The biggest unkept secret in fandom has now been made public, John Barrowman is coming back to Doctor Who!
After a brief ‘hello how are you?” cameo last season many fans felt that tease meant that a Captain Jack Harkness return was imminent, most likely in the holiday special. This week the suspicions were proven true when it was announced that everyone’s favorite pansexual, cajoling companion was set to appear in the 2020 holiday special, entitled Revolution of the Daleks.
Showrunner Chris Chibnall commented on Barrowman’s return. “A Doctor Who Festive Special means treats galore, and there’s no bigger treat than the return of John Barrowman to Doctor Who, for an epic and emotional feature-length episode.”
Barrowman’s return could bring a spike in ratings for the show which saw a dip in numbers during Season 12. While not plot info has been released, it has been revealed that Captain Jack will aid the Doctor’s companions in battling the Daleks while also busting her out of prison.
Since arriving to the show in 2005, John Barrowman has never relented in being a fan favorite. And while it seems as if his appearance here is more of a one of than a semi-regular guest spot, fans are nonetheless overjoyed to have him back. Sharing their excitement is Barrowman himself, who spoke about his glorious return.
“If anyone can blast away the sheer rubbishness of 2020, it’s Captain Jack. Daleks beware!” He added, “Putting on Jack’s coat and setting foot back on the set of Doctor Who was just like going back home. It’s always thrilling to play Captain Jack. He’s a character very close to my heart who changed my life, and to know the fans love him as much as I do makes his return even sweeter. I hope everyone enjoys Jack’s heroic adventure with Thirteen.”
Here is a super short teaser trailer.
It will be interesting to see how the Captain interacts with Jodie Whittaker’s 13th Doctor. There will undoubtedly be some memorable moments that will make the fans happy. While not on screen since The End of Time in 2010, Captain Jack has been up to his usual shenanigans for Big Finish audio.
It also will be interesting to see if Torchwood ties into any of this. That is doubtful, but Chibnall has teased that story arc was not completely over with.
Revolution of the Daleks airs over the holidays on BBC One in the UK and on BBC America in the United States.
