Fans react to shock Billie Piper return in Doctor Who: “I love Billie, but Rose AGAIN?”

1 June, 2025

Billie Piper

Fans on social media are divided after Billie Piper made a shock return in Doctor Who, appearing to replace Ncuti Gatwa.

Last night’s (31 May) episode ‘The Reality War’ saw Gatwa’s Doctor battle in a race against time and memory to save the fate of the world and in its dramatic conclusion, he regenerated into Piper.

The I Hate Suzie star first appeared in the series as the companion to the ninth Doctor in 2005, playing Rose Tyler alongside Christopher Eccleston’s Time Lord – and then again for the 10th Doctor played by David Tennant.

“It’s no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return to the Whoniverse as I have some of my best memories there,” said Piper (via Digital Spy). “So 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.”

“Billie once changed the whole of television, back in 2005, and now she’s done it again!” added showrunner Russell T Davies. “It’s an honour and a hoot to welcome her back to the TARDIS, but quite how and why and who is a story yet to be told. After 62 years, the Doctor’s adventures are only just beginning.”

While it remains unclear if Piper will be playing the 16th Doctor, many expressed their joy at her surprise return on social media, with one taking to X/Twitter to write: “I literally don’t give a FUCK about anyone else’s opinion. Some of you are never happy, and that’s okay, be miserable. But me? I’ll be sat, looking at Billie Piper. The world is healing…”

Eagle eyed fans also noted that Piper was not introduced as the Doctor in the credits, as Gatwa had been previously, prompting them to comment: “She’s clearly not the Doctor but some Bad Wolf shenanigans.” Though this theory leaves room for another actor to portray the Doctor, some fans were still unimpressed.

“You need to reboot, you’ve dragged it to the lowest depths of hell,” wrote one, with another chiming in to say “regenerating into Billie Piper just to boost ratings felt completely unneeded.”

You can check out more fan reactions below.

In a statement released by the BBC (via the Guardian), Gatwa addressed his exit, saying: “You know when you get cast, at some point you are going to have to hand back that sonic screwdriver and it is all going to come to an end, but nothing quite prepares you for it.

“This journey has been one that I will never forget, and a role that will be part of me forever.”

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