The Power of the Doctor

"The Power of the Doctor" was written by showrunner and executive producer Chris Chibnall and directed by Jamie Magnus Stone.[5] After the first two specials were produced as part of the eight episodes ordered for the thirteenth series,[6] a third feature-length special was later ordered to coincide with the centenary of the BBC and serve as Whittaker's regeneration episode.[7] The BBC described the final episode as an "epic blockbuster special".[8]

Casting and details of the centenary special, without yet revealing the title or airdate, were released after "Legend of the Sea Devils" concluded.[9]

The title of the special was announced on 14 September 2022.[10]

William Russell (pictured in 2012) appears as Ian Chesterton for the first time since his departure in 1965.

Jodie Whittaker stars as the Thirteenth Doctor in her final regular episode,[11][12] alongside Mandip Gill as Yasmin Khan and John Bishop as Dan Lewis.[13] The BBC announced Whittaker and Chibnall's departures from the series in July 2021.[14][15] Gill confirmed that the special would be her final regular appearance in the series on 3 May 2022.[16]

A trailer for the special was released in April 2022, and confirmed the return of Jacob Anderson as Vinder and Jemma Redgrave as Kate Stewart, both of whom last appeared in the thirteenth series. The Master, played by Sacha Dhawan, and Ashad, played by Patrick O'Kane, who both appeared in the twelfth series, also return. The special also sees the return of former companions Tegan Jovanka, Ace and Graham O'Brien portrayed by Janet Fielding, Sophie Aldred and Bradley Walsh, respectively. The Daleks and the Cybermen also appear.[9]

In cameo roles, the First, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Fugitive Doctors appear. The First Doctor is portrayed by David Bradley, who previously portrayed the character in the episodes "The Doctor Falls" and "Twice Upon a Time" (both 2017), as well as portraying the original First Doctor actor William Hartnell in the bio-drama An Adventure in Space and Time (2013), while the others are played by their respective original actors: Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann and Jo Martin. According to Chibnall, Fourth Doctor actor Tom Baker was invited to appear in the episode but declined.[17] David Tennant, who previously portrayed the Tenth Doctor, makes a brief appearance as the Fourteenth Doctor.[4]

Former companions Ian Chesterton, Jo Jones and Melanie Bush, portrayed by William Russell, Katy Manning and Bonnie Langford, respectively, also appear in brief cameos.[18] With this appearance, Russell, who last appeared as Ian in "The Planet of Decision", the final episode of The Chase, in 1965, achieved the Guinness World Record for the longest gap between TV appearances.[19]

"The Power of the Doctor" was filmed throughout September 2021, directed by Jamie Magnus Stone,[20] concluding on 13 October 2021.[21][22] Tennant's appearance was filmed around May 2022, directed by Rachel Talalay.[23] Returning showrunner Russell T Davies scripted the incoming Doctor's appearance, with his first line, a reference to his first words as the Tenth Doctor being suggested by Tennant himself.[24] The background of the regeneration scene, where the Doctor lands the TARDIS atop a cliff and looks out over the sea, was filmed by drone at Durdle Door in Dorset. The Lulworth Estate was not informed of the context of the scene when granting permission for the shoot, and after the episode's broadcast expressed concern that it would encourage viewers to place themselves in danger.[25]

Among the musical cues heard in the episode is "Rasputin" by Germany-based pop and Eurodisco group Boney M, originally released in 1978; the Master, as played by Dhawan, portraying the Russian cleric, uses the song to accompany his impending transformation. Dhawan noted that he was given only "one or two takes" for the set piece, "and we didn't have that long to shoot it."[26]

"The Power of the Doctor" was first broadcast on 23 October 2022 as part of the BBC's Centenary celebrations, and is the third and final of the three 2022 specials.[34][35][36][37] The special is 87 minutes long.[38]

The episode was watched by 3.71 million viewers overnight, becoming the fourth most-watched programme of the day, with peak viewership reaching 4.04 million.[39] The episode received an Audience Appreciation Index score of 82.[40] The final consolidated ratings for the episode were 5.295 million viewers, making it the fifth most watched programme overall for the week.[41]

On Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregator website, 100% of seven critics gave "The Power of the Doctor" a positive review, with an average rating of 7.30 out of 10.[27]

The Radio Times and The Telegraph awarded the episode four out of five stars, the latter calling the episode "an electrifying thrill-ride of non-stop surprises".[42][43] The Houston Press' review was less positive, calling the episode "an explosive but confusing close" and concluding that "Doctor Who just doesn’t seem to have a present, let alone a future anymore."[44]