Comic Relief 2023 Sees Lenny Henry Regenerate Into David Tennant

The BBC’s Comic Relief 2023 coverage (17 March) saw Sir Lenny Henry regenerate into David Tennant in the evening’s opening sketch.

In the clip, an assistant can be seen knocking on Henry’s dressing room door, and the actor and TV host felt unwell moments before it went on air.

“I have to stop eating them all you can for hotel breakfasts,” he said while feeling visible pain.

“What I need is a Doctor,” he added, before being enveloped in the iconic glow seen when a Time Lord regenerates.

comic relieffake images

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He then transforms into the Fourteenth Doctor, with Tennant appearing in his new doctor who costume, before his return to the sci-fi series for this year’s 60th anniversary specials.

“I know these teeth,” Tennant said, before realizing that he was now in charge of hosting duties.

“Am I going to host Comic Relief?” he added she, before running out of the dressing room.

Moments later, Tennant was seen onstage, changing out of his costume into a red and black suit while explaining why Lenny Henry was absent from the show.

“For the first time in the history of Comic Relief, we are flying without our captain, Sir Lenny Henry. He is in the middle of another project, but before he regenerated, he made a little film for us,” the actor said.

doctor who 60th anniversary, david tennant as the doctor

BBC

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Despite Henry’s absence from the show, viewers were amused by Tennant’s performance and delivered their verdict on social media.

“BBC counts how many actors they get to regenerate into David Tennant,” one user joked, while another speculated if Lenny Henry as a time lord was now canon.

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doctor who returns later in 2023 on BBC One in the UK and Disney+ elsewhere. Meanwhile, in the US, the show airs on BBC America, with series 1-12 available on hbo max. Classic doctor who currents in BritBox in the United Kingdom.