David Tennant returns to the TARDIS in new trailer for upcoming “Doctor Who” specials

It's been 60 years since Doctor Who first premiered on British television, and the storied science-fiction franchise is marking the occasion with a trio of new specials featuring the return of fan-favorite star David Tennant. Having previously portrayed the Tenth Doctor, Tennant is back as the Fourteenth Doctor in the new trailer for the first of three specials overseen by returning showrunner Russell T Davies.

Disney Plus/YouTube David Tennant in new 'Doctor Who' special

Tennant's original run as the Tenth Doctor ended with a similar series of specials, which bid farewell to his incarnation of the time-traveling alien to make room for Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor (though Tennant returned to the role exactly a decade ago to celebrate the show's 50th anniversary alongside Smith in "The Day of the Doctor"). Now that he's back again, Tennant's character has to make up for one of his greatest failures: Wiping the mind of Donna Noble (Catherine Tate), including all the space-faring adventures that freed her from the banalities of her life, in order to protect her from knowledge that would destroy her.

Now that she's back, her knowledge will prove useful, as she seems to recognize the Toymaker (Neil Patrick Harris) from his battle with the Doctor long, long ago. Donna gets to stand alongside the Doctor again — but it might have a cost.

"I don't know if I can save your life this time," the Fourteenth Doctor warns her in the new trailer.

Tennant's return will only last through these specials, however. When the new season begins in 2024, he will officially be replaced by Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education, Barbie) as the Fifteenth Doctor.

The first of the three Tennant-Davies specials is titled "The Star Beast," and will premiere Nov. 25 on the BBC in the U.K. and Ireland and on Disney+ everywhere else. "Wild Blue Yonder" follows on Dec. 2, and "The Giggle" on Dec. 9.

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