Why is there a newly designed Tardis? Russell T Davies of Doctor Who explains the reason

David Tennant has reprised his role as the titular hero of Doctor Who, for a few 60th anniversary special episodes. The arrangement is sadly temporary, only for three episodes, till the talented Ncuti Gatwa sat on the eponymous Time Lord’s throne. Showrunner Russel T. Davies revealed some interesting details to the press at a screening of the show’s first anniversary special episode.

The first 60th anniversary special episode, titled The Star Beast, aired yesterday, November 25. The episode featured a different TARDIS from the ones viewers had been last accustomed to. Russel Davies described the inimitable spaceship’s exciting new look, “I think I said: ‘Big and white,’ which it really is. I’ve got to say to Phil [Sims], who designed it, it’s such a piece of engineering. You’ve got to be able to walk on those walkways and run around.”

He further expressed his admiration, “That’s a proper working studio, with health and safety practices and things like that. Oh my God, it’s a piece of work. Then Davis gave his reasons for the choice of color and design. He had adored when “Clara flew off in a white TARDIS and then Jodie Whittaker had the fugitive Doctor and she had a white TARDIS.”

He fell in love with it over the years and finally chose to act upon it at an opportune moment, after pondering on it for a couple of years. The Star Beast’s spanking white TARDIS also featured a coffee machine, as a slight nod to the OG Doctor’s TARDIS. Russel Davies chuckled that David Tennant had initially been very excited to “run around” within the new TARDIS. But “after eight takes, [it was] not quite so funny. He was worn out by the end.”