TV & Showbiz

Doctor Who fans left scratching their heads over new star following ‘surprise’ regeneration

Here's a clue... violets are blue.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 2nd June 2025

Thousands of Doctor Who fans have been left scratching their heads following the most recent season finale and yet another regeneration that absolutely NO ONE was expecting.

Seriously, if you predicted this, then you’re just lying.

Following the series 15 conclusion – or rather the ‘second’ under the Disney+ umbrella – which saw Ncuti Gatwa vacate the moniker after just two series, showrunner Russell T Davies made his first real big splash since returning to the franchise.

If you’re looking for just one singular meme that sums up the general audience’s reaction to the episode, look no further:

Doctor Who remains one of the most iconic British TV shows of all time, but it’s fair to say it hasn’t been without its ups and downs over the years, and this latest turn has proved just as divisive.

ADVERTISEMENT

After being first brought back from a 16-year hiatus following the sci-fi series’ original run from 1963 to 1989, the latest iteration is now two decades and six new Doctors in.

Or is that seven?…

ADVERTISEMENT

Sex Education star Gatwa may be the 15th Doctor all told (with David Tennant’s own mini return marking number 14), but it looks like the latest might be former reboot star Rose Tyler herself, a.k.a. Billie Piper.

Remaining tight-lipped on social media, Billie has said little more than fans will have to “wait and see”, as well as her cryptic “a rose is a rose” post; as for the BBC themselves, they have only offered a press release, teasing that “just how and why she [Billie Piper] is back remains to be seen…”

In case you haven’t seen it yet, let’s all watch it together in real time, shall we?

ADVERTISEMENT
What a surprise!

While there are plenty of clues and theories now being picked apart by so-called ‘Whovians’, we have little more evidence than the scene itself and the final line in the end credits of the episode, which read: “Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor. Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor. And introducing Billie Piper”.

Plenty of fans are obviously over the moon to see the 42-year-old back on board, regardless of the circumstances, but it hasn’t stopped them from tying themselves up in knots of confusion, especially given the very obvious canon questions posed following the reveal.

For anyone not even remotely clued up on her connection to the show, Billie Piper previously played Rose Tyler – the first companion of the modern era, who has returned for a number of cameos in the past – but (no spoilers), having her return as not just a different character but THE Doctor seems rather complex.

Nevertheless, the speculation that has ensued online since the reveal has been enjoyable on both sides of the argument.

Since the recent rebrand to make the show more palatable to American and global viewers, there has been a noticeable increase in the community’s presence online.

ADVERTISEMENT

One overseas fan wrote X: “It’s been 20 years and Rose Tyler is still my favourite companion, she was my first after all. In whatever incarceration Billie Piper shows up as, it just reminds me of being a teen again, being introduced to this wild British TV show on the SciFi channel.

As far as our opinion, we’re only casual Doctor Who fans, but we can’t lie, we’re pretty excited to see whatever they have in store.

What do you make of the whole thing? Is Billie Piper really going to become the new Doctor and, if so, are you on board, or are you in the camp of it’s a bit of opportunistic lip service for fans?

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — BBC (press images/screenshot)

TV & Showbiz

Jane McDonald announces huge new arena tour, with gig in Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Jane McDonald announces huge new arena tour, with gig in Manchester. Credit: Matt Crockett

National treasure Jane McDonald has just announced a brand-new arena tour, including a show here in Manchester.

The singing sensation has shared details of a new UK tour and album for 2026, with the Living The Dream tour hitting 19 stages.

Jane McDonald, star of stage and screen, will be performing at the AO Arena in Manchester next September, following the release of her new album in the spring.

Living The Dream is her 11th studio album, and boasts nine original songs plus four re-workings of country classics.

Jane has been a British icon ever since she appeared in the BBC docusoap The Cruise back in 1998.

Since then she’s sold out some of the world’s most iconic venues, including the Royal Albert Hall and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

As well as her singing and stage career, she’s known for her TV work including the BAFTA Award-winning Channel 5 series Cruising with Jane McDonald, Celebrity Gogglebox with best friend Sue Ravey on Celebrity Gogglebox, and her starring position on Loose Women.

She’s also recently launched her sold-out cruise charter, Cruise with Jane McDonald, with a seven-night round-trip for 1,400 fans planned for next October.

Before heading out on tour, TV audiences will also see Jane undertaking an ocean expedition for Jane McDonald: From Pole to Pole, where she’ll be travelling from the Antarctic to the Arctic.

In May 2026 Jane will headline the main stage at Mighty Hoopla festival in London in her first ever festival headline appearance.

Making the announcement, Jane said: “It’s true, I am officially Living The Dream so what better way to celebrate that than with a new album and a new tour.

“I love Country music and I love partying with you so I want to bring that together by bringing you some exciting new music along with the songs you know and love.

“We had brilliant fun on the last tour and we’re stepping it up a notch this time to visit even bigger venues so buckle up and let’s make even more memories together.”

Jane McDonald will play the AO Arena in Manchester on Thursday 10 September.

Tickets will go on sale at 10am on Friday 28 November HERE, but you can pre-order Jane’s album HERE for access to the pre-sale.

  • 28 Aug DERBY, Vaillant Live
  • 29 Aug BLACKPOOL, Opera House
  • 30 Aug BLACKPOOL, Opera House
  • 1 Sep NEWCASTLE, O2 City Hall
  • 2 Sep ABERDEEN, P&J Live
  • 4 Sep GLASGOW, SEC Armadillo
  • 5 Sep EDINBURGH, Usher Hall
  • 7 Sep BRIGHTON, Brighton Centre
  • 8 Sep NOTTINGHAM, Motorpoint Arena
  • 10 Sep MANCHESTER, AO Arena
  • 11 Sep LIVERPOOL, M&S Bank Arena
  • 12 Sep BIRMINGHAM, Utilita Arena
  • 15 Sep LONDON, The London Palladium
  • 16 Sep LONDON, The London Palladium
  • 20 Sep BELFAST, Waterfront Hall
  • 23 Sep SHEFFIELD, Utilita Arena
  • 24 Sep BOURNEMOUTH, BIC
  • 25 Sep CARDIFF, Utilita Arena
  • 25 Sep LEEDS, First Direct Arena

Read more

Featured image: Matt Crockett

TV & Showbiz

Bongo’s Bingo is hosting a series of special ‘Christmas Cracker’ and New Year’s shows

Danny Jones Danny Jones Bongo's Bingo Christmas New Year's Eve show dates 2025

Britain’s beloved Bongo’s Bingo is hosting a series of massive end-of-season specials to ring in the new year, announcing a number of their famous ‘Christmas Cracker’ and festive parties.

They’re also holding a ‘Big Fat Bingo of the Year’ (we don’t see any trademark issues whatsoever…), including one for NYE.

As one of the best nights out, not just in the North but in the country, they’re hoping to send you into 2026 singing, dancing, laughing, and hopefully with some lasting memories and maybe a prize or two.

Confirming the latest raft of shows starting this month, you can expect all the usual Bongo’s madness and more, plus all the bells and whistles, as well as plenty of tinsel and holiday cheer.

bongo's bingo mcr dates 2025
We’d love a new hoover for Christmas, to be fair. (Credit: Press shot)

Returning to Albert Hall as it regularly does throughout the rest of the calendar, Bongo’s Bingo is promising to give Manchester a Christmas and New Year’s period they’ll never forget.

As they put it, the hosts will be “transporting everyone back to the time when coloured tree lights and flammable tinsel ruled supreme, because the halcyon days of turkey with all the trimmings, mini bottles of Babycham and not a naughty elf in sight are BACK big time at Bongo’s Bingo.”

Bloomin’ ‘eck, they don’t half know how to get a crowd fired up even before they’re in the room, do they?

Set to deliver all the best festive tunes, “dodgy Santa Clauses” – their words, not ours – as well as plenty of foil hats fresh from the Christmas cracker, they’ll be partying with us Mancs multiple times throughout December, not to mention a bonus show at the end of November as we fully swap autumn for winter.

As for the ‘Twixmas’/’Christmas gooch’ period (again, not our words…), the format will then switch to the Big Fat Bingo of the Year, with quiz elements featuring all the biggest memes, tunes and cultural moments of 2025. 

You can see the full list of Bongo’s Bingo festive dates for 2025 down below:

Bongo’s Bingo Christmas Cracker and Big Fat Bingo of the Year dates

Christmas Cracker

  • November – Fri, 28
  • December – Sat 6 Dec (day and night), Sat 20 Dec, Sun 21 (day), Mon 22 and Tues 23

Big Fat Bingo Of The Year

  • Sat, 27 Dec (day and night), Sun 28 (day) and NYE 2025

If you’re interested in booking onto Bongo’s Bingo this Christmas and/or New Year’s, you can find out more information and grab your tickets right HERE.

This festive period really is shaping up nicely.

First look at Albert Square as Manchester Christmas Markets return to their spiritual home

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press shots (supplied)

More TV & Showbiz

Mary Earps drama Hannah Hampton explained

News

The Mary Earps drama and why she’s catching flak – explained

Aitch's brief statement as Moston rapper heads into the I'm A Celebrity jungle

Audio

Aitch’s brief statement as Moston rapper heads into the I’m A Celebrity jungle

Erling Haaland YouTube channel best funniest bits

Cheshire

We’ve got a new favourite TV show: Erling Haaland’s YouTube channel

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches