Ncuti Gatwa exits Doctor Who as Billie Piper returns in unexpected regeneration twist

Ncuti Gatwa departs Doctor Who after Series 14 finale, with Billie Piper reappearing in a mysterious regeneration.

Ncuti Gatwa has exited Doctor Who in a surprising twist that concludes his brief tenure as the Time Lord. In the finale of Series 14, which aired Saturday, Gatwa’s Doctor regenerates into a form portrayed by Billie Piper — best known for her role as companion Rose Tyler in the show’s early revival seasons. The transformation introduces a new, unexplained version of Piper’s character, prompting speculation about her future involvement.

According to the BBC, the closing credits read: “Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor. Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor. And introducing Billie Piper.” Though this strongly hints at Piper’s new incarnation as the Doctor, her role has not been officially confirmed.

In a statement to the BBC, Piper said, “It’s no secret how much I love this show… to be given the opportunity to step back on that Tardis one more time was just something I couldn’t refuse, but who, how, why and when, you’ll just have to wait and see.”

Gatwa’s departure, rumored ahead of Season 2’s April premiere, comes amid declining ratings. He made history as the first openly queer Black actor to portray the Doctor, joining companions Millie Gibson and Varada Sethu under showrunner Russell T Davies. His exit marks one of the shortest stints in the show’s history — just slightly longer than Christopher Eccleston’s — and raises questions about the show’s direction.

Doctor Who was commissioned for two seasons on Disney+ and the BBC but has yet to be renewed. In April, Gatwa deflected questions about a third season, saying, “It’s very ironic that in a show about time travel, you can’t talk about the future.”

Outside the TARDIS, Gatwa continues a successful stage career. He recently starred in The Importance of Being Earnest at London’s National Theatre and is set to headline Born With Teeth this summer. He’s also filming The Roses, a dark comedy directed by Jay Roach and featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, and Andy Samberg.