David Tennant ‘disengaged’ as the Doctor says Doctor Who co-star

The Scottish actor played the tenth iteration of the iconic Time Lord from 2005 until 2010, taking over from predecessor Christopher Eccleston.

Mr Tennant starred in three full series alongside Billie Piper, Freema Agyeman and Catherine Tate, respectively, before having a run of specials in his final year.

The 55-year-old has gone on to return to Doctor Who on two occasions, firstly for the show’s 50th anniversary in 2013, starring alongside his successor, Matt Smith.

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He then came back a decade later alongside Ms Tate in 2023 for the sci-fi programme’s 60th anniversary, playing the 14th iteration of the character.

Mr Tennant worked with Alex Kingston in his third full season, as she made her first appearance as the Doctor’s wife, River Song, in 2008.

She spoke about the experience during a recent chat with this newspaper ahead of the OUH Staff Recognition Awards 2026, earlier this month.

When asked whether she knew she was going to be in the role for a long time at that point, the actress said: “I didn’t know, but I think that the announcement had either just happened or it was about to happen while we were filming.

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“People knew that was going to be David’s last season, so there was just an element, it wasn’t melancholy, but there was just an energy that I was aware that somehow something had shifted.

“I don’t think he ever wanted to stop playing the Doctor, as he loved it so much.

“It wasn’t that he didn’t welcome me because he absolutely did, but I think it was him starting to already disengage with the character.

“I’m not even sure whether he knew he was doing that consciously or not, but there was just something there.

“Whereas with Matt, he was about to start, and was looking for that support to help him step into David’s very huge shoes, enormous feet!”