A DOCTOR WHO Special with 11 Doctors?!?!

Could it be true? Could the collective greatest dream of DOCTOR WHO fandom come true in this, the series’ 50^th anniversary year? I am referring, of course, to a special episode featuring all the living actors who have played the Doctor. But the newest rumor bouncing around the Internet today is that Steven Moffat is penning an episode incorporating all 11 Doctors — played by their original actors!

Now, before we get all teary-eyes over the prospect of David Tennant’s 10^th Doctor working alongside Peter Davison’s Fifth Doctor once again, or Matt Smith’s barking mad 11^th Doctor getting a hand from Patrick Troughton’s fussy Second Doctor, we need to take a deep breath and note that this is nothing more than a rumor.

And not even a very solid one, at that. The Birmingham Mail newspaper printed a story about an 11-Doctor special this morning without any sourcing or quotes — a sure sign that the story should be taken with a huge grain of salt (if not the entire salt shaker). Plus, certain details mentioned don’t really ring true.

Peter Davison, David Tennant, Paul McGann, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy are joined by Janet “Tegan” Fielding.

The Birmingham Mail wrote:

Show boss Steven Moffat is close to completing a script which will see the current Doctor, Matt Smith, needing the assistance of ALL his police box predecessors – even if three of them have died.

The half-century special, to be broadcast in November, will use studio trickery to resurrect the first three Doctors – William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee – in brief flashback scenes.

Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann have all signed up to record an anniversary audio adventure, and are keen to appear in the historic TV show, too.

Christopher Eccleston is said to be reconsidering an earlier decision not to take part, and David Tennant – a friend of Moffat – has hinted that he has been invited to reprise his role.

The final key to the special was Eccleston, who had previously said that he had no plans to return to the role but recently conceded he believed he “still had more to do with the character”. But companions such as Birmingham’s Arthur Darvill (Rory), Karen Gillan (Amy Pond), Billie Piper (Rose Tyler) and Freema Agyeman (Martha Jones) have all indicated that they are not involved.

There may, however, be a role for Alex Kingston, who plays the Doctor’s wife and who may be responsible for bringing all the previous incarnations together – against the Time Lord’s wishes.

Now, the Eccleston reference shows that the writer is confused about what Eccleston has said about playing the part of the Doctor — basically, that more can be done with the character; the role can be pushed farther than it has been so far — not that Eccleston himself has unfinished business with the role.

And that bit about River summoning the Doctor’s other incarnations against the Doctor’s wishes just doesn’t sound correct, since the story says the Doctor needs the help of his previous selves.

So, basically, the idea of an “11 Doctors” special would be terrific fun, we have no real reason to expect it will happen. This rumor is quite flimsy, even by rumor standards, so until I hear something from a Doctor or The Grand Moff himself, I’m treating this as not happening.