Doctor Who producer on why Tom Baker did not return for The Power of the Doctor

Virgin Radio

25 Oct 2022, 09:44

Credit: Rex

On Sunday night (23rd October) we watched Jodie Whittaker in her final outing as Doctor Who in The Power of the Doctor, which also saw previous Time Lords reprise their roles.

The likes of Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann joined the thirteenth doctor for her final showdown with the Master, but some viewers noticed that one very popular Doctor was missing- Tom Baker.

Now, a producer on the show has explained why he did not return.

Showrunner Chris Chibnall explained they did ask Baker to take part but he was simply not available that day. Speaking to The Mirror, he said: “We asked Tom, but sadly he could not do it. He was not available. Such a shame.”

There was one favourite, however, who did make an appearance, much to the surprise of fans.

After 10 years away, David Tennant returned as the 14th incarnation of the Timelord after Jodie Whittaker regenerated. This means that Ncuti Gatwa, who was announced as Whittaker’s replacement earlier this year, will actually be the 15th Doctor when he makes his debut in 2023.

Chibnall also explained why only the ‘classic’ doctors and not those after the reboot in 2005, appeared in the episode.

He said: “I didn’t want to tread on anything that might be happening in the future, so those ones felt the right ones.

“I wanted it to be classic Doctors and there’s not a huge amount of those. It was a bit of an instinct, and we asked them, and they said yes.”

The showrunner added: “I didn’t tell anyone we were going to be doing it, I just put it in the script. It’s about as metaphysical as the show’s been. I just thought this was the moment we can ask.

“They were all really keen. We got incredible messages back. To see those people back on the set was an incredible thing.”

A teaser trailer showcasing Gatwa’s first appearance as the Doctor has also been released along with the premiere date for the 60th anniversary specials, which you can read more about here.