“The Power of the Doctor”, Jodie Whittaker’s final episode of Doctor Who will be a feature-length farewell to the 13th Doctor that will feature the returns of characters from across the whole history of the show. As well as bringing the Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall era to a close, the finale will also celebrate 100 years of the BBC, which has produced Doctor Who since 1963. In recognition of the centenary celebrations, the episode will feature numerous cameos that bridge the gap between Doctor Who‘s classic and current eras.
The trailer at the end of Legend of the Sea Devils confirmed the return of the Master (Sacha Dhawan), the Daleks, and the Cybermen, who will all feature in a Doctor Who story for the first time since 1983’s 20th anniversary special, The Five Doctors. Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall has promised a suitably epic finale for the 13th Doctor that will celebrate the past, present, and future of Doctor Who. Chibnall has assembled a formidable cast of old friends of the Doctor to support her in her hour of need, including two classic 1980s companions, but there are also many more cameos rumored for the finale.
Joining the Thirteenth Doctor for her final adventure will be current companions Yaz (Mandip Gill) and Dan (John Bishop), who will also presumably be departing the TARDIS by the end of the adventure. It’s hoped that they’ll get their happy endings, but with the Doctor’s arch-nemesis, the Master, involved, audiences shouldn’t hold their breath. After all, it was the Master (John Simm) who converted the Twelfth Doctor’s beloved companion Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie) into a Cyberman in Doctor Who season 12, episode 11, “World Enough and Time”. Thankfully, the Doctor and her friends will have formidable support from an extensive list of old friends. Here’s everyone that’s been confirmed or rumored to return to help the Doctor, Yaz, and Dan defeat the Master.
Jemma Redgrave as Kate Stewart (Confirmed)
Kate Stewart was last seen facing off against the Grand Serpent’s global conspiracy during Doctor Who: Flux, and has been confirmed to return for the centenary. It’s unclear whether she’ll have been able to repair the damage done when the Grand Serpent laid waste to UNIT. The recent Doctor Who audio spinoff Redacted confirmed that UNIT was still in operation, featuring scenes inside the Black Archive, and a guest appearance by Ingrid Oliver as Osgood. UNIT are also due to appear in the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special, so it’s highly likely that the organization will be at full strength to face off against the combined threats of the Master, the Daleks, and the Cybermen.
Jacob Anderson as Vinder (Confirmed)
Also confirmed in the trailer is Jacob Anderson’s return as Vinder. He was one of the recurring characters in Flux, a former guardian of the Grand Serpent, whose life was ruined when he blew the whistle on the villain’s many crimes. Flux set up Jodie Whittaker’s final adventure when the temporarily corporeal form of Time, in the guise of the Doctor, told the Thirteenth Doctor that “nothing is forever. No regeneration, no life”. It makes sense, therefore, to bring back Vinder for the final story in the Thirteenth Doctor’s era. Vinder’s return for the finale also adds fuel to the persistent rumor that he’s the father of the Timeless Child.
Patrick O’Kane as The Lone Cyberman (Confirmed)
Last seen being shrunk by the Master on a ruined Gallifrey, Ashad, the Lone Cyberman is also confirmed to return for the Centenary special. It’s unclear how the Lone Cyberman survived his tissue being compressed by the Master, but the chilling character is seen leading a Cyber-army in the teaser trailer. The Doctor has been warned of the forces that mass against her, so it’s hardly surprising that one of the most memorable villains from the Whittaker era will make one final appearance.
Bradley Walsh as Graham O’Brien (Rumored)
Bradley Walsh was photographed out on location for the Doctor Who centenary special, but hasn’t yet been officially confirmed. Rumors suggest that Graham will return for the Thirteenth Doctor’s final adventure, assembling a group of former companions to help her in her final battle. His grandson Ryan (Tosin Cole) is unlikely to feature, given the actor’s lead role in AMC’s 61st Street. However, the notion of an assembled group of Earthbound Doctor Who companions would explain the return of two classic 1980s companions.
Sophie Aldred as Ace (Confirmed)
One of the big surprises of the teaser trailer for the Doctor Who centenary special was the return of Sophie Aldred as Ace. Aldred was the last of the classic era companion actors, appearing as Ace in 31 Doctor Who episodes from 1987 to 1989. Ace has had an extensive life in Doctor Who spinoff media, appearing in novels, comic strips, and audio plays throughout the 90s to the present day. Most recently, Chibnall era writer Pete McTighe reintroduced the character in a specially-shot mini episode to promote the release of Doctor Who season 26. The mini-episode introduced her charitable organization A Charitable Earth, which also featured in the Thirteenth Doctor novel At Childhood’s End, co-written by Sophie Aldred. It’s likely, therefore, that A Charitable Earth will also play a role in Jodie Whittaker’s final adventure.
Janet Fielding as Tegan Jovanka (Confirmed)
Joining Sophie Aldred is another 1980s companion, Janet Fielding, who returns to Doctor Who as Tegan for the special. Tegan was an accidental passenger in the TARDIS of the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) and became a fully-fledged companion of the Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison). She left the TARDIS in the 1984 serial Resurrection of the Daleks, stating that traveling with the Doctor wasn’t fun anymore, after witnessing a brutal Dalek massacre. It’ll be interesting to see how this is addressed in the centenary special, but perhaps an older Tegan has chosen to focus on the good times she had with the Fifth Doctor, rather than the considerable hardships she faced during her TARDIS travels.
Katy Manning as Jo Grant (Rumored)
Katy Manning previously returned to the role of Jo Grant in Russell T Davies’ Doctor Who spin off The Sarah Jane Adventures alongside Elisabeth Sladen and Matt Smith. Speculation about Katy Manning’s potential appearance in the centenary special has been growing since the Doctor Who return of Ace and Tegan was confirmed at the end of Legend of the Sea Devils. With the rumors of Graham assembling a team of companions to defeat the Master, Jo’s return seems more likely than ever, especially as sources close to the production have suggested there are more classic series cameos in the centenary.
William Russell as Ian Chesterton (Rumored)
Given that Jodie Whittaker’s final adventure is set to celebrate 100 years of the BBC and 59 years of Doctor Who, an appearance by William Russell as Ian would be the perfect cameo. Ian Chesterton and fellow teacher Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill) were the very first Doctor Who companions and their humanity and compassion softened the harsher edges of the Timelord. While Jacqueline Hill sadly passed away in 1993, William Russell still records audio adventures for Big Finish, and the Doctor Who 50th anniversary special briefly name-checked Ian as the current governor of Coal Hill school, where Clara Oswald worked and in which the short-lived 2016 spinoff Class was set. William Russell’s cameo so far appears to be purely fan speculation based on Graham’s team of companions and the celebratory occasion, but it would be a beautiful way to tie both Doctor Who eras together.
David Bradley as The First Doctor (Rumored)
Last seen in Peter Capaldi’s final episode Twice Upon A Time on Christmas Day 2017, David Bradley is also rumored to be reprising his role as the First Doctor. The basis for this an apparent sighting of the actor dining in Cardiff with some fellow Doctor Who actors. Given the friendships that form between Doctor Who actors at conventions, this doesn’t necessarily guarantee an appearance by the First Doctor. However, if the special brings the Timeless Child story to a close, audiences may see the Fugitive Doctor (Jo Martin) regenerate into the first canonical incarnation of the Doctor.
Jo Martin as The Fugitive Doctor (Expected)
Doctor Who: Flux seemingly ended the Timeless Child arc, by having the Thirteenth Doctor hide the fob watch, which contained memories of her Fugitive incarnation, deep within the TARDIS. However, the Doctor’s request that the TARDIS only let her have the fob watch if she really asks for it does imply it will play a key role in the centenary special. If it does reappear, then Jo Martin will surely be back to the play the Fugitive Doctor in any flashbacks that result from opening the watch.
David Tennant as The Fourteenth Doctor (Rumored)
The most persistent rumor surrounding Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor Who regeneration is that she’ll regenerate into David Tennant at the end of the special. This has been backed up by David Tennant’s confirmed return for Doctor Who‘s 60th anniversary, but given that filming on the special wrapped before Tennant was confirmed, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Whatever happens with the Thirteenth Doctor’s regeneration, it’s likely that David Tennant may appear in the closing moments, as a cliffhanger which leads into the rumored three 60th anniversary specials in 2023.
Peter Davison, Colin Baker, and Sylvester McCoy as Timelords (Rumored)
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The most intriguing rumor surrounding Jodie Whittaker’s final episode is that it will feature the appearance of the three 1980s Doctors: Peter Davison, Colin Baker, and Sylvester McCoy. They won’t be reprising their roles as the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Doctors however, with the rumors suggesting that they’ll be playing Timelords in the special. Doctor Who‘s Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy were apparently seen enjoying a meal with David Bradley around the time that the centenary special wrapped filming, leading to speculation about their return. Peter Davison has previously returned to the role of the Doctor on-screen alongside his future son-in-law David Tennant. However, by also bringing along his 80s successors either as the Doctor or as Timelords, Doctor Who can brilliantly honor its past by having these classic Doctor actors share scenes with Jodie Whittaker as she bows out of the iconic role.
