With Doctor Who’s explosive May 31 series finale majorly hinting at Billie Piper taking on the iconic role of the Time Lord, fans may be stunned at what the actress once said about women playing the famous protagonist.
Billie Piper has made some startling comments about who can play the Doctor Who protagonist in the past(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Billie Piper is no stranger to the Doctor Who universe, having played Rose Tyler, the earnest companion to Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor, back in 2005.
In a shocking turn of events for the show’s fanbase, the Doctor Who series finale which aired on May 31, saw the end of Ncuti Gatwa’s run as the show’s beloved Doctor. Moreover, it seems Piper is poised to replace Gatwa as the treasured protagonist of Doctor Who, with the jaw-dropping changeover taking place during the series’ two-part finale.
This past Saturday, audiences watched Gatwa’s Doctor engage in a brutal battle with the malevolent Rani, ultimately making the heartbreaking decision to save a young girl at the expense of his own journey as the show’s fifteenth Doctor.
As he bid adieu to his faithful companion Belinda Chandra (played by Varada Sethu), he said: “I hope you’ll see me again, but not like this.”
Pictured: The May 31 Doctor Who series finale saw the Doctor transform into what appeared to be Billie Piper’s character
Subsequently, in an explosive regeneration sequence, the Doctor transformed into what appeared to be Piper’s character, heavily hinting that she is next-in-line to carry the prestigious Doctor Who torch.
However, the show left fans hanging as the end credits merely presented ‘Introducing Billie Piper’ without officially confirming her role as the new Doctor.
If Piper is the next Doctor, she will be only the second woman who has shouldered the title of the Time Lord, succeeding Jodie Whittaker’s pioneering run as the 13th Doctor, from 2017 to 2022.
Speaking about whether the Doctor can be female, 42-year-old Piper told Hello Magazine back in 2009: “I don’t think the Doctor should be a woman. Forgive me, I know it’s not a feminist thing to say, but it’s like saying, ‘Let’s make James Bond a woman’. It’s a man’s role.”
However, in a 2017 interview with the BBC, Piper retracted from her previous statement and said: “I think it would be great [to have a female Doctor] given the spirit of the world at the moment. I think it would be timely.”
When asked whether she would consider taking on the role herself, Piper said at the time: “I don’t know. It’s a lot of work. It would be a lot of time in Cardiff.”
Billie Piper previously appeared in the Doctor Who universe as Rose Tyler back in 2005.(Image: WireImage)
After the bombshell series finale, Piper shared her excitement at returning to the iconic series in a statement: “It’s no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return to the Whoniverse as I have some of my best memories there, so to be given the opportunity to step back on that TARDIS one more time was just something I couldn’t refuse, but who, how, why and when, you’ll just have to wait and see.”
Reliving her Doctor Who days on Instagram, Piper recently posted a carousel of pictures with snapshots from her time as Rose Tyler on the show, as well as present day pictures of herself holding a white rose. The Doctor Who alum captioned her post: “A rose is a rose is a rose !!!”
Talking about his decision to leave the popular British television series, Gatwa said in a statement: “You know when you get cast, at some point you are going to have to hand back that sonic screwdriver and it is all going to come to an end, but nothing quite prepares you for it. This journey has been one that I will never forget, and a role that will be part of me forever. There are no words to describe what it feels like to be cast as the Doctor, nor are there words to explain what it feels like to be accepted into this iconic role that has existed for over 60 years and is truly loved by so many across the globe.
He further added: “The fans are truly the final character and beating heart of this show and I can’t thank the Whoniverse, and the Whovians, enough for welcoming me in, and making this such a touching experience. I’ve loved every minute of it, but now is the time to hand over the keys to that beloved blue box and let someone else take control and enjoy it every bit as much as I have. I’ll truly miss it, and forever be grateful to it, and everyone that has played a part in my journey as the Doctor.”
