As the Doctor-before-last, David Tennant has been the most strongly rumoured (and, arguably, the most yearned for) of all the previous Time Lords to appear in this year’s Doctor Who 50th anniversary celebrations. And without giving anything away, Tennant himself has always seemed quietly confident that he will be involved.


So it’s a bit of a surprise to hear the Tenth Doctor admit he is “beginning to give up hope that anything’s going to happen”.

But if showrunner Steven Moffat is yet to get in touch about the half-century celebrations, at least it appears Tennant is still interested in being involved – even if he admits there are downsides to the notoriety that comes with Doctor Who.

“You can’t ever shrug it off,” Tennant told Time Out. “Sometimes it’s a really lovely thing – even people who don’t watch the show love the idea of it. But you can’t switch it off when you’re buying a coffee and want to get home quickly, and five kids want a photograph taken.


“That makes it sound like a trial,” added the actor, “and it’s not, but you can’t choose it. It’s part of the deal and it changes the practicalities of your life.”