The 2023 iteration of Doctor Who features a significant transition and celebration for the long-running British sci-fi series. In 2023, the show aired three special episodes to mark its 60th anniversary, written by returning showrunner Russell T Davies, who had previously revitalized the series in 2005. These specials aired between November 25 and December 9, 2023, on BBC One in the UK and Ireland, and internationally on Disney+. David Tennant returned to the series, this time as the Fourteenth Doctor, reprising his role in a new incarnation after having been the Tenth Doctor previously. Catherine Tate also returned as Donna Noble. The specials introduced Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, who stars in the subsequent fourteenth series starting in 2024. The specials combined legacy characters with new ones, including companions Ruby Sunday and others, and featured guest stars like Miriam Margolyes and Neil Patrick Harris
. Production for these specials took place at Wolf Studios Wales, with Bad Wolf production company now co-producing and taking creative control alongside BBC Studios. The specials aimed to honor the show's rich history while pushing into new storytelling territory, with a mix of mystery, horror, robots, and fun elements. The reception noted strong performances, particularly Gatwa's energetic Fifteenth Doctor and the chemistry with Millie Gibson, but critics were divided on some rushed storylines and thematic consistency
. The 2023 season and specials thus represent both a nostalgic tribute and a fresh start, blending returning favorites with new directions under Davies's leadership and Gatwa's Doctor
