Doctor Who Actor Reveals Original Finale Ending Before Ncuti Gatwa's Exit Reshoots

The original ending of *Doctor Who*'s recently concluded second season—now marked by Ncuti Gatwa’s departure and the surprise appearance of Billie Piper—may have been revealed through a TikTok post by an actor involved in the finale. According to film and TV leaker Daniel Richtman, the episode was initially crafted with a very different conclusion before Gatwa's decision to exit the role led to significant reshoots earlier this year.

Richtman explained that the initial plan for the season finale featured The Doctor, Ruby, Belinda, and others enjoying a celebratory party. In the cut version, Susan (played by original series actress Carol Ann Ford) would be seen watching from a distance—setting up a potential storyline for Season 3. “It’s unclear how much of this has been salvaged into the new ending,” Richtman noted.

Now, these claims appear to be corroborated by Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps, the young actor who plays Poppy—one of the central characters in the season finale. Her TikTok account, managed by her mother, shared Richtman’s post and seems to confirm its accuracy. When fans questioned whether she had filmed such scenes or if the information was legitimate, the account liked their comments without direct denial.

Mavanga-Phipps’ account also hinted at further plot details, including a major revelation about Poppy’s character. Fans speculated that Poppy—who is technically the Doctor’s daughter from an alternate reality—was originally intended to be revealed as Susan’s mother, establishing a direct family link to the show’s earliest episodes. When asked about this, the account confirmed, “Mother.”

In response to fan disappointment over the lost storyline, the account reacted emotionally, writing, “Makes sense. That finale was shambles,” followed by crying emojis. When pressed for visual proof, the account replied, “I wish I could hun... but due to NDA I can't.”

Beyond the narrative changes, there are lingering signs of the original version of the finale still visible. A promotional image uploaded to Disney+ shows The Doctor and Belinda dancing at a party—an element consistent with Richtman’s description. Many fans believe this scene was part of the discarded ending.

Officially, Gatwa’s exit has been framed as a natural conclusion to his arc, with no indication it was unplanned. However, behind-the-scenes reports suggest that filming for the season originally wrapped in May 2024 under the assumption Gatwa would return for a third season. The reshoots incorporating his departure were carried out months later, in February 2025.

Adding to the mystery is the sudden inclusion of Billie Piper as a mysterious new character—filmed even later than Gatwa’s reshoots. This was subtly acknowledged during the latest episode of the official behind-the-scenes series *Unleashed*, where host Steffan Powell mentioned the cameo with unusual caution, implying the production team wasn’t informed beforehand.

This uncertainty extends to the future of *Doctor Who* itself. There has been no official word on renewal for a third season, nor confirmation about the continuation of the BBC’s partnership with Disney+. Meanwhile, the ambiguity surrounding Piper’s role continues to fuel speculation among fans about whether she is indeed the next Doctor—or something else entirely.