BBC is airing a night of David Tennant Doctor Who episodes – and we’re confused
If Doctor Who has taught us anything, it’s that time flies. Somehow, it has been 20 years since David Tennant started his full-time tenure as the 10th Doctor.
After a minuscule appearance at the end of Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston’s finale, Parting of Ways, in 2005, he spent much of his full-length debut festive special, The Christmas Invasion, asleep in Jackie Tyler’s bed.
So, come April 2006, Whovians finally got acquainted with the brand new, spanking Doctor in season two, episode one, New Earth, where he quickly forged himself as a fan-favourite.
Tennant went on to star in seasons three and four, return for the 50th anniversary and regenerate into the 14th Doctor for 2023’s 60th anniversary special.
(It’s confusing, we know. We’re hoping that if you’re interested in a night of Doctor Who reruns, you have a grip of the basic lore).
Get personalised updates on Doctor Who
Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.
Now, the BBC is marking 20 years since that fateful season two episode with five hours of non-stop David Tennant Doctor action on BBC Three on Thursday, April 16.
Starting at 7:05pm, it will air the three 60th anniversary specials – The Star Beast, Wild Blue Yonder, The Giggle – where Catherine Tate also returns as Donna Noble.
Next up is Talking Doctor Who, where the 54-year-old Scottish actor ‘tells the story of the Doctor’s Classic era’, followed by a trio of behind-the-scenes Unleashed episodes diving into the 60th anniversary trio.
All in all, with popcorn in hand, it’ll be wrapped up by half-past midnight.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Why on earth would the broadcaster air episodes that came out only three years ago and not feature any 10th Doctor adventures, the very anniversary of which they are marking?
I’m afraid, to that we have no answers. Your guess is as good as ours!
As one X user, Kit, The Great Inferno, put it: ‘Personally, I’d have chosen five or six all-timer episodes of Tennant if we were doing this.’
Which David Tennant episodes would we have picked?
Senior TV reporter and Whovian Asyia Iftikhar shares her picks
New Earth: Although this is not the best episode, it is the one we’re using to mark twenty years of his Doctor, so I think it deserves to kick off the night.
The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit: A stellar two-parter that shows just how unsettling and confronting the show can be.
Doomsday: Look, it’s a well-remembered end of an era for a reason!
Human Nature/Family of Blood: If it were up to me, I would do the six-episode run from Human Nature to the Last of the Time Lords – Martha Jones, the queen that you are.
Midnight: Although it doesn’t have much Donna in it, this episode remains a standout adventure from Tennant’s time on the Tardis.
Honourable mentions: School Reunion, Turn Left, End of Time Part One and Two, Wild Blue Yonder
The Twenty Years of Tennant special evening comes amid growing speculation that the screen star could be making a comeback for the 2026 Christmas special after Billie Piper’s unexpected return.
There’s no word yet from showrunner Russell T Davies on how the plot will unfold, but with the 14th Doctor (also played by David Tennant) currently alive and living in Donna’s back garden, a return is certainly possible.
What’s more, the Rivals star is returning to the Whoniverse to ‘save the world again’ with the Big Finish audio productions.
‘Big Finish makes it dangerously easy – you turn up, have a lovely time, and suddenly you’ve saved the universe again,’ Tennant said in an official announcement.
Meanwhile, some fans believe that a post on the in-universe UNIT blogpost discussing the disappearance of Rose Tyler could be another sign of what’s to come.
Twenty Years of Tennant will air on BBC Three from 7:05pm on Thursday, April 16. Doctor Who will return for a 2026 Christmas special.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE: Timeline of Scott Mills scandal after it’s revealed the BBC knew about investigation
MORE: Who’s in the cast of Race Across The World 2026? Everything you need to know
MORE: 7 addictive TV shows to devour this April including ‘insane’ Netflix crime series