An unreleased episode of Doctor Who featuring David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor could finally reach fans after gathering dust for nearly two decades. The shelved adventure, titled 'The Suicide Exhibition,' might see release in audio format seventeen years after being cut from the 2008 series.
The Indiana Jones-Style Adventure That Never Was
Written by acclaimed writer Mark Gatiss, the episode would have seen the Tenth Doctor facing off against Nazis in an action-packed story set within the British Museum. Described as having an Indiana Jones-style tone, the narrative would have involved the Time Lord navigating a puzzle box museum filled with sliding doors and traps.
Gatiss recently confirmed to Radio Times that he still possesses a copy of the script and revealed that audio drama company Big Finish has expressed interest in producing it. 'It's rather good, I think,' Gatiss stated about his unpublished work. 'Big Finish has expressed an interest. It's all gone very quiet, though. I'm waiting for that emergency phone call!'
From World War Evacuations to Nazi Confrontations
The episode's unusual title originates from real historical events during both World Wars. Gatiss explained that museums would create 'Suicide Exhibitions' - displays containing duplicate items they could afford to lose if bombed, while keeping their most precious artefacts safe in hidden locations like salt mines.
Originally, Gatiss drafted the story set during the First World War, but then-showrunner Russell T Davies suggested moving the action forward. 'Let's make it the Nazis and do the full Indiana Jones on it,' Davies reportedly told Gatiss, transforming the episode into the high-concept adventure that never reached production.
The episode was ultimately replaced in the 2008 series by 'The Fires of Pompeii,' which introduced Peter Capaldi as Caecilius years before he would become the Twelfth Doctor.
Doctor Who's Future Beyond Disney Partnership
The news about the potential release of the lost episode comes as the BBC confirms Doctor Who's future following Disney's departure from their partnership. The broadcaster has announced that Doctor Who will return with a Christmas Special in 2026, written by the returning Russell T Davies.
In an official statement, the BBC reaffirmed its commitment to the long-running science fiction series, promising that new episodes will be announced in due course and that 'the TARDIS remains at the heart of the BBC.'
For dedicated Whovians who have waited seventeen years to experience this lost chapter of Tenth Doctor history, the potential audio release represents an exciting opportunity to finally hear what might have been - a Nazi-fighting, puzzle-solving adventure that very nearly made it to television screens.
