Doctor Who's New Fan-Favorite Character Is A "One Off Character," Confirms Steven Moffat

Despite becoming one of the closest acquaintances of Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor in 2024, writer Steven Moffat has confirmed that a fan-favorite supporting character won't return to Doctor Who anytime soon. After debuting in 2023's final 60th-anniversary special "The Giggle", the Fifteenth Doctor became close to various characters across Doctor Who season 14, from a young woman in search of her mother, a soldier in an alien warzone, intergalactic bounty hunters, and new UNIT personal. In Moffat's 2024 Christmas special "Joy to the World", a lonely Fifteenth Doctor found himself getting acquainted with staff and guests at a futuristic hotel.

Despite being a highlight of the 2024 Christmas special, Moffat confirmed to RadioTimes that Steph de Whalley's Anita, a hotel manager whom the Fifteenth Doctor befriends during his year-long stay at the Sandringham Hotel, was intended as a one-off character. The writer jokes that Anita's extended role was the product of Doctor Who's budgetary restrictions for the seasonal episode's production. Rather than having the Doctor travel the globe to find a new access point to the Time Hotel, it was decided that the Time Lord would stay within Joy's (Nicola Coughlan) room until he had the opportunity to leave:

She is a one off character. She is, like all great things in Doctor Who, and this is a fact you can take from me, because I know my Doctor Who facts – all great things in Doctor Who are the result of a budget cut.
The spaceship looks like a phone box. Why? Because of a budget cut. That's exactly what Anita was, because we couldn't afford to send Ncuti Gatwa around the world trying to find another hotel.

Despite this restriction, Moffat chose to focus the Doctor's stay at the Sandringham Hotel on him developing a bond with Anita, with the writer highlighting de Whalley's performance as one of the episode's strongest additions. Check out Moffat's response below:

So we just turned it into a little, not exactly romance, but a sort of quasi-romance with Anita. So Anita is a budget cut, but that means in Doctor Who terms, that means Anita is one of the best things that happened.

What Moffat's Comments Reveal About Doctor Who's Future

Many Fans Quickly Theorized When & Where She May Return

Despite her being intended as a one-off character, Anita's bond with the Doctor left viewers eager to see more. Through their time together, Anita and the Doctor opened up to one another, allowing him to address his withdrawn nature. Though they may have parted ways, Doctor Who's 2024 Christmas special sees the Time Lord leave her a parting Christmas gift, offering her the opportunity to work in the Time Hotel and experience a wider universe.

With the special ending with Anita having a new role, many had theorized that de Whalley's character may have been set up for a future role in the series. Some fans had stated that they hope her new job could lead to a reunion with the Doctor and becoming a companion, while others speculated that Anita could be a young version of Anita Dobson's mysterious Mrs. Flood.However, Moffat's response is firm confirmation that, for the time being at least, Anita's time in the series has come to a close.

Our Thoughts On Anita's Doctor Who Future

Anita's Success Could Replicate Another Beloved Character's Tenure

While Moffat may have confirmed that de Whalley's time in the TARDIS is over, it is clear that he and the team behind Doctor Who recognize that fans have a strong level of affection for the character. As such, there may be a possibility that the character could return should the opportunity arise.

Catherine Tate's Donna Noble, another fondly remembered companion, was intended to be a one-off character for the 2006 Christmas special "The Runaway Bride", before returning showrunner Russell T Davies reworked the intended companion of "Penny" for Doctor Who season 4 into allowing an opportunity for Donna to reunite with David Tennant's Tenth Doctor. As such, Anita's popularity could lay the groundwork for her own reunion down the line.

Source: RadioTimes