Doctor Who: Billie Piper returns as the Doctor, shocking fans

It's The Only Way Billie Piper's Sixteenth Doctor Can Work With a knowing whiff of nostalgia, Doctor Who sought to reacquaint itself with lapsed fans and provide a gentle bridge into a brand-new era.

But is Piper actually playing the Doctor? As the credits rolled, Gatwa (and the returning Jodie Whittaker, who popped up for a lovely cameo) were both credited as The Doctor. Piper was not. Instead, the credits simply noted "And introducing Billie Piper" to acknowledge her surprise reveal, without a role named.

The BBC previously denied claims that Ncuti had been axed from his role just days ahead of the finale. 'Whilst we never comment on the future of the Doctor, any suggestion that Ncuti Gatwa has been "axed" is pure fiction,' a spokesperson for the BBC said.