Rumours abound that Doctor Who Series 14 will feature a musical episode, something that a not-inconsiderable portion of fandom has been asking for for some time now.
Yesterday (8th May 2023), Fifteenth Doctor actor, Ncuti Gatwa, and Millie Gibson, who plays new companion, Ruby Sunday, were seen crossing Abbey Road, a la The Beatles’ much-loved album; a Beatle car, similar to the one seen on said album’s cover, was also apparently on location. Gatwa and Gibson were reportedly dressed in 1960 garb too.
But such speculation doesn’t solely stem from this. It also hails from the casting announcements of Jinkx Monsoon and Jonathan Groff, both of whom have histories with musicals.
Groff, for instance, starred in Frozen, Glee, and Hamilton, while Monsoon is an actor, singer and stage performer with great vocal range. The latter’s costume also features piano keys around the collar. Plus, it doesn’t seem like a coincidence that showrunner, Russell T Davies, has chosen now to reveal that Murray Gold is coming back to the show.
So a musical episode of Doctor Who is looking quite likely — but (does best Simpsons impression) it’s been done.
Yes, we’ve had musical episodes before! Here’s looking at you, The Rings of Akhaten. The whole story hinged on the power of music (and faith), with Emilia Jones singing her heart out as Merry.
Other musical segments in Doctor Who include The Beatles themselves showing up in The Chase, the Master dancing away to Boney M in The Power of the Doctor, the Master also joyfully lording it over the Doctor and Earth in The Sounds of Drums/ Last of the Time Lords, Katherine Jenkins singing to a shark in A Christmas Carol, and the Doctor and Ace disrupting the Cybermen with a bit of jazz in Silver Nemesis.
And who could forget The Gunfighters. An absolute banger, I’m sure you’ll agree.
“Ah,” I hear you say, “but a musical episode will no doubt feature the Doctor singing. None of your examples (except The Rings of Akhaten) includes the Doctor belting out a tune.”
Pfft. I see your “the Doctor doesn’t sing”, and I raise you a “Klokeda partha mennin klatch, haroon, haroon, haroon”…
