Doctor Who's Original Finale Cut Before Gatwa Reshoots

The original ending for Doctor Who's recently concluded second season — which now features Ncuti Gatwa's departure and Billie Piper's unexpected appearance — appears to have been verified by a TikTok account belonging to an actor who appeared in the finale.

Before the finale aired, film and TV leaker Daniel Richtman claimed online that the episode was initially planned to conclude differently. However, after Gatwa's decision to leave the lead role, extensive reshoots were conducted earlier this year to incorporate his exit.

Now, Richtman's account of the episode's original ending seems to have been corroborated by the TikTok account of Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps, the young actor who plays Poppy, a key character in the finale.

"The original ending of Dr Who S2 (before the reshoots) featured The Doctor, Ruby, Belinda, and others at a grand celebration," Richtman wrote. "Susan was seen watching them from a distance, setting up a cliffhanger for Season 3."

"It remains unclear how much of this version made it into the revised ending," he added.

Mavanga-Phipps' TikTok account, managed by the actor’s mother, has reposted Richtman’s claims, suggesting they are accurate. Fans responded with curiosity—asking if she filmed that portion—while others lamented the altered conclusion. The account replied to some comments with emojis, including crying and laughing reactions.

When pressed for images of the deleted scene, Mavanga-Phipps' account stated, "I wish I could, but my NDA prevents it."

Further insight came from Mavanga-Phipps’ account, confirming fan theories: her character Poppy—technically The Doctor's daughter from a parallel reality—was originally set to be revealed as the mother of Susan, his iconic granddaughter from the classic series.

After a long absence, Susan (played by original actress Carol Ann Ford) made a cameo this season, aligning with initial plans for her to play a larger role in the next season—which is currently on hold.

"So Poppy was supposed to be Susan's mother?" a fan asked on TikTok. "Yes," Mavanga-Phipps' account replied.

Another fan expressed disappointment, writing, "Still can't believe we missed out on the perfect Poppy-Susan ending." The account responded with a laughing emoji.

Official press releases and the behind-the-scenes series *Unleashed* vaguely addressed Gatwa’s exit, presenting it as always part of the plan. However, production insiders believe filming for Season 2 originally wrapped in May 2024—before Gatwa’s departure reshoots occurred in February 2025.

Additional evidence of the original version remains—including a Disney+ promotional photo showing The Doctor and Belinda dancing, a moment absent from the final edit. Fans speculate this was Richtman’s described party sequence.

Showrunner Russell T Davies has stated Gatwa's tenure was always set for this length, though the BBC reportedly hoped to film a third season by now. No official renewal has been announced, nor has Disney+ confirmed the continuation of its deal.

Billie Piper's abrupt cameo appears to have been filmed even later than Gatwa’s exit, as hinted in *Unleashed*’s latest episode. Host Steffan Powell noted the documentary team was unaware of her return—an odd omission given their coverage of other reshoots, including Gatwa’s departure and Jodie Whittaker’s cameo.

This secrecy fuels speculation: Is Piper actually the next Doctor? The ambiguity only deepens uncertainty about the show’s future.