Doctor Who 60th Special: One Small Trailer for BBC, One Giant Leap for Whovians (trailer).
In a move that confirmed suspicions that the BBC is operating in a different time zone altogether, a bombshell Doctor Who trailer was dropped moments before the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final. Yes, because what better time to divulge the world’s best-kept secret than amidst sequined costumes, weirdly catchy tunes, and an overdose of European camaraderie?
After weeks of coded teasers scattered throughout BBC One’s programming, like a bored intergalactic Easter Bunny trying to amuse itself, fans were rewarded with the exclusive reveal of the episode titles for the 60th Anniversary Specials. Each binary code, once decoded by those tenacious enough, pointed towards the coveted titles: ‘The Star Beast’, ‘Wild Blue Yonder’ and ‘The Giggle’. Yes, you read that last one right, ‘The Giggle’. Because amidst Daleks and Cybermen, what we all need is a good giggle, right?
The trailer not only spilled the beans on the titles but also gave us an intoxicating look at David Tennant’s much-anticipated return as the Fourteenth Doctor. Tennant will be gracing our screens again alongside Catherine Tate, reprising her role as Donna Noble – in what some are describing as the “timey-wimey” equivalent of a band’s reunion tour.
The trailer also teased the appearance of other stars Neil Patrick Harris and Yasmin Finney, who we can only hope will survive long enough in the universe to give a decent performance. And if we’re really lucky, they might even make it past the episode titles.
Showrunner Russell T Davies has promised that these titles are just the starting line of the Doctor’s ‘biggest adventure yet’. Which, to be honest, we’ve heard at the start of every season, so we’ll wait and see. Apparently, autumn will bring with it ‘three hours of danger, Donna and disaster’. Great. Just what we need in 2023. Another disaster. And three hours of it.
So, fellow Whovians, brace yourselves. A whole new level of “wibbly wobbly, timey wimey… stuff” is coming your way. And as the Doctor once said: “Hold tight and pretend it’s a plan!” It’s probably the best advice for whatever Davies is about to unleash upon us.
