'Doctor Who' season finale surprises fans with an exit — and a familiar face

LONDON — A familiar face to ''Doctor Who'' fans is rejoining the long-running British sci-fi series as Ncuti Gatwa exits the lead role after two seasons.

In Saturday's season finale, Gatwa's Time Lord regenerated and fans got a glimpse of Billie Piper, who played the character Rose Tyler for 35 episodes between 2005 and 2013. Tyler was a companion to versions of the doctor played by Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant.

Producers are keeping Piper's new role secret — for now.

''Just how and why she is back remains to be seen,'' the BBC said in a statement after the finale aired.

''It's an honour and a hoot to welcome her back to the TARDIS, but quite how and why and who is a story yet to be told,'' showrunner Russell T Davies said in a statement.

Piper said ''Doctor Who'' has provided some of her best memories and she couldn't pass up the opportunity to come back.

''It's no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return ... but who, how, why and when, you'll just have to wait and see,'' she said.

If Piper does indeed become the Doctor, she would be the third woman to fill the famous shoes.

The Rwanda-born, Scotland-raised Gatwa, 29, was the first Black actor to helm the show, but he wasn't the first Black Doctor — Jo Martin played ''Fugitive Doctor'' in several episodes. Gatwa took over the role from Jodie Whittaker in 2023.

Whittaker was the 13th Doctor — and the first woman to play the central galaxy-hopping, extraterrestrial Time Lord who regenerates into new bodies, taking over from Peter Capaldi in 2017. Martin was the second woman.

''Doctor Who'' first aired from 1963 to 1989 and returned in 2005. In the U.S., new episodes air on Disney+.