Warning: Spoilers ahead forDoctor Whoseason 14, episode 6, “Rogue.”
Summary
A version of the Doctor formerly scrubbed from theDoctor Whocanon was just teased in the show, which essentially makes it a matter of time before a certain actor comes back to join thecast ofDoctor Whoseason 15or beyond.The hidden iteration of the Time Lord appears so briefly inDoctor Whoseason 14, episode 6, “Rogue,” that it’s incredibly easy to miss, but hitting the pause button reveals a familiar face.
Ofevery actor to play the Doctor, the most well-known have applied their craft in live-action. However, certain versions of the franchise’s main character have appeared only in other mediums. Generally,only the live-action action portion of theDoctor Whouniverse is considered to be unequivocally canon, but one moment in “Rogue” suggests at least some of the stories outside the show are on the verge of being integrated into the main continuity.
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Doctor Who Can’t Avoid A Live-Action Cameo From Richard E. Grant’s Shalka Doctor Now
Grant’s face can be spotted among the Doctor holograms in “Rogue”
“Rogue” shows a holographic image of Richard E. Grant’s faceamong every live-action actor to play the Doctor so far.The moment is a nod to Grant’s voice role as an alternate Ninth Doctorin the 2003 animated series,Doctor Who: Scream of the Shalka. While there was initially some confusion at the time about whether the show was to be part of the main continuity, it ultimately became a self-contained, non-canonical adventure when the 2005 revival was announced. Now that Russell T Davies has included Grant’s face in live-action, a proper cameo from the actor feels inevitable.
With all the mysteries currently in motion inDoctor Who’s Disney era, it’s unlikely the Shalka Doctor will show up again before the end of season 14, but his presence could be felt sooner rather than later.
Because Christopher Eccleston officially became the Ninth Doctor, Grant’s iteration of the character is commonly referred to as the “Shalka Doctor.” At present, theShalka Doctor’s place in the timelinein relation to Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth is unclear, but his “Rogue” cameo carries with it too many implications for it to be just a simple nod to Grant’s past contributions to the franchise. With all the mysteries currently in motion inDoctor Who’s Disney era,it’s unlikely the Shalka Doctor will show up again before the end of season 14, but his presence could be felt sooner rather than later.
Richard E Grant Is The Greatest Doctor Who Actor Who Never Was
Grant has played the Doctor twice (even before “Rogue”)
It’s clear that Grant is well-suited to the role of the Doctor, as he’s not just played one version of the Time Lord. Other than the Shalka Doctor,the actor also played an alternate Tenth Doctor in a 1999Children in Needsketchcalled, “The Curse of Fatal Death.” Before the use of Grant’s face in “Rogue,” neither of his previous appearances as the Doctor had any impact on the larger universe of the show. Now, the third time around, Richard E. Grant is closer than ever to leaving a lasting mark on the mainDoctor Whocanon.
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Doctor Who: Released on June 07, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
