Spoilers Russell T. Davies Returns to Doctor Who as New Showrunner

[Jedman67]

3. It was always the plan. I do wonder if RTD always wanted a non-white Tardis crew but felt he couldn't jump straight in there so he went with Millie in the first season.

4. It's always possible that Millie decided it was too much for her (yes she was in 200 odd episodes of Corrie but that's much more of an ensemble and I imagine a far less pressured work environment. We need to remember she is still relatively young). This might have coincided with Varada impressing in Boom and the stars aligned.

I imagine it's mostly 4, she's young and being the primary actor on DW is a lot.

 

[Jayson1]

It would be more interesting IMO to do a show where The Master now looks like Rose.

 

[Rich Watson]

The funny thing is, if she had never been a regular in the series she'd absolutely be a strong candidate for the role.

 

[Turtletrekker]

I believe that Ruby was always intended as a companion who would leave and would return periodically, similar to Rose.

 

[Jedman67]

We need another Rory. Not as a sidekick or comic relief, but a secondary companion who gamely follows the Doctor but also will question him.

 

[David cgc]

I feel like two companions is the sweet spot. A four-person TARDIS was too much, but just two people don’t give you enough options.

 

[Rich Watson]

The cinema screening of the last episodes will include a preview of TWBTL&S (which I confess I'd forgotten about until just now) in the interval between the two episodes.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

https://www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-features/special-episode-of-doctor-who-unleashed-announced-celebrating-20-years-of-revival

So all the sneaky leaks and spoilers about Billie Piper coming back to Dr Who....is about the BTS special.
She's coming back for interviews and stuff, not as a regeneration. Good job guys

What? All of that doomcrying and spiraling and pulling out their hair was all for nothing?

I'm shocked, shocked!

Well, not that shocked.

We need another Rory. Not as a sidekick or comic relief, but a secondary companion who gamely follows the Doctor but also will question him.

We do get that to a degree with Belinda, but I agree not nearly enough.

The cinema screening of the last episodes will include a preview of TWBTL&S (which I confess I'd forgotten about until just now) in the interval between the two episodes.

Fantastic. Hopefully we mere mortals who aren't able to be there get to see that preview soon thereafter.

 

[Mr Awe]

I'm not going panic over those possibilities yet. It would be pretty bad. But, hoping for the best!

 

[Nerys Myk]

I feel like two companions is the sweet spot. A four-person TARDIS was too much, but just two people don’t give you enough options.

 

[Mr Awe]

I feel like two companions is the sweet spot. A four-person TARDIS was too much, but just two people don’t give you enough options.

I kind of agree. Except I'd say that 1 or 2 companions are usually the best. Having fewer is definitely easier from a writing standpoint because you don't have to figure out how to juggle more companions around, keeping them doing something interesting, while maintaining the ongoing plot. That's particularly true in these days of short, rushed episodes.

However, the original TARDIS with Barbara, Ian, and Susan is fantastic and it often worked. Although, I feel like Susan was underdeveloped as time went by. During Davison's era (which I love), the shenanigans for side lining companions almost becomes a distraction.

 

[Starkers]

Oh no, Nyssa's having another migraine.

 

[JD]

Well, of course. What's really interesting is back in 'Space Babies' we got this dialogue:

“I'm sorry, Poppy, I'm so sorry, but we are not your mummy and daddy. I wish we were, but we're not."

So looks like the two season story was all planned from the beginning. Well, except for whatever happened to get Millie demoted to guest star status.

That's a good catch.

Haven't seen it yet myself but allegedly the preview of the finale in DWM says the episode will have major revelations about the history of Gallifrey in general and the true nature of the relationship between the Doctor and the Rani specifically.

She's going to bloody turn out to be the Doctor's daughter / Susan's mother isn't she? And that baby she seems to be giving away in the preview photos is Susan.

Ugh, this is a horrible idea, I can't imagine they're actually going to do that.

This is actually starting to make a bit too much sense.

She's conceived during the Fugitive years which explains the Doctor's weird comment that he hasn't had children yet, as he doesn't remember.

She only finds out her parentage recently, maybe from the Master who discovered it with the rest of the Time Lord's secrets. This is why she's looking to make the Doctor suffer for abandoning her. (Though it's not really his fault.)

And when old Susan said "Find me" she was actually talking about baby her, who the Doctor will end up leaving with his past self.

Hopefully I'm completely wrong though!

OK, this actually does sound like the kind of storyline I could see them writing. I'm still hoping that's not the case though.