Billie Piper appeared to accidentally reveal her return to Doctor Who during a pre-recorded anniversary special, weeks before the official announcement shocked fans.
The actress, who played Rose Tyler from 2005 to 2010, made the apparent slip whilst being interviewed for Doctor Who: Unleashed, a BBC Three documentary celebrating 20 years since the show's revival.
When asked whether she would ever return to the series, Piper said: "Yeah I would... I would come back."
She then added: "So coming back is really good fun, but I also... And so I would do it, but I still feel like I'm in it. Just a lot older."
The finale delivered a major twist as Gatwa's regeneration ended not with a traditional new Doctor reveal, but with the unexpected appearance of Billie Piper emerging from the regeneration energyPA/BBCThe special's host Steffan Powell later noted that the Unleashed team "had absolutely no idea about Billie's return" when filming the interview.
The documentary aired on Saturday, just one week after Piper made her surprise appearance in the Doctor Who series finale on May 31, where Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor unexpectedly regenerated into her.
The timing of the broadcast meant viewers could spot the significance of Piper's comments, which had been filmed before her return was revealed.
During the interview alongside David Tennant, Piper reflected on her ongoing connection to the show: "What's funny is that I never feel like I've left Doctor Who, because there is this huge Doctor Who afterlife."
Doctor Who fans are calling for David Tennant and Billie Piper to reunite
BBC
She explained: "Obviously people still really want to talk about it, it's a massive fandom, so we do conventions and we meet lots of the fans, and there's always features."
Piper noted that Doctor Who "never feels like it's over like it does with all the other jobs I've done" due to its constant presence on television channels and appeal to new generations.
The actress, 42, will become the second woman to portray the Time Lord after Jodie Whittaker's tenure as the 13th Doctor.
Following her appearance in the finale, Piper released a statement saying: "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."
She added: "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."
The revelation appears to fulfil a suggestion made by Christopher Eccleston three years ago about who should play the Doctor next.
In 2022, the Ninth Doctor actor said: "I think it should be Billie Piper, actually. Catherine Tate's great but, I think there's your Doctor."
Eccleston added: "I'd like to see you all struggle with it. 'How can she be the Doctor when she was an assistant?!'
BBC Doctor Who: Ncuti Gatwa has played the Doctor for two seasons BBC"I like the idea of it blowing fuses in the canon, or whatever it's called."
However, the end credits of the finale notably did not include the traditional "Introducing Billie Piper as the Doctor" text, instead simply stating "Introducing Billie Piper."
The huge Doctor Who news has prompted amid speculation from hopeful fans that Tennant may also be re-joining the series in an epic reunion for the two.
The Sun reports Tennant could appear in a special episode to mark the 20th anniversary of the show's revival, with an insider telling the publication: "There is talk about a possible one-off project to celebrate the 20th anniversary.
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"David and Billie were a hugely popular partnership and he brought in a golden age of Doctor Who.
"With the anniversary of the reboot this year, there have been some ideas floated about, with the thought of maybe bringing David and Billie back together for one last hurrah."
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