Exploring the Role of Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler in Doctor Who: Unveiling the Layers

The third and final Doctor Who 60th anniversary special, "The Giggle," has arrived. Will it bring together David Tennant's Doctor and Billie Piper's Rose Tyler?

Piper first portrayed Rose in Series 1 of the 2005 revival of Doctor Who, starring alongside Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor. After Eccleston's departure, Piper continued her role in another set of episodes, this time with Tennant as the Tenth Doctor.

The English actor reprised the role of Rose for guest appearances in Series 4 and made a cameo in Tennant's final special, "The End of Time (Part 2)." In addition, Piper had a substantial supporting role in 2013's 50th anniversary special, "The Day of the Doctor."

Is Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler in Doctor Who: The Giggle?

No, Billie Piper does not make a cameo appearance as Rose Tyler in “The Giggle.” She is mentioned by the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa), albeit briefly. Apart from that, the special noticeably lacks references to Rose in comparison to the Doctor’s other companions.

Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) continues to have an important role, and classic Doctor Who companion Mel Bush (Bonnie Langford) is also back. Even the late Bernard Cribbins’ Wilfred Mott, who appeared in “The End of Time” alongside the Doctor, gets more screen time than Rose, through the use of a body double and archival audio.

Piper’s Rose also doesn’t appear during the Toymaker’s (Neil Patrick Harris) sinister puppet show. Here, the flamboyant villain recaps the final fates of past companions Amy Pond, Clara Oswald, and Bill Potts, but there’s no mention of Rose's story.

The Doctor Who Christmas special introduces a new companion

For Piper’s fans, there is some consolation in knowing that Karen Gillan, Jenna Coleman, and Pearl Mackie do not make appearances as Amy, Clara, and Bill, respectively. Moreover, none of the companions from Jodie Whittaker’s recent time in the TARDIS are referenced either.

Rose and Piper's partnership will continue beyond the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who. In the upcoming Christmas special, "The Church on Ruby Road," the Fifteenth Doctor will embark on a new adventure with a new companion, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson). According to the BBC's official synopsis, Ruby was abandoned as a baby on Christmas Eve and now lives with her mother, Carla, and her grandmother, Cherry, before crossing paths with the Doctor.

Stream Doctor Who: The Giggle on BBC iPlayer (UK & Ireland) or Disney+ (everywhere else) today. Stay updated on the latest Doctor Who news and updates by visiting Dexerto's comprehensive coverage here.

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Editor's P/S

As a passionate fan of Doctor Who, I was eagerly anticipating the 60th-anniversary special, "The Giggle," hoping to see the return of Billie Piper's beloved character, Rose Tyler. However, I was disappointed to learn that Rose does not make a cameo appearance in the special, despite the speculation and rumors surrounding her potential return. While it was great to see the return of other beloved companions like Donna Noble and Mel Bush, the lack of any substantial references to Rose felt like a missed opportunity.

Rose Tyler was a pivotal character in the revival of Doctor Who, and her chemistry with David Tennant's Tenth Doctor was electric. Their partnership was one of the most iconic in the show's history, and fans have been clamoring for their reunion ever since Tennant's return was announced. The fact that Rose is barely mentioned in "The Giggle" feels like a disservice to her character and her impact on the series.