David Tennant, Catherine Tate To Make Doctor Who Returns

One of the most beloved Doctors and one of his fan-favorite companions are returning to Doctor Who in David Tennant and Catherine Tate. The BBC announced on Sunday that Tennant and Tate, who played the Tenth Doctor and Donna Noble, will be returning for the upcoming season.

The announcement notes that the two “have reunited and are filming scenes that are due to air in 2023 to coincide with the show’s 60th anniversary celebrations.” Further details were not revealed, including whether this will be a one-episode appearance or something more.

Tennant and Tate worked together as Doctor and Donna from in the 2006 Christmas special as well as series 4, which ran in 2008. She also appeared in the 2009 Christmas special. Donna and the Doctor notably had a platonic relationship, in contrast to the romantic feelings that previous “New Who” companions Rose Tyler and Martha Jones had for the Time Lord. Considered to be a more brash counterpart to the Doctor and willing to challenge him, Donna became a fan favorite until she exited the series, with her story being that she saved the universe at the cost of her memories of travelling with the Doctor.

The upcoming season will also feature a new Doctor (the Fourteenth) in Ncuti Gatwa and the return of Russell T Davies as showrunner. Davies was the showrunner for all of Tennant and Tate’s episodes on the series and said of the announcement:

“They’re back! And it looks impossible – first, we announce a new Doctor, and then an old Doctor, along with the wonderful Donna, what on earth is happening? Maybe this is a missing story. Or a parallel world. Or a dream, or a trick, or a flashback. The only thing I can confirm is that it’s going to be spectacular, as two of our greatest stars reunite for the battle of a lifetime.”