Jodie Whittaker is approaching the end of her time as Doctor Who's 13th Doctor, and her final episode is filled with characters from Doctor Who's past. As the first female Doctor, Whittaker made Doctor Who history as she picked up the torch in 2017. Now, Whittaker's exit is poised to cause as many waves as her premiere. Along with her companions Yaz (Mandip Gill) and Dan (John Lewis), some companions of the past are returning for the 13th Doctor's big goodbye. Here is a complete list of Doctor Who characters returning for the 13th Doctor's final episode.
The plot of Whittaker's final episode was revealed in a trailer after the Easter special, "Legend of the Sea Devils." The clip teased The Doctor's clash with the Daleks, the Cyberman, and the Master — three classic Doctor Who villains who will feature in the same story for the first time since Doctor Who returned in 2005 after its 1989 hiatus — as well as The Doctor's demise. The Doctor's regeneration has been predicted for some time now; at the end of Doctor Who season 13, episode 6, "The Vanquishers," the embodiment of time itself warned The Doctor that her "time is heading to its end... nothing is forever, no regeneration, no life." In the trailer for the 13th Doctor's last special, The Master can be heard telling The Doctor that "this is the day you die." While there is no specific release date as of yet, the BBC has confirmed that the special will be released in Fall 2022 to celebrate 100 years of the BBC.
As of yet, there is no confirmation as to who will replace Whittaker as the next regeneration of The Doctor. Though Whittaker's exit won't air until Fall 2022, the BBC has confirmed that the face of the 14th Doctor will be released "in the coming weeks" (via the BBC) ahead of Whittaker's final episode, as is the tradition with the modern Doctor Who. With Russel T. Davies returning to the show for the first time since 2010, theories that a big name celebrity — like Hugh Grant, who has denied the theory (via Entertainment Weekly) — have been circulating the internet. Others have theorized that names from Davies's glory days could also be returning; primarily David Tennant, who portrayed the much-beloved Tenth Doctor.
Ace
Ace (Sophie Aldred) was a troubled 16-year-old in her own time period who became the companion of the Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) from 1987 to 1989. Despite failing her exams and being expelled from school, Ace was gifted in chemistry, creating explosives that served them well on multiple adventures. When a time-storm transported her to Iceworld, Ace finds herself various Doctor Who spin-off media have given Ace future storylines, ranging from training to becoming a Time Lord herself. Ace's appearance in the 13th Doctor's final episode will likely answer some burning questions regarding what Ace has done in her time since her last appearance.
Tegan Jovanka
Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding) was a companion of the Fourth (Tom Baker) and Fifth (Peter Davison) Doctors. Appearing as a regular from 1981 to 1984, Tegan's no-nonsense attitude served her well in her adventures alongside The Doctor. Tegan became the unwitting companion of The Doctor after entering a roadside police box when her aunt's car got a flat tire on the way to Tegan's job as a stewardess at Heathrow Airport; what Tegan didn't know was that the police box was actually The Doctor's disguised TARDIS. After witnessing The Doctor's regeneration into the Fifth Doctor, Tegan ed the ranks of the Time Lord alongside Nyssa (Sarah Sutton), Adric (Matthew Waterhouse), and eventually Turlough (Mark Strickson), in their extraterrestrial adventures. Tegan was heralded by The Doctor for her bravery and her strength — in her own time period, Tegan was a champion for Indigenous Australian rights, she knows her way around a gun, and describes herself as "just a mouth on legs" in the Classic Doctor Who episode "Earthshock." Despite eventually warming up to The Doctor and his various companions, Tegan always intended to return to her job as an air stewardess. Even the strongest companions reach their end, however; after witnessing the Dalek slaughter in the Classic Doctor Who season 21 serial 4, "Resurrection of the Daleks," Tegan decides to step away from her adventures with The Doctor, claiming that it had "stopped being fun."
The Master
appearance alongside the Daleks and Cybermen — which he may even be leading against The Doctor, according to the trailer — spells bad news for the 13th Doctor.
Kate Stewart
Kate Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) is the former Chief Scientific Officer and de facto leader of UNIT and a more recent companion of The Doctor. UNIT — a military organization that was tasked with protecting humanity against paranormal and extraterrestrial threats — has appeared as a recurring entity throughout both the classic and modern Doctor Who series, as well as the Torchwood and Sarah Jane Adventures spin-offs. Kate has appeared multiple times in the series since her introduction in 2012, serving alongside the Eleventh, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Doctors. Having previously encountered the Daleks, the Cybermen, and an incarnation of The Master — as well as personally leading a resistance against a Sontaran invasion after the dissolution of UNIT in 2017 — Kate Stewart is a perfect companion to stand alongside The Doctor in the Centenary Special.
Vinder
Vinder (Jacob Anderson) is another recent companion of The Doctor who made his first appearance in Doctor Who: Flux. Serving Commander Inston-Vee, Vinder served many roles in the fight against the cataclysmic Flux; he was a pilot, a guardian, a whistleblower, and an officer at Observation Outpost Rose. After his whistleblowing against the Grand Serpent landed him a desk job, Vinder began to grow bitter at his post, ending each report with a curt "go to hell." Vinder was introduced to The Doctor and her companions as they attempted to right the damage caused to the Mouri on the Planet Time; however, the group was interrupted by Swarm and Azure, the antagonists of Flux. Not much is known of Vinder's history, causing some to speculate over some fantastical theories, ranging from Vinder being the birth father of The Doctor to Vinder being a Time Lord himself. The end of Doctor Who series 13 saw Vinder and Kate leaving to travel together with Karvanista, so their reappearance together for Doctor Who's Centenary Special makes sense.