Inside the issue Radio Times speaks with David Tennant, Russell T Davies, Bonnie Langford, Millie Gibson and Tom Baker, plus many more to celebrate this TV landmark.
On sale Tuesday 21 November 2023.
BBC Books has released cover artwork for its Doctor Who Target range with three new 60th anniversary titles available January 2024
The collection are novelisations of the three 2023 Doctor Who specials, which will feature David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor and Catherine Tate as Donna Noble. Each episode’s novelisation will also be available as an eBook.
Each book, The Star Beast by Gary Russell, Wild Blue Yonder by Mark Morris, and The Giggle by James Goss has specially commissioned cover artwork by Anthony Dry.
Fans have been given a new look at David Tennant’s slightly updated Doctor Who costume ahead of his return for the 60th anniversary next month in a new image, which is an online exclusive originally published in Radio Times magazine.
As Whovians will know, Tennant is playing a slightly different incarnation of the Doctor than the one he made popular in his first stint leading the cast of the sci-fi series, and his costume has been subtly altered accordingly.
For example, the bespoke Shetland tweed coat he is sporting is slightly narrower and more tailored than the Alcantara coat he previously wore, while his suit – which is made from a brown, blue, and white checked material – includes a waistcoat and not a full jacket.
Meanwhile, this time around he is wearing a stylish knitted grey tie and his trademark converse trainers are slightly more muted in colour – grey as opposed to cream and red.
As well as this slightly different costume, Tennant will also be equipped with a new sonic screwdriver and a new TARDIS – so although he might be a familiar face, it’s certainly not the same Doctor.
Tennant’s costume for the 60th anniversary had already made headlines when he briefly appeared following Jodie Whittaker’s regeneration at the end of last year’s special The Power of the Doctor.
Whereas normally a new Doctor is seen wearing the previous incarnation’s outfit immediately after regenerating, Tennant emerged already wearing his own costume, which raised a few eyebrows at the time.
At the time, returning showrunner Russell T Davies revealed that he was “absolutely certain that the clothes would regenerate” with Tennant’s return.
Speaking to Doctor Who Magazine, he said:
“I was very certain that I didn’t want David to appear in Jodie’s costume. I think the notion of men dressing in ‘women’s clothes’, the notion of drag, is very delicate. I’m a huge fan of that culture and the dignity of that, it’s truly a valuable thing.
“But it has to be done with immense thought and respect. With respect to Jodie and her Doctor, I think it can look like mockery when a straight man wears her clothes. To put a great big six-foot Scotsman into them looks like we’re taking the mickey.”
Following the Fourteenth Doctor’s TV specials to celebrate Doctor Who’s 60th Anniversary, all three episodes will be available for Doctor Who fans to add to their home entertainment collection in December 2023.
The three-disc release, which includes exclusive additional content, will be available for fans to own on Steelbook, Blu-ray and DVD from 11th December with pre-orders available today.
As well as David Tennant starring as the Fourteenth Doctor and companion Catherine Tate returning as fan-favourite Donna Noble, other guest stars include Neil Patrick Harris, Yasmin Finney, Miriam Margoyles, Jemma Redgrave and many more.
The release will feature all three anniversary special episodes: THE STAR BEAST, WILD BLUE YONDER and THE GIGGLE.
Fans can pre-order the 60th anniversary DVD, Steelbook and Blu-ray through most online retailers.
Just as viewers were about to enter the ballroom for the first live show of Strictly Come Dancing 2023, they were transported to the TARDIS with an exclusive new trailer revealing more of what’s to come when Doctor Who returns this November.
“If destiny exists, then it is heading for Donna Noble…”
Partners in crime once more! – Destiny isn’t done with the Doctor and Donna just yet…
The brand new trailer features Neil Patrick Harris waltzing onto the scene, as it is now revealed that he will play the Toymaker, all-powerful enemy last seen in 1966 – but what is it that brings the Doctor face-to-face with this enemy from his past?
Partners in crime once more!
Don't miss the reunion of the Doctor and Donna this year for #DoctorWho's 60th anniversary specials. #DoctorWho returns this November to @BBCiPlayer in the UK and @DisneyPlus in the rest of the world. pic.twitter.com/WwteOLs0XN
— Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) September 23, 2023
Also shown, UNIT is back with a bang! Jemma Redgrave reprises her iconic role as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart alongside David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor.
“What can we do, Doctor?” UNIT is back with a bang!
Russell T Davies, Showrunner says:
“This is just the start, as the fever starts to burn. We’re heading for a November full of Doctor Who surprises, for fans and new viewers alike. Stay alert!”
Doctor Who returns in November 2023 with three special episodes with David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor to coincide with the 60th anniversary. Ncuti Gatwa’s first episode as the Fifteenth Doctor will air over the festive period.
Soon after Yasmin Finney was cast as a new character named Rose in the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials, many fans speculated that she would be playing the daughter of returning companion Donna Noble.
Welcome to the #DoctorWho family, Rose Noble
Wishing a very happy birthday to Yasmin Finney, whose character Rose is the daughter of companion Donna Noble (played by Catherine Tate) and Shaun Temple (Karl Collins). pic.twitter.com/z9op4tpc8s
— Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) August 30, 2023
Those theories were only bolstered by pictures and footage showing Donna and Rose together, and now they have been confirmed, with Finney’s character officially being named as Rose Noble.
In a post on Twitter, which has recently been rebranded to X, the official Doctor Who account celebrated Finney’s birthday by confirming that her character, Rose, is the daughter of Catherine Tate’s companion and Shaun Temple, played by Karl Collins.
The account also teased in a subsequent post: “So the question is, what happens when Rose meets one of her mum’s oldest friends?
“It is a mystery for now, but what we do know is that just like her mother, Rose stumbles across something alien – and from that point her seemingly ordinary family is never quite the same…”
While Donna is only expected to appear in the show’s three 60th anniversary specials later this year, it appears that Finney’s Rose may be going on to star in next year’s season 14, alongside Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor.
First, Finney confirmed in an interview that she would be sharing the screen with Gatwa.
Then, returning showrunner Russell T Davies wrote in Doctor Who Magazine that Finney had wrapped only “a few days ago” as season 14’s production came to a close.
Also starring alongside Finney, Tate and David Tennant in the 60th anniversary specials will be Neil Patrick Harris as a villain and Ruth Madeley, who will be playing a character called Shirley Anne Bingham.
Madeley recently said of her character: “You’re gonna love Shirley, you’re gonna love the episodes, or episode, who knows.
“All I will say is, whatever questions you have, my answer will be, ‘Guess.'”
The titles are just the beginning of the Doctor’s biggest adventure yet. Autumn is coming, with three hours of danger, Donna and disaster about to be unleashed!
