Doctor Who regeneration wins TV moment of the year

Virgin Radio

25 Aug 2023, 11:57

Jodie Whittaker and David Tennant in their Doctor Who regeneration scene

Credit: BBC

Doctor Who’s big twist which had us all thinking ‘What? What?! Whaaat?!’ has won Edinburgh TV Festival’s TV moment of the year.

The scene from The Power of the Doctor, which aired in October 2023, saw the Thirteenth Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker, confusingly regenerate into returning Doctor Who star David Tennant.

Jodie’s departure and the Fourteenth Doctor’s shocking arrival was watched live by 5.5 million people, and made huge news the ripples of which are still being felt now as fans anxiously await more news on what’s next for the sci-fi institution.

David Tennant will be starring as the Doctor alongside Catherine Tate, who is also returning to the show for its 60th anniversary celebrations, later this year in three special episodes.

The Star Beast, Wild Blue Yonder and The Giggle are all due to be broadcast sometime around the show’s 60th anniversary, which will occur on 23rd November, although no official dates for their transmission have been released just yet.

Ncuti Gatwa will then be helming the programme’s fourteenth series as the Fifteenth Doctor alongside his new companion Ruby Sunday, played by Coronation Street’s Millie Gibson.

Many guest stars have already been announced for the show’s 2023 specials and 2024 series, but returning showrunner Russell T Davies is doubtless also keeping several surprises hidden for now.

The BBC won big at this year’s Edinburgh TV Festival awards: BBC One was named channel of the year; its reality TV show The Traitors won best entertainment show; and Sally Wainwright’s Happy Valley took home best drama.

The Traitors and Strictly Come Dancing’s Claudia Winkleman was also the recipient of the festival’s outstanding achievement award to celebrate her amazing contribution to television over the last three decades.

Doctor Who is expected to fly the TARDIS back onto BBC One and BBC iPlayer later in 2023. Keep an eye on virginradio.co.uk in order to get all the latest on the anniversary specials and series 14.