Doctor Who Season 13: Ruth Doctor Will Return, Confirms Producer

Doctor Who executive producer Matt Strevens has confirmed Jo Martin’s mysterious Ruth Doctor will return in the next two specials. Doctor Who season 12 radically transformed the Doctor’s status quo, revealing the enigmatic time traveler is not a Time Lord at all. Rather, she is the Timeless Child, a being who may well predate the universe itself. What’s more, the season introduced the so-called “Fugitive Doctor,” played by Jo Martin, who’s since been confirmed to be a pre-William Hartnell incarnation.

Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor first encountered Martin’s Doctor when she was living on Earth under the identity of Ruth Clayton – which is why a lot of fans have taken to calling her the “Ruth Doctor.” The Doctor gradually learned this mysterious incarnation had worked for a covert organization called the Division, and had ultimately rebelled against them, attempting to hide on Earth by using a Chameleon Arch to pretend to be human. There are still a lot of unanswered questions about the Ruth Doctor, some of which will be explored in an upcoming Doctor Who comic. But it seems her story hasn’t been relegated only to the comics – because she’ll be returning on screen later this year.

Speaking at the Gallifrey One fan convention, Doctor Who executive producer Matt Strevens and Jo Martin herself confirmed her story isn’t yet over, according to twitter user @_MxtthewHxll_. The next two Doctor Who specials were shot alongside Doctor Who: Flux, so Strevens and Martin are undoubtedly referring to those; the Spring Special appears to be a historical adventure focused on the Sea Devils, creatures from the classic series, so this likely refers to the BBC Centenary Special. This will serve to wrap up current showrunner Chris Chibnall’s tenure, so it makes sense that he’d want to resolve Jo Martin’s Ruth Doctor – while also telling Whittaker’s regeneration story.

Martin’s portrayal of the Fugitive Doctor has delighted fans who are eager to learn more about this previously-unknown version of the Doctor. This will certainly involve other mediums such as the upcoming tie-in comic book miniseries, and hopefully Big Finish’s popular audio dramas. But it’s also quite possible incoming showrunner Russell T. Davies will choose to continue using the Ruth Doctor; Davies has been supportive of much of the Chibnall era, including the Timeless Child retcon, so he may well choose to build upon this foundation.

Amusingly, Jo Martin responded to @_MxtthewHxll_’s tweet – but only with emojis, refusing to say more. Martin seems to be very good at keeping things secret, even managing to hide the fact she was actually an incarnation of the Doctor from her own son; he only learned the truth when he was watching the episode with his mum. No doubt there are more twists in store in the upcoming Doctor Who specials.

Source: Gallifrey One (via @_MxtthewHxll_)

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Thomas Bacon
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Tom Bacon is one of Screen Rant’s staff writers, as well as a Peer Mentor for new writers and a member of the Care Team, offering support and a listening ear to members of the Comics group. A lifelong fan of major franchises including Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Marvel, Tom is delighted his childhood is back – and this time it’s cool. You can find him on Twitter @TomABacon.

A graduate of Edge Hill University, Tom remains strongly connected with his alma mater as a volunteer chaplain. He’s heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will swiftly learn he’s into British politics too.

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