Doctor Who Star Recalls Original Finale Before Reshoots

The original ending for the second season of Doctor Who, which concluded with Ncuti Gatwa's departure and the surprise appearance of Billie Piper, has reportedly been confirmed by a TikTok post from an actor who appeared in the finale.

Prior to the finale airing, film and TV insider Daniel Richtman claimed online that the episode was initially intended to end very differently. According to him, Gatwa's subsequent decision to leave the title role led to significant reshoots early this year to accommodate his exit.

Now, Richtman's description of the original ending appears to have been corroborated by the TikTok account of Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps, the child actor who portrays Poppy, a pivotal character in the episode.

"In the original ending for Doctor Who Season 2, before the reshoots, the Doctor, Ruby, Belinda, and others were all seen having a big celebration," Richtman wrote. "Susan is observed watching them from a distance, which would have served as the cliffhanger leading into Season 3."

"It's uncertain how much of this material was incorporated into the revised ending," he added.

Mavanga-Phipps' TikTok account, managed by the child actor's mother, has since reposted Richtman's comments and hinted to fans that the information is accurate.

One fan inquired in a comment seen by IGN, "Did she actually film that scene?" Another asked, "So does this mean it's true, since you're sharing it?" Mavanga-Phipps' account liked both of these comments.

Another viewer remarked, "That makes sense. The finale felt messy," to which Mavanga-Phipps' account responded with two crying emojis.

When requested to share images from the deleted ending, Mavanga-Phipps' account replied, "I wish I could, but my NDA prevents me from doing so."

Additionally, Mavanga-Phipps' account shared further plot details from the scrapped plans, confirming a popular fan theory: that Poppy, who is technically the Doctor's daughter from an alternate reality, would have been revealed as the mother of Susan—his granddaughter from the original 1960s episodes.

After being absent from the series for decades, Susan, portrayed by original actress Carol Ann Ford, made a cameo this season. This aligns with the show's initial plan to feature her more prominently in the next season, production of which is currently on hold.

One fan asked on TikTok, "So was Poppy meant to be Susan's mother?" Mavanga-Phipps' account confirmed, "Mother."

Another fan expressed, "Still can't believe we missed out on the perfect ending with Poppy and Susan," to which Mavanga-Phipps' account replied with a laughing emoji.

In official press releases and the behind-the-scenes series Doctor Who Unleashed, the reshoots for Gatwa's departure were downplayed. His final day on set was presented as if it were always part of the original filming schedule and his intended plan.

However, fans tracking the production timeline believe principal photography for the season originally concluded in May 2024, at a time when Gatwa still intended to return for a third season. Reshoots for the finale to write out his character reportedly took place in February 2025.

Further evidence of the original ending includes a promotional image on Disney+ showing the Doctor and Belinda dancing at a party—a scene entirely absent from the final episode. Fans speculate this is the same party scene Richtman referenced from the initial ending.

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has previously stated that Gatwa's tenure was always planned to last as long as it did, though it is believed the BBC had hoped to have a third season in production by now. Instead, there has been no official announcement about the show's renewal, nor any confirmation on whether the lucrative Disney+ partnership will continue.

Billie Piper's last-minute cameo at the episode's end seems to have been filmed even later than Gatwa's exit scenes. This is suggested by the latest episode of Unleashed, which featured an interview with the actress alongside a disclaimer from host Steffan Powell that the documentary team was unaware of her casting.

This is particularly unusual, as Unleashed was granted access to the reshoots and covered other production secrets, such as Gatwa's departure and Jodie Whittaker's cameo. One possible explanation is that Piper's casting and filming occurred at an even later stage, with the identity of Gatwa's successor still undecided.

As a result, fans are uncertain whether Piper is portraying the next official incarnation of the Doctor. This ambiguity only adds to the growing questions surrounding the show's future direction.