April 14, 2026
Two decades since they set off for New Earth, guest writer Beth Axford shares how this TARDIS team dynamic has impacted a generation of fans…
Fish ‘n’ Chips, Rock 'n' Roll, Chaka Demus 'n' Pliers… The Tenth Doctor ‘n’ Rose Tyler. That’s how well they fit together.
Twenty years on from their single, wondrous series, the pair are still one of the most iconic Doctor-companion duos in Doctor Who history. Was it their heartbreaking love story that had everyone gripped? The spark between actors David Tennant and Billie Piper? Or was it simply that their adventures were so fun?
It’s almost universally agreed that the chemistry between David Tennant and Billie Piper is a huge part of why the duo have been so adored for the past 20 years. “I think the popularity of the Tenth Doctor and Rose is directly linked to the energy that David and Billie projected,” says Nicholas Briggs, voice of the Daleks and Cybermen . “I'm not a spiritual person, but I can't deny that their energy on set and the way they worked with everyone around them created a real warm glow on the series at that time.”
It’s obvious – in behind-the-scenes clips and interviews – that David and Billie adored each other and were having a great time running down corridors and defeating monsters. “They were so generous and inclusive and created a really happy, enthusiastic atmosphere that everyone working with them responded to,” adds Briggs. “And that positivity and warmth went straight through the lens and onto the screen, which is why everyone watching loved them so much.”
Doctor Who writer Juno Dawson thinks that the relationship between the two just felt right. “Rarely, in 60-odd years, has there been more je ne sais quoi than with David Tennant and Billie Piper,” she says. “Throughout the series, it's abundantly obvious they are having the time of their lives and, vitally, so are the Doctor and Rose.”
Even during their darkest moments, the Tenth Doctor and Rose still found time to laugh. When faced with terrifying Cybermen, a very hungry television or the literal devil, the TARDIS travellers took it in their stride, finding comfort in one another. Perhaps their adventures have been so celebrated over the past two decades because we find so much comfort in them, two characters that can help us see the bright side in any situation.
Crucially, this was the first time in the show’s history that a romantic connection between the Doctor and a companion had been written in as a plot line. Sure, the Eighth Doctor had snogged Grace Holloway in the 1996 TV Movie, but the growing romance between the Doctor and Rose was woven through every story, unfolding slowly over the course of their escapades.
Juno Dawson thinks it was an integral change to the show’s formula. “I think we forget now exactly how fundamental it was to steer the Doctor into something resembling a romantic connection with his companion, but the show had to evolve,” she says. “The common criticism of Series 2 is that the Doctor and Rose are somewhat ‘Smug Marrieds’...well, duh! I think that's the point? That's what's so special about Series 2; it's all building up to that catastrophic heartbreak…”
Is there anything we love more than watching two people fall for each other? The relationship between the Doctor and Rose transcended their species or background, making for unmissable television. "Over thirteen episodes, they completely reinvented what the Doctor/companion dynamic could be," says Liam Tipper, co-host of the Says Who podcast. "They gave us a timeless story of two star-crossed lovers travelling the universe, before fate cruelly tore them apart.
"Russell T Davies and his writing team retooled the core premise of Doctor Who to become what is essentially a series of dates throughout time and space – often rudely interrupted by monsters and/or an imminent apocalypse."
One was a normal girl from a normal world; the other, and an ancient adventurer who could go anywhere in the universe. They may have been worlds apart – and worlds away from ours – yet they worked, because they were so real. The intricate and accessible writing throughout the series made this love story stand the test of time (and space). Rose was young, tenacious and brave, but she also had her flaws. The Doctor was clever, kind and powerful, but he wasn’t always perfect. They grew together despite their imperfections, which has resonated with many fans over the years.
"It was the human relatability of the Doctor and Rose," says Kat Willmott-Andrews, co-host of the Says Who podcast. "Watching Rose become a confident, compassionate and capable woman has always been inspirational. We watch her stand up to monsters, save the Doctor and help those in need wherever she can.
"Together, the Doctor and Rose are a beacon of hope and adventure, showing that it's the people you surround yourself with and the people that believe in you that help you blossom and strive for greatness."
Influencer and Doctor Who fan Ellie Jolly agrees. “I think from the start, seeing Rose Tyler being an incredibly normal girl from London, and seeing so much depth in her incredibly normal life with Jackie and Mickey, made her feel so real. As a young girl, watching her relationship with the Doctor blossom as Tennant stepped into the role made it feel as though anyone could be Rose, whisked away across time and space.
"Although the Doctor and Rose had their fair share of disagreements over their time together, it was clear they brought the best out in each other.”
From the moment the TARDIS landed on New Earth’s apple grass, it was obvious that the Doctor and Rose’s relationship had moved up a level. A new new Doctor, and a new new Rose Tyler. Rose softened the Doctor and brought him back to life again. In return, the Doctor showed her that she could be anyone and see anything. He showed her the universe. This exchange was a fundamental reason why they connected with audiences so universally. “The way they would take care of each other through anything – they truly were the perfect pairing!” Ellie adds.
Perhaps it is that simple: we fell for them in the way they fell for each other, because their story was a tale as old as time. But this love story had a twist. It was about love and monsters. Everyone can, will, or has loved. And all of us have battled monsters.
Together, they felt like real friends you could hang out with, having a laugh and getting into scrapes. No matter your age or background, they were there for us every week, taking us on adventures. In the end, we adored watching them as much as they adored travelling together.
Rose may not have been able to stay with the Doctor forever, but that’s exactly why their story was so gripping. They were relatable, lovable and had a chemistry that was hard to look away from. And as we watched, we could almost feel their time slipping away just as they were settling into one another. It’s a compelling tragedy, one that kept us glued to our TV screens.
These perfect ingredients made them iconic, and it's clear that the recipe was successful. David Tennant returned to play the Tenth Doctor in the 50th anniversary story The Day of the Doctor, and again in 2023 to portray the Fourteenth Doctor. Billie Piper came back as Rose just two years after her final 2006 episode, appeared in The Day of the Doctor as the Moment. More recently, she made waves when the Fifteenth Doctor seemingly regenerated into her.
From their first adventure on New Earth to their final moments at Bad Wolf Bay, the Tenth Doctor and Rose have remained firmly in the hearts of fans and viewers for two decades. They may have been split apart by a parallel universe, but we’ll never forget the astonishing adventures they had together.
Doctor Who: Series 2 is streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK.
