The news that actor Jodie Whitaker and showrunner Chris Chibnall were leaving Doctor Who and former showrunner Russell T Davies is returning is well known.
However, there was some uncertainty about whether current companions Mandip Gill and John Bishop would also be leaving or continuing into Davies’ second term, but that appears to have been settled now.
In September, Bishop posted a video on Twitter confirming that he is wrapped up in the show. This is unsurprising as Bishop is one of Britain’s most famous, successful and in-demand comedians and TV presenters; it was unlikely that he would take a long-term career break to do Doctor Who.
John Bishop has wrapped on Doctor Who. #dwsr pic.twitter.com/l9puoKuHzZ
— Doctor Who Production News (@DoctorWhoPN) September 20, 2021
Mandip Gill’s departure was also confirmed on Twitter by Doctor Who Magazine’s 2022 Yearbook.
🚨NEWS!!🚨
— WilliamWho (@BBCWilliamWho) December 30, 2021
Mandip Gill has confirmed her Doctor Who exit.
"It just feels like I'll stop then I'll come back again. I think I'll have to be away for a while before it hits me: I'm actually not coming back to Cardiff."
Jodie, Mandip & John are expected to depart Autumn 2022. pic.twitter.com/Oo4vBywTxO
Unlike the classic series of Doctor Who, the new series has tried to introduce a new Doctor and companions simultaneously whenever a new showrunner takes over. In 2010, Steven Moffat took over with Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor, and in 2018, Chris Chibnall took over with Whitaker as the Thirteenth Doctor.
Gill’s character, Yaz Khan, made her debut in the Thirteenth Doctor’s first full story, The Woman Who Fell to Earth, in 2018 and will depart in a special expected to air in October 2022 when the Thirteenth Doctor regenerates into the Fourteenth.
As a result, Yaz will become the longest-running companion of all time in terms of tenure (serving over four years) even though she ranks around ninth in terms of screen time, just losing out to Amy and Rose but not quite matching Clara among modern companions, and some distance behind Jamie Anderson and Sarah Jane Smith among classic companions.
Russell T Davies will be able to start fresh with his first episode (already written), which will serve as the show’s 60th anniversary special and will air in the week of 23 November 2023.
Before the current Doctor Who cast departs, they have a few more specials to share with us. The first, “Eve of the Daleks,” airs this weekend! You can watch the preview for it below.
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