An ongoing BBC sketch comedy series has mocked elements of Doctor Who‘s latest season and Ncuti Gatwa’s regeneration following the season 15 finale. Doctor Who season 15 is the latest for the BBC’s long-running sci-fi show, but also one marred by rumors of a grim future for the show. Viewership for the series is the lowest the show has seen since before its 2005 revival, while there have been complaints levied against the series for addressing modern social issues in new episodes. This culminated in the season 15 finale, where Gatwa’s Doctor reincarnated into Billie Piper, who previously played Rose.
Now, Cameron Yarde Jnr has posted a video to X of the BBC’s comedy series Dead Ringers season 26, episode 1, which mocks the latest season of Doctor Who. In the radio sketch, a parody episode of the show plays out, where Gatwa’s Doctor is told by Commander Stewart about “a CGI monster from another dimension” he has to defeat. He asks for hugs and a pep talk from her, causing the monster to “[die] of cringe.“ The Doctor later brags about regenerating as Piper “for clicks.” Check out the full sketch below:
What Dead Ringers’ Sketch Says About Doctor Who Season 15
The Comedy Series Is Using Real Complaints As Inspiration
Dead Ringers seems to have pulled inspiration for their sketch from real complaints that have been levied against the latest episodes of the show. This includes directly addressing the series as “woke,” a catch-all that’s become part of the show’s criticism online. It also makes fun of what characters in Doctor Who say to inspire one another, with the monster eventually being defeated because of it. By pulling from common complaints about the latest episode, the sketch offers some common reactions from detractors, but in a more comedic fashion.
The prospect of Billie Piper playing Doctor Who’s Sixteenth Doctor is an exciting one, but there is one big condition for the casting to work.
The same goes for how it discusses the end of Doctor Who season 15, accusing the show of bringing Piper back for the shock value of having the Doctor’s regeneration look like a past companion. While Dead Ringers offers a platform for these critiques, the BBC sketch comedy series pokes fun at a number of subjects throughout its episodes. At the same time, the series becoming a target for mockery on such a scale may not be a great development, especially when the BBC have yet to renew the show for season 16.
Our Take On Dead Ringers’ Doctor Who Parody Sketch
It Taps Into Sensationalism – But Also Some Genuine Critiques
Dead Ringers‘ sketch is tapping into sensationalist criticisms of the sci-fi show, such as it being labeled as “woke” for its inclusive approach to its stories. At the same time, it also addresses some genuine critiques, such as whether Piper’s return was used to generate more interest given the series’ dwindling ratings. Given the uncertainty of Doctor Who‘s future and if season 16 will happen, though, this latest sketch seems to be kicking the series while it’s down.
Source: Cameron Yrde Jnr/X
5/10
Release Date
December 25, 2023
Directors
Douglas Camfield, David Maloney, Christopher Barry, Michael E. Briant, Barry Letts, Michael Ferguson, Richard Martin, Peter Moffatt, Pennant Roberts, Lennie Mayne, Chris Clough, Ron Jones, Paddy Russell, Paul Bernard, Michael Hayes, Timothy Combe, Morris Barry, Gerald Blake, Graeme Harper, Waris Hussein, Rodney Bennett, Mervyn Pinfield, Hugh David, John Gorrie
Writers
Russell T. Davies, Dave Gibbons, Kate Herron, Steven Moffat
Franchise(s)
Doctor Who / Whoniverse
