‘An audible gasp’: Doctor Who fans shocked by Billie Piper return

Actor who played Rose Tyler pops up at a pivotal time for the series as Ncuti Gatwa bows out, creating a vacancy

Nearly two decades since she first appeared on Doctor Who, Billie Piper made a spectacular return to the show on Saturday night, in the latest season’s finale, The Reality War. After just two series, Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor regenerated into a grinning Piper, who greeted viewers with a “oh Hello!” in the episode’s final scene.

The 42-year-old is best known to Doctor Who fans for playing the Doctor’s companion Rose Tyler for two seasons, alongside Christopher Eccleston, when the show was reintroduced to TV screens in 2005 after a 16-year break.