Neil Patrick Harris Joins DOCTOR WHO Centenary Special

Doctor Who’s 2023 Centenary Special is continuing to up the ante. First, we got news of a new Doctor coming to town with the delightful Ncuti Gatwa taking on the role. But, is it really a Doctor Who event without bringing in multiple Doctors and some seemingly inexplicable timey wimey goodness? Of course not. According to the BBC, David Tennant and Catherine Tate will reprise their roles as the Tenth Doctor and Donna Noble. Plus, Neil Patrick Harris is joining the mix.

Tenth Doctor and Donna walk out of TARDIS
BBC

The TARDIS team traveled together way back in season four, capturing the hearts of many fans with their fun friendship. However, none of us can forget Donna’s incredibly sad ending. She went from disliking her life as a temp and feeling unimportant to becoming not only a heroine but the most important person in the universe alongside The Doctor. And she saves the world as the DoctorDonna (half Time Lord and half-human). But that leads the Tenth Doctor to make a controversial decision to wipe her memories of him and their travels. Yes, it is explained as the only option to keep her mind from burning up with the depth of his knowledge. But it still hurt fans to the core even though she did find love and money eventually. (It’s me. I’m fans.)

Now, this is a chance to bring Donna Noble back and perhaps change her sad ending somehow. How? Who knows what the show will invent. We do know that nothing is forever. In the 50th anniversary special, the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors did change the outcome of the Time War that haunted the Ninth Doctor. So anything is possible with the Doctor Who Centenary Special. Here’s what showrunner Russell T Davies has to say about bringing back two characters from his previous era: 

They’re back! And it looks impossible – first, we announce a new Doctor, and then an old Doctor, along with the wonderful Donna, what on earth is happening?  Maybe this is a missing story. Or a parallel world. Or a dream, or a trick, or a flashback. The only thing I can confirm is that it’s going to be spectacular, as two of our greatest stars reunite for the battle of a lifetime.

One thing is for sure: the Tenth Doctor and Donna Noble will always bring banter and brilliant moments.

Neil Patrick Harris in Doctor Who 60th Anniversary special, set to air in 2023
BBC

Meanwhile, Harris is re-teaming with Davies for the Doctor Who special after recently appearing in the writer’s acclaimed miniseries, It’s a Sin. While Davies didn’t say who the How I Met Your Mother star will play he did tease some big things are afoot. He said in a statement, “It’s my huge honour to open our studio doors for the mighty Neil Patrick Harris… but who, why, what is he playing? You’ll just have to wait. But I promise you, the stuff we’re shooting now is off the scale. Doctor beware!”

The Doctor Who centenary special airs in 2023.

Originally published on May 16, 2022.

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