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‘I had been subconsciously waiting for this moment for 20 years’
When I saw Billie Piper’s face, it felt as if I had been subconsciously waiting 20 years for this moment. It was joyous and completely overwhelming. It was that same iconic Rose Tyler smile that got me – the one we last saw when she was reunited with the Doctor in 2008. Like many others, I was a child when I was introduced to Doctor Who in 2005 and it was unquestionably Rose Tyler who hooked me in, and that transcendental love story. I have been a fan of Piper ever since and hope, for old times’ sake, we get to see her again with David Tennant’s 14th Doctor. Steph Braithwaite, 31, community relations manager, Toxteth, Liverpool
‘I was pretty surprised to see her pop up’
I heard a rumour about the Doctor regenerating into Billie but quickly dismissed it as a joke, so I was pretty surprised to see her pop up. Note that in the credits she wasn’t listed as the Doctor. If the rumours are true, the show is likely to be rested for a good few years. So I’m thinking that getting Billie was probably a last-minute inclusion to get everyone talking and ensure the show didn’t go out with a whimper. As for the future of the show, stick it on at 9pm. I think it needs to appeal to an older audience (like me) – I’m thinking more like X-Files. Make it dark, scary and occasionally funny. Just not sexy, please. Mike, 48, product designer, Montreal
‘Despite my reservations, this manoeuvre was excellently bizarre’
Christopher Eccleston, the former Doctor, vouched for this at a convention three years ago – partly, he said, because he wanted to see how fans would process such a move. Despite my reservations around the episode and this era more broadly, this manoeuvre is an excellently bizarre one, but I’m also confident it wasn’t “always the plan” as has been suggested. Regardless of what is next, the upcoming spin-off looks excellent. Russell T Davies, an incredibly ambitious writer and a visionary, has clearly had to navigate his vision for this era around various obstacles: Disney’s lack of commitment to a further series, the pressure this puts on an up-and-coming cast, and the mammoth task of revitalising a franchise which can, and has, been phenomenally successful. What I want to see, really, is for Doctor Who to start challenging for mass appeal again. Ben, 23, London
‘Billie will bring me back’
I had become tired of the show and haven’t watched more than one or two episodes in the last five years, which is very sad but I just wasn’t excited by it any more. I had been a devoted Doctor Who fan since Tom Baker but that died with Capaldi and Whittaker. Billie will bring me back – I hope she will be the next Doctor. Mary, US
‘The show needs a break – just having a familiar face returning isn’t enough’
Billie Piper was never a great companion in my view but many did love her as Rose. If she is set to play the Doctor then she needs to be a very different character type, more in line with a Missy than a 13th Doctor. I do not know if she can do that. There are so many good actors in the UK that could play the character of an alien without trying too hard, something previous Doctors appeared to do, but the last few haven’t felt authentic. I believe they need a break, perhaps about five years, before the next series. In that time the show executives and writers can create something special. Just having a familiar face returning, in whatever capacity, isn’t enough. Mandy, Midlands
‘There is something unnerving about taking on the form of a previous love interest and wearing their skin as a suit’
In all honesty, I’m a bit unsure how I feel. There are elements of it that makes sense, however, there is something unnerving about taking on the form of a previous love interest and wearing their skin as a suit. I hope it’s not just gimmicky – perhaps if there are links back to the Bad Wolf storyline that originated for the ninth Doctor then it may work. However, at the moment it does feel like trying to float a sinking ship. I say this as somebody who has loved Doctor Who since I was a child. Time will tell, but I hope this isn’t just another cheap trick to keep us interested. Russell T Davies don’t let us down! Gabrielle, freelance photographer and video editor, Bristol
‘I feel for Ncuti Gatwa whose entrance and exit have been overshadowed by nostalgia grabs’
I am honestly fine with her being the next Doctor – it could be very interesting. However, I feel for Ncuti Gatwa, whose entrance and exit have been overshadowed by nostalgia grabs. The entire season was set up for viral moments and not storytelling, but this is meant to be swept under the carpet because guess who is back? Billie Piper! Let the team remind you of when Doctor Who was interesting and you cared about the characters, but don’t mind the fact they are going to force a companion we barely care about to now have a child. Don’t mind the fact the doctor has a complete personality change and gaslights and belittles Ruby. Don’t mind the fact women in that season were treated terribly. We have another female Doctor to make all the bad writing seem unimportant. Rachel, 25, research assistant in data science and clinical trials, St Albans
‘The last thing the audience wants is to get attached for what five minutes before losing another Doctor’
I think it feels tired and creatively bankrupt. On its own, it might have felt exciting or refreshing, but after the 60th specials and the number of throwbacks throughout the last two seasons, it feels as if the creative team are barely capable of looking forward. I’d like Billie to at least take on the role properly and have much more screen time. The last thing the audience wants, after so many regenerations since the episode Power of the Doctor, and such a sadly short stint for Ncuti, is to get attached for what feels like five minutes before losing another Doctor. I just feel worn out from it all. Zach, 24, student, Aberystwyth
‘The only thing I’m upset about is how poorly parts of the fandom reacted’
I’m shocked, but in a good way. Billie Piper is such an integral part of NuWho history and the credits didn’t introduce her as the Doctor, so the opportunities are endless (is she the Bad Wolf? Or the Moment?). I’m really excited to see what comes next and hope the show gets renewed. The only thing I’m upset about is how poorly parts of the fandom reacted. To bring back old characters is such a Doctor Who thing to do. I have the feeling that loads of people forgot what the show is about: it’s fun, it’s full of heart and it’s always been a little bit wacky, so why not embrace this new development with an open mind? As the Doctor himself said: “Hate is always foolish, love is always wise.” It would be great if people took that to heart. Isa, Germany
‘I just want the show to be good and entertaining’
This is what Doctor Who should be like – where there is an air of mystery about it, not where they advertise who the new Doctor is months in advance. I am not worried if this is a brief appearance or if she is the new Doctor. I am only worried about whether the show can pull it off well and do a respectable job with it. I just want the show to be good and entertaining. Karl, Australia
‘It was a shock’
It was a shock seeing Ncuti regenerate into Rose Tyler. Firstly, this was the first regeneration that didn’t seem to cause any pain to the Doctor. Secondly, the regeneration energy being dissipated by his clothes and then Billie saying hello made it more confusing as normally the Doctor does not know what face they will get. I think Doctor Who is going on a hiatus and Billie is not the actual 16th incarnation. I guess we’ll have to wait. Muhammad Hashmi, student, Pakistan
‘The show needs a break of at least 10 years so Russell T Davies has nothing to do with it’
The Ncuti Gatwa series were the worst series of Doctor Who I’ve ever seen, and I’ve followed it since 1963. Billie Piper’s return was an act of desperation. I would like the show to have a break of at least 10 years so that Russell T Davies and his production team have nothing to do with it. Stephen John Mitchell, 70, retired, Carlisle
‘If Doctor Who is to continue it needs new ideas’
I have nothing against Billie Piper. She is a wonderful actor and if she wasn’t so ingrained in the show she would be on my shortlist to play the 16th Doctor. But she is as much a part of it as David Tennant and Catherine Tate are. Falling back on nostalgia every two years won’t help the show survive. If it’s to continue to be the crown jewel of the BBC that it’s been for the best part of 20 years, it needs new ideas. A new format for its distribution to help it fit with TV in 2025. Maybe a self-contained five-episode run that can be binged? Olly, 33, musician, Manchester
