I’m fairly sure, though I’m old and can’t remember a specific example, that I’ve seen a Christmas Special in November before where schedules were really funny. Might have been Bottom. ETA - yep, the Bottom Christmas episode was first broadcast on 29 October 1992 (and is fantastic)
Jodie Whittaker talks about her final episode with Empire: “It’s one for the Whovians,” Whittaker tells Empire in the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever issue. “It’s a huge treat if you’re a proper fan. It’s got all the iconic things that you associate with Doctor Who. It’s massive.” And it sounds like this Doctor’s final scene will be as emotional as ever. “I love the dialogue Chris wrote for my regeneration,” she says. “It captures my Doctor beautifully. It’s simple, epic and beautiful.” It’s a sequence Whittaker says is all delivered in one long take. “When I could see the crew was happy with that last shot, that’s when my bottom lip started going,” she recalls. “I was like, ‘Well, they can’t say they need another take now because I’ve fucking lost it!’”
So, on the Doctor WhoTube page on YouTube, there's a video of David Tennant talking to Bernard Cribbins about his last day of filming his scenes for the upcoming special and Bernard asks David how many more days of filming he has left and David replies, "Three more, then I have to make way for Matt Smith." Did David just let slip that Matt Smith will be appearing in the upcoming anniversary special, or is he joking?
There is no such video on the official Doctor Who YouTube page. By any chance, is this video, posted less than a week the one you're referring to? If so, that's actually from when TEOT was filmed, you can tell since they're on the set used as the mansion on that episode and Cribbins is a lot healthier and active than he was when filming the anniversary special. Indeed, Cribbins was in a wheelchair when filming the upcoming special, while here he's clearly sitting in a chair which was on set. So, no, there's nothing in this clip from thirteen years ago which sheds light about the coming special.
If the theory of Tennant playing the 14th Doctor in the specials rather than the 10th is true, I will be really disappointed if his first words as 14 aren't something along the lines of: "These teeth feel familiar". As for release date, the BBC's centenary celebrations are running from Sunday 16th to Saturday the 22nd October. As such it's likely to be one of those two dates - I doubt they'll go for a weekday.
Sunday 23rd has been mooted? I'll be amazed if the 14th Doctor's first words aren't "What? What? WHAT?!"
In which case we should be getting an airdate announced soon, since the coming week will mark two weeks prior to Anniversary Week.
What if for some reason The Doctor begins going through unregeneration process? First The Doctor is what he is today but then.... back to Jodie Whittaker back to Peter Capaldi back to Matt Smith back to David Tennant back to Christopher Eccleston Not necessarily in that order but all of the earlier recent Doctors would make a comeback, long or short.
That would be very cool and would go a long way in helping me accept the idea of David Tennant playing a successive incarnation, which is an idea I haven't liked (despite The Curator's existence). That said, despite Eccleston's return to playing The Doctor for Big Finish, I doubt he'll return on screen, especially with Davies back. Also, I will riot if this does come true and Paul McGann isn't included.
I was wrong about both Jodie and Ncuti getting disrespected in favor of pandering fanwank. Are you happy?
https://www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-features/david-tennant-is-the-fourteenth-doctor There you have it. Fandoms can call Tennant "The bridge doctor" or whatever but to the general audience he will forever be known as "The Fourteenth Doctor"
Best regeneration since 2005. I am stoked. . More surprised that you've not yet learned the folly of making assertions and predictions. You get the big stuff wrong time after time after time.