For fans of Doctor Who, deleted scenes are often a treasure trove—offering glimpses into untold storylines and lost emotional beats. But the latest release of deleted scenes from Doctor Who Season 15 has sparked frustration and speculation.
While the BBC’s newly released compilation includes extended moments from episodes like Joy to the World and Lucky Day, the most anticipated scene—a sequence featuring the Doctor’s granddaughter, Susan—is conspicuously absent. This omission has reignited long-standing fan theories about missing story arcs, the rewritten finale, and what The Reality War was truly meant to reveal.
As the fandom buzzes online, showrunner Russell T Davies and returning cast members have shed new light on what was cut, why it might have been erased, and what it means for the show’s uncertain future.
BBC Releases Doctor Who Season 15 Deleted Scenes
In a surprise drop this week, the BBC unveiled a compilation of deleted scenes from Doctor Who Season 15 on the official Doctor Who YouTube channel. The reel features several new moments, including:
- A lighthearted exchange between the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) in the Joy to the World Christmas special.
- Extended dialogue from Lucky Day, one of the season’s most critically discussed episodes.
- Additional footage from The Robot Revolution, the season premiere introducing new companion Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu).
However, the BBC’s curated compilation left out one highly anticipated sequence: Susan Foreman’s rumored return, played by original First Doctor companion Carole Ann Ford.
Doctor Who Season 15: Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Season Title | Doctor Who: Season 15 |
| Showrunner | Russell T Davies |
| Lead Actor (Doctor) | Ncuti Gatwa |
| Companions | Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) |
| Main Antagonist | Sutekh / Mrs. Flood (Anita Dobson) |
| Finale Title | The Reality War |
| Deleted Scenes Released | Joy to the World, Lucky Day, The Robot Revolution |
| Missing Deleted Scene | Susan Foreman’s return in The Reality War |
| Upcoming Release | Doctor Who Christmas Special 2026 |
| Next Lead Doctor | Billie Piper |
The Missing Scene: Susan’s Return in “The Reality War”
Reports first surfaced in early 2025 that Carole Ann Ford had filmed a cameo for the Season 15 finale, “The Reality War.” According to production insiders and a promotional still briefly uploaded to the BBC press site, the scene depicted Susan and a young child—believed to be Poppy (Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps)—watching the Doctor and Belinda dance at a celebratory gathering.
It was to be a poetic moment: a bridge between the Doctor’s earliest family ties and his new found family in the modern era. But when The Reality War aired, the sequence was missing, and the finale’s tone had shifted dramatically—reshaped into a more somber farewell for Gatwa’s Doctor, culminating in his surprise regeneration into Billie Piper.
“I did film a little something,” Ford confirmed in an interview earlier this year. “It was brief, but beautiful. I’m not sure if or when fans will ever see it.”
Why the Scene Was Cut?: Rewrites and Regeneration
Industry sources and showrunner Russell T Davies have hinted that the Season 15 finale underwent significant rewrites in post-production after Gatwa’s decision to exit the series earlier than planned.
The revised script introduced:
- A surprise cameo by Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor.
- A tonal shift toward closure and emotional farewell.
- The regeneration twist into Billie Piper—a move reportedly filmed at the last minute.
These changes may have rendered Susan’s return incompatible with the new narrative focus. According to production rumours, the original cut of The Reality War explored a larger family storyline involving Susan and Poppy, potentially hinting that Poppy’s existence was tied to the Doctor’s long-mysterious lineage.
“There were hints about the Doctor’s family that we decided to hold back on,” a production source told Doctor Who Magazine. “The new direction required a tighter emotional scope around the Doctor’s goodbye.”
Fan Theories: Poppy, Susan, and the Family Connection
The absence of the Susan scene hasn’t stopped fans from theorizing. On forums and social media, many speculate that Poppy—the child born in Wish World to the Doctor and Belinda—was meant to be connected to Susan in some way.
| Theory | Possible Implication |
|---|---|
| Poppy is Susan’s ancestor or parallel self | Explains how Susan exists despite unclear parentage. |
| Timeline reconstitution altered family history | Poppy’s survival after timeline collapse hints at temporal anomalies. |
| Susan’s cameo foreshadowed future storylines | Suggests that the Doctor’s family arc will continue post-regeneration. |
In the broadcast version, however, Poppy was rewritten as an ordinary human child with no temporal abilities—effectively erasing one of Doctor Who’s longest-running mysteries.
“That edit felt like a reset button,” said Dr. Talia Newman, a media historian at the University of London. “It closed off a decades-old question just when it seemed ready to be answered.”
Russell T Davies Confirms More Deleted Content Exists
In a recent column for Doctor Who Magazine, Russell T Davies confirmed that other major scenes—including a different introduction for Belinda Chandra—were also removed before the final broadcast.
“There was a very different opening for Belinda,” Davies wrote. “We filmed scenes with her mother, Lakshmi, and Aunty Devika, but they didn’t survive the first edit. Sometimes you can’t see the obvious until it’s staring you in the face.”
While Davies did not comment directly on the missing Susan sequence, he did hint that “more deleted scenes may be released” in the future, potentially through Doctor Who Magazine or a special edition home release.
| Deleted Scene Type | Episode | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Belinda’s Family Introduction | The Robot Revolution | Not released |
| Susan’s Return | The Reality War | Missing / Not included |
| Extended Party Sequence | Wish World | Released |
| Ruby & The Doctor’s Christmas Scene | Joy to the World | Released |
Behind the Scenes: The Reality of Production Edits
Cutting scenes is standard practice in television editing—especially in serialized storytelling like Doctor Who. However, removing a major cameo tied to one of the franchise’s foundational characters is a rare and controversial move.
“It’s a delicate balance,” said Mark Harris, a senior BBC drama editor. “Every cut changes tone, pacing, and sometimes the mythology. But a finale must always serve the lead’s emotional arc first.”
Fans, though, aren’t letting go. Theories about the “lost version” of The Reality War continue to trend across Reddit and X (formerly Twitter), with some calling for a director’s cut release featuring all missing material.
What’s Next for Doctor Who?
Doctor Who will next return with its 2026 Christmas Special, followed by a new full season expected to star Billie Piper’s Doctor—a casting twist that has divided audiences but sparked massive online engagement.
In the meantime, viewers can explore the show’s expanding universe through spinoff series “The War Between the Land and the Sea,” which premieres mid-2026.
Whether the BBC ever releases Susan’s missing scene remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Doctor Who continues to thrive on mystery—both on screen and off.
Conclusion
In true Doctor Who fashion, even its deleted scenes have become the stuff of myth. The missing Susan sequence—once poised to tie together decades of lore—remains an enigma, buried under editorial necessity and shifting creative priorities.
As the series moves into a bold new era under Billie Piper’s Doctor, one question lingers across time and space: will the Doctor’s family ever come full circle? Until then, fans can only wait—and rewatch—hoping that the lost pieces of The Reality War eventually find their way home.
FAQs
They are available now on the official Doctor Who YouTube channel.
Yes. Carole Ann Ford confirmed she filmed a cameo scene for The Reality War, though it was cut from the final edit.
Likely due to major script rewrites following Ncuti Gatwa’s exit and the addition of Billie Piper’s regeneration twist.
Showrunner Russell T Davies has hinted that additional deleted scenes could appear in future releases or magazine features.
The next confirmed instalment is the 2026 Christmas Special, with full Season 16 expected in 2027.
