Yes, that's David Tennant in the new 'Doctor Who' trailer

With Ncuti Gatwa... and Neil Patrick Harris?!?!
 By  Jonathan Tully  on 
David Tannant as the Doctor
Credit: BBC America

The "What? What?? WHAT???!!!" heard around the Doctor Who world is still reverberating a few months later, as the big surprise transformation has opened the door to a lot of questions.

We saw the Thirteenth Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker for the past five years, make her big change at the end of 2022's third special episode. But who she transformed into was the shocker.

(Warning: Spoilers for the final moments of the episode "The Power of the Doctor" ahead. Get moving on that first.)


You May Also Like

Appearing in place of Whittaker's No. 13 was not Ncuti Gatwa, the recently announced next Doctor, but David Tennant, the much-loved Tenth Doctor.

Now, a trailer teasing the upcoming 60th anniversary of Doctor Who begins to lay out what happens next, which involves not just Tennant, but also one of his favorite companions and someone who promises to be a very interesting villain.

Doctor Who trailer includes Neil Patrick Harris and something called a Beep the Meep

See the trailer below. Allons-y!:

The 60th anniversary specials, set to be released in November 2023, appear to center around Donna Noble, the companion played by Catherine Tate. In the trailer, Tate's Noble seems to feel like she's missing memories, which she is: During their run on Doctor Who, Tennant's Doctor had to wipe the memory of Tate's Noble because she absorbed his knowledge, which is too much for a human mind to take.

We are also introduced to the villain, a vintage-dressed Neil Patrick Harris with a Germanic accent, Yasmin Finney, who will play new companion Rose, and another character who may be familiar to Who comic book fans, Beep the Meep.

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies said on Instagram that Harris is playing "the greatest enemy the Doctor has ever faced." (A comment on the trailer on YouTube said they hope Harris is playing the Music Meister from the animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold: "I'll watch it simply for that.")

We also see assorted nasties, The Doctor trying to hide from Donna (not very well), and general mayhem.

At the end, the trailer also offers a quick glimpse of Gatwa, asking "Will someone tell me what the hell is going on here?!" Which, honestly, is something we Whovians occasionally ask ourselves. Usually that means it's a REALLY good episode.

Topics Doctor Who

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You

Google responds to claim that it stole NPR host's voice
google logo on smartphone


A24's 'Mother Mary' trailer is worth it for the FKA twigs track
Anne Hathway is dressed in a red pop star outfit with religious overtones in a film still from "Mother Mary."

Apple iPhone 17e hands-on: New chip, more storage memory, and yes, MagSafe
Apple iPhone 17e

More in Entertainment
How to watch Chelsea vs. Port Vale online for free
Alejandro Garnacho of Chelsea reacts

How to watch 'Wuthering Heights' at home: Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi's controversial romance now streaming
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi embracing in still from "Wuthering Heights"

How to watch New York Islanders vs. Philadelphia Flyers online for free
Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders warms up

How to watch Mexico vs. Belgium online for free
Israel Reyes of Mexico reacts

How to watch Brazil vs. Croatia online for free
Vinicius Junior #10 of Brazil leaves

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone


NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 2, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!