Billie Piper on Doctor Who: will the star return to the time travelling show - and what she said on Cameo

Billie Piper starred as Rose Tyler, the first companion to the Doctor in the 2005 Doctor Who reboot

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Billie Piper has said that she would be open to returning to Doctor Who, one of the biggest shows of all time.

Piper is known as one of the most iconic companions on the time travelling series, Rose Tyler, where she starred alongside Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant.

This is everything you need to know and what she said.

What did Billie Piper say?

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In a recent Cameo video, available publicly on her profile, Piper said that she would consider going back to the popular TV show if the time was right.

She said: “Would I ever go back? I think if the circumstances and the story were right.

“I feel that I’ve had enough time away from it to really, really want back in on it.

“I feel like my kids are at a good age and may appreciate that too, which is often my incentive to do anything.”

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Piper sounded much more enthusiastic at the prospect than she had earlier this year in an interview with The Guardian.

In the interview, from 30 January 2021, Piper said: “I wouldn’t go back. It’s a great role, but you’re away from your kids for so long.

“My experience was that you were in Wales for nine months solid. And as a job it dominates your life.

“It’s mainstream family viewing, so you can’t really escape it. It feels like it makes you very, very famous.”

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Piper’s openness to returning to the show has delighted Doctor Who fans, with many taking to social media to express their excitement - and their theories about her possible return.

One person wrote on Twitter: “If I saw Rose Tyler on my screen again I would burst into tears of joy. If I saw Rose Tyler on my screen again with any incarnation of the Doctor I would have a breakdown and would be incapacitated for weeks.”

Another tweeted: “Come back as Rose or the Doctor. I admit I’m going to miss Jodie yet I think Ms Piper would be good as Doctor Who.”

“Really would love to see even a glimpse of Ten and Rose from the parallel world. Billie Piper is wonderful in the role and I think it would be an interesting look at an older and more grown up Rose Tyler,” wrote another.

When was she on Doctor Who?

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It was announced in 2003 that Doctor Who would be returning to TV screens in 2005 after being off the air for 16 years. In 2004, it was confirmed that Piper would be taking on the role of Rose Tyler, the companion to the ninth and tenth incarnations of The Doctor, played by Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant respectively.

Piper was the main companion for the first two series of the new era of Doctor Who before leaving in the episode Doomsday, the final episode of the second series.

She returned to the show for a brief appearance in 2008, and reprised the role of Rose Tyler for the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who.

For her role as Rose Tyler, Piper picked up a number of awards, including Best Actress at the National Television Awards in 2005 and 2006, Best TV Actress at the 2006 Glamour Awards, Best Actress in 2005 and 2006 at the BBC Drama Awards and Woman of the Year at the GQ Magazine Awards.

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Piper’s other work includes Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Penny Dreadful, Collateral and the BAFTA award nominated I Hate Suzy.

What is Cameo?

Cameo is a website that allows fans to buy personalised video messages from their favourite celebrities, from athletes to film stars, musicians to content creators and more.

Users send their requests to celebrities on the platform and if the celebrity accepts they will then send a video message back.

Piper is not currently taking bookings at the moment, but the Cameo site is filled with other celebrities you can get a message from, including Ice Cube, Brian Cox, Gina Gershon, Carole Baskin and even Basil Brush. 

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