The new season of BBC America’s “Doctor Who” premieres tonight, Saturday March 30, but the long-running science fiction show is also celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year and BBC America announced a couple very special guests will be returning to help celebrate: David Tennant, the previous (tenth) Doctor Who and his companion Rose Tyler, played by Billie Piper.
They will be returning to join the current Doctor and his companion, played by Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman, for the special 50th Anniversary show, along with Oscar-nominated actor John Hurt.
It’s been over three years since Tennant appeared as the Doctor, a role he played for three seasons of the popular show, and this will be the first time he’s portrayed the Tenth Doctor since then. Piper appeared on Tennant’s first two seasons and returned for his final episode in 2010.
The 50th Anniversary show written by Steven Moffat and directed by Nick Hurran will start filming in the UK this week.
Below is BBC America’s official announcement:
David Tennant and Billie Piper to return for blockbuster celebrations with John Hurt also confirmed
Ahead of tonights premiere, Doctor Who revealed some of the all-star cast that will mark the 50th anniversary. David Tennant and Billie Piper will join current Doctor and companion, Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman, while John Hurt (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Alien, Harry Potter) will also co-star.
Last seen as the Doctor on January 1, 2010, this will be the first time Tennant has reprised his role as the Tenth Doctor. During his reign as the Time Lord, Tennant appeared in three series as well as several specials. He was first revealed as the Doctor in the 2005 series finale, The Parting of the Ways.
Meanwhile Billie Piper, who played companion Rose Tyler for two series following the reboot in 2005, will appear in the show for the first time since featuring in Tennants last episode, The End of Time in 2010.
Also confirmed to join the cast is John Hurt who will also co-star in the anniversary special that will form part of blockbuster celebrations. Produced by BBC Cymru Wales for BBC One, the 50th anniversary will be written by Steven Moffat and Directed by Nick Hurran.
Filming for the 50th anniversary begins this week in the UK. Meanwhile, Doctor Who returns to BBC America tonight, March 30, 8:00pm ET/PT with eight epic episodes, which officially introduces the Doctors newest companion, Clara Oswald, played by Jenna-Louise Coleman. Doctor Who will be immediately followed by the world-premiere of new original series Orphan Black at 9:00pm ET/PT and Chris Hardwicks The Nerdist at 10:00pm ET/PT as part of BBC Americas Supernatural Saturday.
All-new special, Doctor Who: The Companions, premieres Sunday, March 31, 7:00pm ET/PT. As the Doctors newest companion, Clara Oswald, steps into the TARDIS, take a look back at previous companions that have won over the Doctors heart in Doctor Who: The Companions. Along the way, companions old and new talk about how the show has changed their lives, and how they’ve never quite managed to leave the TARDIS behind. Matt Smith and David Tennant are joined by fellow contributors including John Barrowman (Captain Jack), Arthur Darvill (Rory) and Noel Clarke (Mickey).
Additionally, David Tennants two-part special Spies of Warsaw premieres on Wednesday, April 3, 9:00pm ET as part of BBC AMERICAs Dramaville programming block. Adapted by renowned Emmy®-winning writing team Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais (Across the Universe, Tracey Takes On ) and executive produced by Richard Fell (Outcasts), Spies of Warsaw is based on The New York Times Bestselling author Alan Fursts acclaimed novel. David Tennant and Janet Montgomery (Made in Jersey, Black Swan, Entourage) star in the thrilling spy story set in Poland, Paris and London in the years leading up to the Second World War.
