Doctor Who's 60th Anniversary Extravaganza: Dates, Previews, Actors & Beyond

As we approach the fast-approaching 60th anniversary of Doctor Who, fans can anticipate a series of special episodes during the latter part of 2023. This article provides an overview of what we currently know about the anniversary specials, highlighting release dates, trailers, and the cast members involved.

As 2023 rolls around, Doctor Who will further solidify its status as the longest-running Sci-Fi show in history, making the forthcoming 60th anniversary celebration even more momentous.

The festivities will be led by three exceptional hour-long episodes penned by the returning showrunner Russell T. Davies, who will continue to steer the ship for Season 14 and beyond. Beloved by fans, David Tennant and Catherine Tate will once again portray The Doctor and Donna Noble.

Below is the comprehensive information we currently possess regarding the specials, featuring official trailers and confirmed cast members.

BBC / Doctor WhoDavid Tennant will reprise his role as The Doctor for the show’s 60th anniversary.

Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials release dates

The three special episodes for Doctor Who's 60th anniversary will be broadcast weekly, reclaiming the prime-time Saturday night slot on UK television, and also making its debut on the popular streaming platform Disney Plus.

The scheduled air dates for each special episode are as follows:

The Star Beast – November 25, 2023.

Wild Blue Yonder – December 2, 2023.

The Giggle – December 9, 2023.

Alongside the release date announcements, some new promotional posters were shared across the show’s official social media accounts.

Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials trailers

A fresh version of the 60th-anniversary trailer was released on the official Disney Plus YouTube channel on October 25, 2023. This updated trailer includes a few exclusive shots that were not shown in the previous trailers. Additionally, there is a distinctive scene where the TARDIS is seen soaring above the renowned Disney logo.

Watch the Disney+ trailer below:

BBC released a two-minute trailer on September 23, 2023, showcasing Neil Patrick Harris in the role of the Celestial Toymaker villain. The trailer also includes Jemma Redgrave returning as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart.

You can watch the trailer below:

On May 13th, 2023, a live broadcast of the 60th anniversary saw the premiere of a fresh trailer on BBC1, subsequently shared on Doctor Who's various social media platforms. Within the concise 35-second clip, viewers were treated to glimpses of never-before-seen footage from the upcoming specials, along with the long-anticipated unveiling of the episode titles. One such title revealed was "The Star Beast."

Wild Blue Yonder

The Giggle

The Star Beast is a clear nod to the comic story 'Doctor Who and the Star Beast', which introduced the character Beep the Meep, who will have significant involvement in the specials. The remaining titles are still unknown, but fans will undoubtedly speculate about them in the coming months. Watch the trailer below:

Doctor Who’s Season 13 finale, ‘The Power of the Doctor’, confirmed David Tennant’s return in its final scene and was immediately followed by a short 2023 teaser.

A full teaser featuring the Fourteenth Doctor, Donna, and Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor was released on YouTube on December 25, 2022. Watch the teaser below.

Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials cast

The following cast members have been confirmed to appear in the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials:

David Tennant as The Fourteenth Doctor

Catherine Tate as Donna Temple-Noble

Bernard Cribbins as Wilfred Mott

Yasmin Finney as Rose Temple-Noble

Jacqueline King as Sylvia Noble

Karl Collins as Shaun Temple

Ruth Madeley as Shirley Anne Bingham

Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker

Miriam Margolyes as Beep the Meep

Ncuti Gatwa as The Fifteenth Doctor

Ronak Patani as Major Singh

Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart

Doctor Who 60th anniversary plot details

While plot particulars for the special episodes are understandably being kept secret, it is confirmed that The Doctor and Donna will reunite, and Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor will play a role before assuming the lead in Season 14.

One small detail the teaser did reveal was the first on-screen appearance of Beep the Meep – a beloved alien character who made his debut in the Doctor Who comics during the 1980s.

Beep the Meep is an adorable yet hazardous creature.

In the recent Doctor Who Magazine issue 589, it was announced that an additional classic monster will make an appearance in the upcoming specials. The Wrath Warriors, an insectoid police force who first appeared with Beep in the 1980s Doctor Who comic story 'Doctor Who and the Star Beast', will have a role in the forthcoming episodes. When questioned about the monsters, Rachel Talalay, the director of the anniversary episode, described them as "eight-foot-tall monsters on stilts, wearing enormous plastic suits, with extremely limited visibility and stability... truly embodying the essence of a classic Doctor Who scenario."

BBC / Doctor WhoIn regards to the classic creatures on set, she mentioned how David Tennant's excitement was evident. She revealed, "When David comes along and expresses his desire to have a photograph with them. And he exclaims, 'That smell - that slightly rubbery smell is exactly everything I remember!' And I couldn't help but think, 'It's incredible that this is my profession.'" According to the directors of the 60th specials, The Doctor will showcase a fresh TARDIS design in the anniversary episodes.

The brand new TARDIS set in the specials has also been a topic of discussion among the three directors featured in issue 589 of Doctor Who Magazine. Commenting on its scale, Chanya Button described it as "enormous" and "absolutely beautiful". She further likened it to a church in terms of size, while highlighting its ability to transport viewers to larger, wider worlds.

Tom Kingsley praised the meticulous attention to detail displayed in the latest version of The Doctor's iconic blue box, emphasizing the tremendous effort and thought put into it. He added that no matter where the camera is pointed, the box looks stunning.

Rachel Talalay discussed the extensive time it took to construct the set, sharing that she was present for the four-month-long construction process. She revealed that she and the director of photography had numerous discussions on how to properly light specific features such as the wall roundels. Despite her initial doubts, Talalay expressed her amazement when they were finally able to shoot on the set during the last few days of her contract.

60th anniversary soundtrack

Composer Murray Gold has been confirmed to make a comeback to Doctor Who on April 24, 2023. He will be partnering with the National Orchestra of Wales for the three 60-anniversary episodes. Additionally, Gold will be responsible for creating the soundtrack for Ncuti Gatwa's journey through time in Season 14 while aboard the TARDIS.

"Gold's involvement with Doctor Who started in 2004 during the series' revival and lasted for more than twelve years. He composed the compelling soundtracks for all the episodes featuring Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, and Peter Capaldi as the Doctor, before leaving in 2017."

During his first time as the composer for Doctor Who, Gold successfully breathed new life into the timeless theme song and created memorable character themes and scores. Some beloved songs from his tenure include 'I Am The Doctor', 'Doomsday', and 'Rose's Theme'.

Upon his return to Doctor Who, Gold expressed his sheer delight at being invited back for another exciting journey in the TARDIS. He didn't hesitate for a moment and considers working with Russell and his team an absolute joy.

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