's 'Time and the Rani'. "And she dragged the TARDIS down to this planet called Lakertya-." The Doctor then interrupts before Mel can finish her story.
Is the Rani in the 2023 Doctor Who Christmas special?
The character Rani was first introduced in 1985 and is from the Doctor’s home planet, Gallifrey. Portrayed by the late Kate O’Mara, she is a brilliant biochemist who is dedicated to her research, willing to go to any lengths to achieve her goals. Despite persistent calls for her return, the Rani’s last live-action appearance in the canonical series was in ‘Time and the Rani’.
Some Doctor Who fans believe that she has already appeared, albeit in disguise. This is just one of many theories surrounding the mysterious Mrs. Flood, who made her debut in the 2023 Christmas special. In a recent interview, showrunner Russell T Davies and Mrs. Flood actor Anita Dobson neither confirmed nor denied the character's rumored Rani connection. However, Davies did promise that fans of the show would soon learn more about Mrs. Flood.
"Mrs. Flood is quite the enigma," he hinted. "You'll uncover more about her in due time. She's a slow reveal, Mrs. Flood. Who is she? Stay tuned to find out!"
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Editor's P/S
As a hard fan of Doctor Who, I am thrilled to hear about the upcoming 60th-anniversary special, "The Giggle." The revelation that a reference to the Rani, a beloved nemesis of the Doctor, was scrapped from the script is both exciting and disappointing. On the one hand, it would have been fantastic to see the Rani make a comeback, especially considering the persistent calls from fans for her return. Kate O'Mara's portrayal of the brilliant and amoral biochemist was truly memorable, and her last live-action appearance in "Time and the Rani" left us wanting more.
On the other hand, the exclusion of the Rani from "The Giggle" leaves room for speculation and anticipation. The mysterious Mrs. Flood, introduced in the 2023 Christmas special, has sparked theories among fans that she may be the Rani in disguise. Showrunner Russell T Davies' cryptic hints about Mrs. Flood's true identity only add to the intrigue. While it would be a clever twist to reveal Mrs. Flood as the Rani, I can't help but feel a sense of longing for a more direct and explicit return of the character. Nevertheless, I trust in Davies' vision for the show and eagerly await the unraveling of Mrs. Flood's enigmatic persona.
