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Doctor Who: Billie Piper back, and more casting news

Simon Brew


Our round up of what’s going on with the end of year Doctor Who special, as David Tennant prepares to bid farewell to the role…

Published on May 20, 2009

THERE'S A SPOILER AHEAD ABOUT THAT EXTRA BIT OF CASTING NEWS. DON'T READ ON IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ IT.

Is it time to call enough already? The last time we saw Billie Piper in Doctor Who, she was being left on Bad Wolf Bay with another copy of the Doctor, so she'd stop having to try and pop up in the main show. I liked the character of Rose Tyler, but even I'm beginning to tire of the ways in which she continues to be shoehorned back into the show.

For it's now been revealed that Billie Piper is the latest name to be added to the roster for David Tennant's final two episodes, which are currently going before the cameras. Due to be broadcast on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, it'll be an end of an era, as this marks not only Tennant's exit from the show, but also Russell T Davies', too. Piper has been spotted, and it was widely reported in the papers over the past day or two, filming scenes with David Tennant in Cardiff. I won't repeat the list of faces popping up in these two final specials, but it's on course to make the finale of season four look a little bit sparse.

HERE COMES THAT SPOILER

In a further piece of casting news, Claire Bloom has reportedly also been added to the cast for the specials. And she's reported to be playing the Doctor's mother. There's, of course, been no formal confirmation.

Also on board is Barry Howard of Hi-De-Hi fame, and rumours suggest June Whitfield might be making an appearance too. If there's any spare time to squeeze them in, that is...


Check out the new and ever growing Doctor Who page at DoG, where we are marshalling all the Who content at the site, including interviews, DVD and episode reviews, lists, opinions and articles on our favourite time traveller...

 

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Re: Doctor Who: Billie Piper back, and more casting news
Posted By StephenBray 1 May 20, 2009 09:54:28 AM

It does begin to grate, doesn't it? We had the Doctor saying goodbye to Donna, Martha, Jack, Jackie, Mickey and Rose in Journey's End, which will be four episodes before he says goodbye to them all again in this one! I can see why RTD wants 'closure' on his term in charge, but to want it twice is just daft!

Re: Doctor Who: Billie Piper back, and more casting news
Posted By bazellis 1 May 20, 2009 11:12:02 AM

Apparently Rose's appearance is before she knew the Doctor. The doctor is dying and goes back in time before Rose knew him.

Re: Doctor Who: Billie Piper back, and more casting news
Posted By StephenBray 1 May 20, 2009 12:55:30 PM

That's a very detailed account, Bazellis. Where did that come from...?

Re: Doctor Who: Billie Piper back, and more casting news
Posted By Docmartin 1 May 20, 2009 12:59:07 PM

I'd love it if the David Tennant Doctor actually articulated what many fans feel, i.e. "for goodness sake Rose I'm sick of the sight of you now bog off." Let's be honest, by the time "Doomsday" came around many of us were sick of Rose and her "clingy whinging I'm never leaving you" spiel. We had brief respite during the travels of Martha and Donna but (like Anthony Ainley's Master) Rose has reappeared in increasingly preposterous ways. Enough already!

Re: Doctor Who: Billie Piper back, and more casting news
Posted By Dolphination 1 May 20, 2009 05:19:16 PM

Groan.

Re: Doctor Who: Billie Piper back, and more casting news
Posted By Davros 1 May 20, 2009 07:05:21 PM

Yeah double groan :-(

Re: Doctor Who: Billie Piper back, and more casting news
Posted By Davros 1 May 20, 2009 07:05:32 PM

Yeah double groan :-(

Re: Doctor Who: Billie Piper back, and more casting news
Posted By davedavedave 1 May 20, 2009 07:10:05 PM

too much billie piper, too many cybermen shouting "delete! delete!", too many daleks, too many stories set on earth.

Re: Doctor Who: Billie Piper back, and more casting news
Posted By kivel 1 May 20, 2009 07:44:26 PM

i think it makes Martha's absence sadder. i think its time to grow up and excuse her for taking work....

Re: Doctor Who: Billie Piper back, and more casting news
Posted By 76_Totters 1 May 21, 2009 02:10:18 AM

This could only be the insidious work of Operation Rose. Good job DI Drake will have no part of it. ;-)

Re: Doctor Who: Billie Piper back, and more casting news
Posted By theshadowalker 1 May 21, 2009 11:32:22 PM

I usually enjoyed Rose, even if Piper played her a little too knowingly cute for my taste. That said, I also think her story should've ended with her departure at the end of series 2; her subsequent visits have always been, in my mind, annoying, irrational and superfluous. I'm almost surprised that RTD is actually leaving the show: my biggest complaint with his era is that, as I've noted, he just doesn't seem to know where or when or how to actually end anything. The end.

Re: Doctor Who: Billie Piper back, and more casting news
Posted By R-type 1 May 25, 2009 08:50:02 PM

If this is handled as flashbacks this could be great, I'd love to see the Doctor look back and as he does we get new footage of old companions in adventures we've never seen before, or y'know, just the characters having some downtime. some of the best short stories are of just that. Big finish did a great chrismas book where the 5th doctor was buying teagan and Nyssa gifts and it was a great story.
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