The BBC’s official Doctor Who social media accounts have been releasing multiple ‘WhoSpy’ photos. Here in this article, there are theories and breakdowns of those recent images.
David Tennant and Catherine Tate are returning for these specials set for November, 2023.
As well as Bernard Cribbins coming back, and there’s also Jacqueline King, Karl Collins, Bonnie Langford and newcomers to Doctor Who; Yasmin Finney, Neil Patrick Harris and Miriam Margolyes as the voice of Beep the Meep.
In the recent photos, these are hinting about what is happening in the three 60th Anniversary special episodes titled: The Star Beast, Wild Blue Yonder, and The Giggle.
A tribute to the inventor of televisions
The plans on the drawing board resemble the inventions by John Logie Baird; a Scottish inventor, who was working on creating the very first televisions, in the 1920s.
This theory was pointed out by X/Twitter user Doctor Who Filming Locations @set_dw.
It becomes more evident, that there’s a connection back to Baird, when there’s scenes in the teaser trailer to also suggest this.
In an earlier teaser trailer from May 13, 2023; the image on the screen resembles a colourized version of John Logie Baird’s January 26, 1926 first televised program of a ventriloquist dummy, nicknamed ‘Stookie Bill‘, on a screen, at the new UNIT HQ.
After Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor sees that recording on the screen, this must be what leads him to visit the 1920s, in order to figure out what is happening.
The TARDIS sits at the end of an alleyway.
In set photos, there’s more scenes in the streets, with Donna also walking with the Doctor. That also have posters referencing the same in the officialon the left side of the wall.
There are also people wearing 1920s period clothing, and vehicles matching that time, which suggests it is in the same episode, as the one with the plans. (likely to be The Giggle).
The posters are noticeably for Henriks Department Store, this is also referenced in the first Christopher Eccleston episode; where Rose Tyler worked, as well as The Runaway Bride that first featured Donna’s introduction, in David Tennant’s episodes.
The Celestial Toymakers shop?
It is a woodcarving that resembles The Celestial Toymaker’s clown called Joey, likely to be decor in a toyshop.
In set photos from June 2022, there’s also a toyshop called Mr. Emporium, with more 1920s posters, with the year being 1925… just a few months before John Logie Baird’s televised program. Maybe this is where Baird purchases the Ventriloquist from?
Could Neil Patrick Harris actually be playing the role of The Celestial Toymaker? It’s starting to seem a lot more likely.
Mysterious Language
There’s not really much known about this mysterious photo. This image resembles the blue background of the Wild Blue Yonder teaser from May; where David Tennant was standing there.
Usually, the TARDIS translates most languages in the universe, apart from ones that are extremely ancient like in a series 2 episode titled The Satan’s Pit; when the Doctor meets the Devil. All of Wild Blue Yonder plot still seems to be kept a secret.
The first part looks like the Roman Numerals for VII (Seven), although this is something that the TARDIS should be able to translate, if this was the case. Unless his TARDIS is broken due to his regeneration and can no longer offer translations?
In recent official photos, David Tennant is leaning out of the TARDIS that has orange smoke coming out of it.
What do you think the writing could mean? Write in the comments at the bottom of the article.
New technology at UNIT HQ
On the screen, there’s schematics for a new piece of technology called a Galvanic Beam. Galvanic does involve currents of electricity. It’s not clear what the use for this will be, although it seems that it may be a weapon.
In November 2022, there were satellite images revealing a UNIT HQ helipad, that resembles the schematics on that screen, and Mel (Bonnie Langford) was later in a photo on this same set, shared by showrunner Russell T Davies. Thanks to X user @DoctorWhoPN, who noticed the helipad article.
There’s also been marketing ramping up about the The Subwave Network returning, that could involve this technology; that was used by Sarah Jane Smith, Hariet Jones and Martha Jones.
A note is also on the desk, at UNIT HQ, that has ‘Tues – Thurs 9:30am’. Is the BBC planning on releasing episodes this early over 3 consecutive days?
New teaser from BBC One, also revealed more cryptic binary code, ahead of the show Strictly Come Dancing.
The binary code translates to ‘SATURDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER, BBC ONE, 6:13PM’ and ‘Their time has come…’, which could mean that there is maybe a new trailer coming next week.
