Spot the Difference

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• Publication: Radio Times
• Date: 2023-11-04
• Author: Huw Fullerton
• Page: 6
• Language: English

TIME FOR A CHANGE

David Tennant makes his long-awaited return to Doctor Who later this month, but he's not the Doctor he, once was. Instead, he will appear as the new, 14th incarnation of the Time Lord, following on from Jodie Whittaker, complete with a new sonic screwdriver and a new Tardis.

So why does Tennant's Doctor loo strikingly similar to his former self? "The casual viewer might think I'm wearing the same costume as 15 years ago," the 52-year-old actor told RT in the summer, "but anyone who is more of a fan will see that it's actually a bit of a radical redesign."

Instead of his earlier Doctor's brown suit with blue pinstripes, Tennant now sports a custom patterned waistcoat and trousers, with a similarly bespoke blue coat (replacing his tan one) and knitted silk tie. His trademark Converse trainers are still in place, but the old cream and red colours have been swapped for a more muted grey. "There was a lot of debate about that," says Tennant. "Do we wear the same type of shoes? Or do we do a variation on a theme?"

The costume, designed by Pam Downe, may be familiar — it's still a suit, long overcoat and trainers, after all — but features different colours, tailoring and materials that speak to the years that have passed since Tennant's time on the show. "It is a very different costume, but it tells the same sort of story as the last one," he says. "'The same but different' was our watchword."

And happily, the outfit has passed one key test with fans — despite the custom elements, they have managed to start making their own. "I've already met several people in very excellent re-creations of it," says Tennant.

Doctor Who returns for three 60th anniversary specials, starting on Saturday 25 November on BBC1

DAVID TENNANT WAS SPEAKING BEFORE THE SAG-AFTRA ACTORS' STRIKE

Captions:

BLUE YONDER This bespoke Shetland tweed coat is narrower and more tailored than the Alcantara coat Tennant wore in Doctor Who from 2005 to 2010

SUITS WHO, SIR The new suit is made from a brown, blue and white checked material, and has a waistcoat rather than a full jacket

SUPER SONIC Like his outfit, the Doctor's new tool bears some similarities to his original sonic screwdriver — although it also appears inspired by Matt Smith's chunkier model

ALL TIED UP The 14th Doctor's knitted grey silk tie is a slightly more stylish accessory than the standard brown and blue ties Tennant previously donned for

THEN AND NOW David Tennant's original Doctor Who outfit (pictured above with Billie Piper in 2005) was inspired by a look worn by Jamie Oliver for an appearance on Parkinson

DOCTOR SHOE This Doctor still loves his Chuck Taylor Converse all-star trainers — albeit in a new colour

OFF THE CUFF Fans have spotted that in all preview pictures, only one of the Doctor's trouser legs is cuffed — did he get ready in a hurry, or is it a subtle hint to strange goings-on?

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• APA 6th ed.: Fullerton, Huw (2023-11-04). Spot the Difference. Radio Times p. 6.
• MLA 7th ed.: Fullerton, Huw. "Spot the Difference." Radio Times [add city] 2023-11-04, 6. Print.
• Chicago 15th ed.: Fullerton, Huw. "Spot the Difference." Radio Times, edition, sec., 2023-11-04
• Turabian: Fullerton, Huw. "Spot the Difference." Radio Times, 2023-11-04, section, 6 edition.
• Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Spot the Difference | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Spot_the_Difference | work=Radio Times | pages=6 | date=2023-11-04 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=28 April 2025 }}</ref>
• Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Spot the Difference | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Spot_the_Difference | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=28 April 2025}}</ref>