Jodie Whittaker makes surprise return to Doctor Who for major finale scene

The BBC One sci-fi series wrapped up its latest run on Saturday (31st May 2025) with Ncuti Gatwa departing his role as the Fifteenth Doctor, as the character underwent his latest regeneration.

However, the Fifteenth Doctor was not alone as he was supported through his final task by none other than one of Gatwa's predecessors, Jodie Whittaker, in a cameo as the Thirteenth Doctor.

As Fifteen set off in the TARDIS to save Poppy after she vanished in the post-Wish World reality, Thirteen popped up to offer some advice – initially to try to talk him out of it.

"I've been popped out, like popped out of my timeline, because there's a great big time schism on its way, caused by you," Thirteen explained. "If you rupture the Time Vortex, you could damage the whole of creation."

However, Thirteen knew it was never going to work and ended up helping Fifteen in his plan.

There was even a lovely moment where Gatwa's Time Lord said to Whittaker's: "I love you, Doctor."

"I should say that to Yaz," Thirteen realised.

"You never do," Fifteen replied. "But she knows."

Whittaker's last full appearance in Doctor Who was in 2022's The Power of the Doctor, which saw her heroine regenerate into the Fourteenth Doctor, portrayed by Tenth Doctor actor David Tennant, who reprised the role of the lead character for a further three specials for the show's 60th anniversary.

At the end of that short run, the Fourteenth Doctor 'bi-generated', allowing the Fifteenth Doctor to spring forth, but left the previous iteration still alive and well.

Following this, Gatwa starred in two seasons and two Christmas specials as the Doctor, accompanied from his first run by Millie Gibson as companion Ruby Sunday and Varada Sethu as second season companion Belinda Chandra.

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