Who’s Definitely NOT Coming Back For ‘Doctor Who’s’ 50th

It feels like these days the BBC is having to do a lot of damage control over crazy rumors coming up about Doctor Who’s 50th Anniversary Special, to air this November. Considering 8 of the 11 Actors who played The Doctor are still around, and the amazing things you can do with special effects these days (Tupac Shakur performed at Coachella years after his own death. That makes anything seem possible), speculation has been ripe about just what we could expect from the episode that is surely going to be all about blowing our socks off.

But it looks like hopes are being squashed left and right. While it’s already been confirmed that current Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, and his companion Clara Oswald, played by Jenna-Louise Coleman, would be joined by previous Doctor, David Tennant, and his companion Rose Tyler, played by Billie Piper; it looks like they might be it.

A few days ago the BBC came out with a statement to let the public know that while he did chat extensively with current Showrunner, Steven Moffat, the Ninth Doctor, Christopher Eccleston ultimately decided not to reprise his role. Now Doctor’s Six, Seven, and Eight – Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, and Paul McGann, have told an Australian chat show that they haven’t been approached about the special either. Which considering it is now filming, and they’re in Australia, doesn’t bode well. This on top of having to also release a statement saying that no, David Tennant was not returning to his role permanently, but just as a one-off, means the BBC is running around trying to quash rumors left and right.

While it is extremely disappointing that we won’t get The Eleven Doctors, which we’ve all not-so-secretly been hoping for, it’s unlikely the Beeb will allow the occasion to go unmarked by the previous Doctors. They may not be in the episode due to air on the 50th anniversary, 23rd November, 2013, but I’m sure no one has any doubt that the episode will only be one part of a many part celebration of science fictions longest running series. So though we may not see all The Doctors back together again, it’s doubtful they won’t all get to take part in the celebrations in some small way. What that part might be however, we’ll just have to wait and see.