Billie Piper is set to return to Doctor Who 20 years after she first appeared on the BBC show.

The 42-year-old starred as Rose Tyler in the rebooted version of the classic TV series, which has been running since 1963. In her first big TV role since quitting singing in 2003, Billie was picked to be ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston’s companion. She held the role from 2005 to 2006, filming one series with David Tennant who later took over from Eccleston.

And fans – who crowned her most popular actress at the National Television Awards in both years during her time on Doctor Who – must be excited to see Billie reunite with Chris. Though this time it won’t be on TV, but for a special Doctor Who audio series called The Ninth Doctor and Rose, which is due to be released in August 2025.

Speaking about the 12 one-hour episodes the pair will bring to life, Billie – who also starred in huge shows Secret Diary of a Call Girl and I Hate Suzie – said: “I can’t think of a better time for Rose to reunite with her first Doctor than now. Twenty years after she first ran into the TARDIS and towards adventure, here we are again, me and Chris, ready to have fun facing the universe – and the monsters – together.”

A description of the pair’s new adventures says the Doctor’s past “returns to haunt him” and “enemies old and new are waiting”. And 61-year-old Chris is equally happy to be back as the Doctor. He said: “I am so happy to be back recording more adventures for the Ninth Doctor with Billie. I don’t think my Doctor exists without Rose. He’s a ‘one man, one companion’ kind of alien. There’s a resilience and a bravery and a deep empathy to Billie as Rose. They complete each other.”

Revealing more details of the new audio series, producer Matt Fitton added: “Twenty years after the Ninth Doctor and Rose burst onto our screens, Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper are back with that brilliant dynamic – the Doctor showing Rose the universe, and Rose showing him the best of humanity.

“Across 12 episodes, slotting neatly into that 2005 series, we have more Jackie Tyler, more Powell Estate, plus friends and enemies old and new through time and space. Our writers have done an amazing job recapturing the spirit of that very special season, and Chris and Billie have embraced these scripts with delight and gusto. They’re having a blast, back on that trip of a lifetime – and they sound fantastic!”

Though Billie left the TV series in 2006, she went on to make guest appearances in 2008 and 2010, as well as starring in the 50th anniversary special as a separate character in 2013. Talking about her character previously, she shared: “I love how normal Rose is, and yet really extraordinary. She lived a normal average life but she is incredibly curious and has an enormous capacity for love and empathy and is really spirited. She is extraordinary.”

The Doctor Who audio series has been produced by Big Finish since 1999. Huge stars who have already appeared on the show include David Tennant, Peter Davison and Jodie Whittaker. Listeners can pre-order The Ninth Doctor And Rose