Billie Piper has pulled out of the Doctor Who Festival just four days before she was due to appear in Sydney.

Doctor Who fans are used the eternally regenerating body of their time-travelling hero as a long succession of actors has manned Tardis over the show’s 50-year history.
But a last-minute change to the line-up of the Doctor Who Festival will see one of the doctor’s most-loved companions replaced by a minor character.

BBC has confirmed that Piper would no longer join current doctor Peter Capaldi at the festival due to open at the Hordern Pavilion in Moore Park on Saturday.
“Unfortunately Billie Piper has had to pull out of the Doctor Who Festival due to filming commitments,” a spokeswoman for the BBC told Fairfax Media.

Ticket holders were notified of Piper’s absence by email on Tuesday.
Piper played Rose Tyler, the doctor’s primary travelling companion in series one and series two of the Show’s revival in 2005 and 2006, as well as guest appearances in subsequent series

She was billed as a “fan favourite” by festival organisers and was scheduled to take part in ‘meet the cast’ Q&A sessions, as well as photograph and autograph opportunities for fans.
“Would never have paid $200 for a ticket for my daughter to go if Billie Piper had not been advertised. It’s only with a star of that power that you can charge $200!” one ticket holder told Fairfax Media.
Fans dress up at the Doctor Who Festival in London.

Fans dress up at the Doctor Who Festival in London. Photo: Facebook
Tickets for the festival, which is open on Saturday and Sunday, range between $195 and $395 for an adult and $99 to $265 for children aged 16 years and under.
“Although we understand visitors to the festival may be disappointed not to see Billie, we have always been clear her appearance was subject to filming commitments,” the BBC spokeswoman said in a statement.
A note at the bottom of the official Doctor Who website advises that the information relating to the Doctor Who Festival, including the cast and activities, is subject to change.

Piper is still listed as a festival cast member on the website, but the spokeswoman said the details would be updated overnight to reflect her absence.
“Our first priority was to notify ticket holders by email,” the spokeswoman said.
Piper will be replaced by actress Ingrid Oliver, who played Osgood, a character that appeared in four episodes of the BBC series between 2013 and 2015, according to IMDB.

Oliver most recently appeared in The Zygon Inversion, a two-part storyline, which aired on the ABC on November 7 and 14.We are pleased to announce that Ingrid Oliver will now be attending the Doctor Who Festival in Sydney,” the spokeswoman said in a statement.
“This a great addition to a stellar line up, including current Doctor Peter Capaldi, Steven Moffat, Sylvester McCoy, Mark Gatiss, Strax actor Dan Starkey and a host of behind-the scenes workshops and activities to ensure a brilliant day out,” the statement read.

The festival also features special effects displays and interactives, cosplay (fans playing characters), and a ‘meet the monsters’ experience.