Actress Billie Piper, known for her role as Rose Tyler, urged "Doctor Who" fans at the For the Love of Fantasy & Sci-Fi festival in London to be patient and not worry about the uncertain future of the series.
"The show has had a difficult time lately. I think everyone should just take a breath and see what space… and time… bring to it."
Piper was also asked about the final scene of the last season. In it, the Fifteenth Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa, began to regenerate, after which Piper appeared on screen. Previously, the actress played the companion of the Ninth and Tenth Doctors, Rose Tyler, but the creators of the series have not yet revealed who viewers saw on screen:
"I'm not the next Doctor. I'm Rose Tyler on pause. Sorry for such a mysterious answer, but I'm not currently filming 'Doctor Who' as the Doctor, so I can't claim otherwise. I'm already sweating. I hate this."
The uncertainty surrounding "Doctor Who" is due to major behind-the-scenes changes. After the end of its collaboration with Disney+, showrunner Russell T Davies and production company Bad Wolf left the project. The BBC now has to choose a new team to work on the next season, as well as find an international partner for broadcasting and financing the series outside the UK. According to foreign publications, "Doctor Who" will not return to screens before 2028.