![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/26\/12\/78246701-12792503-image-a-187_1701002339570.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDoctor Who ratings were boosted on Saturday night as\u00a0David Tennant’s long-awaited return\u00a0to the show aired.<\/p>\n
The show’s 60th Anniversary celebrations kicked off, with fan favourites David and Catherine Tate reprising their roles as the titular Time Lord and his companion Donna Noble.<\/p>\n
The pair’s return to the BBC show, in the first of three specials, was lauded by fans, 15 years after they last travelled in the TARDIS together.<\/p>\n
The much-anticipated episode pulled in 5million average viewers with a peak of 6million, according to new overnight ratings.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In comparison for Jodie Whittaker’s last ever episode as she bowed out of the role there were\u00a03.6million average viewers with a peak of 4million.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Popular:\u00a0Doctor Who ratings were boosted on Saturday night as David Tennant’s long-awaited return to the show aired<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/26\/12\/78246753-12792503-image-a-188_1701002342767.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Ratings boosted: More than 1million people more tune in than for Jodie Whittaker’s final episode<\/p>\n
The episode\u00a0was a reunion that had sparked questions from die-hard fans, after Donna’s memory of The Doctor was wiped in a bid to save her life, in heartbreaking scenes from their last adventure in 2008.<\/p>\n
However, showrunner Russell T Davies created an unlikely loophole that reinstated Donna’s memories, allowing her to see The Doctor again after they tackled another alien threat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the episode, fresh from his regeneration, the Doctor accidentally crosses paths with Donna after\u00a0a spaceship crashes in London.<\/p>\n
Desperate to keep away from her, he rushes off to investigate, unaware that a mysterious alien has escaped, and followed Donna and her daughter Rose home.<\/p>\n
Rose (played by Heartstopper’s Yasmin Finney) attempts to hide the alien, a fluffy creature called Beep The Meep, but Donna soon finds it and the entire family are forced to flee their home from alien military clashing with UNIT officers.<\/p>\n
In a bombshell twist, Meep (voiced by Miriam Margolyes) is revealed to be the true villain, and vows to use their spaceship to wipe out the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite the Doctor’s best attempts to hide his identity from Donna, he is forced to give up when they’re trapped in Meep’s exploding spaceship, and his longtime friend unlocks her Doctor Donna alter-ego to destroy the ship.<\/p>\n
In heartbreaking scenes, Donna tragically dies in The Doctor’s arms, but a shocking twist reveals that her abilities have been passed onto her daughter Rose.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/26\/12\/78246693-12792503-Yay_The_show_s_60th_Anniversary_celebrations_kicked_off_with_fan-a-196_1701002558133.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Yay!\u00a0The show’s 60th Anniversary celebrations kicked off, with fan favourites David and Catherine Tate reprising their roles as the titular Time Lord and his companion Donna Noble<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/26\/12\/78246691-12792503-The_much_anticipated_episode_pulled_in_5million_average_viewers_-m-200_1701002600048.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Fan favourite: The much-anticipated episode pulled in 5million average viewers with a peak of 6million, according to new overnight ratings<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/26\/12\/63789231-12792503-Ratings_Doctor_Who_drew_in_4million_viewers_on_Sunday_as_David_T-a-191_1701002388676.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Numbers: In comparison for Jodie Whittaker ‘s last ever episode as she bowed out of the role there were 3.6million average viewers with a peak of 4million\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not only does Rose rescue her family, but Donna, and all of her memories, are resurrected, bringing one of the show’s most beloved duos back together again.<\/p>\n
Despite the Doctor’s concerns that the Time Lord power could overwhelm them both, Donna reassures him that they’ll handle it like any woman – by ‘letting it go.’<\/p>\n
The episode ends with the Doctor getting a glimpse of his brand new – and sparkling white – TARDIS, before a blunder from Donna leads to the pair being catapulted into space to a destination unknown.<\/p>\n
The first special was universally praised by fans, who lauded that David and Catherine had seamlessly slipped back into their roles after 15 years apart.<\/p>\n
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one wrote: ‘I\u00a0had the biggest smile on my face during that entire episode. I missed Donna and the Doctor so much!’.<\/p>\n
While a second said: ‘Okay I stayed and am crying at Doctor Donna’.<\/p>\n
A third typed: ‘That. Was. WONDERFUL!!! My heart is so warm. I bloody loved every second. Donna Noble and The Doctor are BACK.’\u00a0<\/p>\n
Someone else said: ‘Today I feel like i’m a kid again. i haven’t felt this kind of joy since the mandalorian season three finale. the 14th doctor and donna we’re everything i remember and wanted back. allons y!!!’.<\/p>\n
And: ‘It was Brilliant to see The Doctor and Donna back together and especially DoctorDonna lol thank you, looking forward to the next two episodes then onward to the 70th’.<\/p>\n
With a six writing:\u00a0#DoctorWho was everything I wanted and more. This new era is gonna be amazing!!!! So nostalgic seeing The Doctor and Donna back together and I loved the story!’.<\/p>\n
Viewers will next see The Doctor and Donna land on a mysterious alien planet in the second episode, titled The Wide Blue Yonder.<\/p>\n
The specials will then conclude with The Giggle, starring Neil Patrick Harris as the villainous Toymaker, and will lead into Ncuti Gatwa’s debut as The Doctor on Christmas Day.<\/p>\n
Speaking in a Q&A ahead of the first special, Russell revealed that he convinced David and Catherine to return after they took part in a Who ‘tweetalong’ during the Covid lockdown in 2020.<\/p>\n
He also revealed that Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan has joined the cast, and will appear in the show’s Christmas Special in 2024.<\/p>\n
‘I just love David and Catherine together, actually,’ Russell said. ‘And I love that TARDIS. David loved that set so much he thought it’d be absolutely brilliant to run around it like that. After eight takes, not quite so fun. He was worn out by the end.’<\/p>\n
Russell added that it was Catherine who suggested she’d like to reprise her role as Donna in an upcoming episode.<\/p>\n
‘Catherine said, ‘Oh, I’ve always loved Donna Noble and wouldn’t it be marvellous to make some more?’ And I went, ”Oh yeah, yeah, yeah,” like that. And then she asked David. She said, ”Would you make some more?” And he said he would, in a heartbeat,’ Russell said.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/26\/12\/78236981-12792503-image-a-194_1701002406629.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Meeting up:\u00a0The pair’s return to the BBC show, in the first of three specials, was lauded by fans, 15 years after they last travelled in the TARDIS together<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/26\/12\/78237069-12792503-Throwback_Catherine_and_David_last_appeared_together_in_the_seri-a-195_1701002422964.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Throwback: Catherine and David last appeared together in the series over 15 years ago\u00a0 (pictured in 2008)<\/p>\n
‘So then she told me that and I genuinely felt honour-bound to go to the BBC and say, ”Look, these two stars have just said they would love to come back.” I knew it was the 60th anniversary coming up. Simple as that.<\/p>\n
‘So I just sent off that email about Christmas Eve or something – best Christmas present you ever had!’\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘All I got was a reply saying, ”Thank you. We’ll think about it.”<\/p>\n