Doctor Who's LOST Alternate Ending

Doctor Who returned to our screens in 2005, with the series culminating in the Ninth Doctor's regeneration. But what if this was a surprise? What if another ending was shot as an alternative to ensure secrecy? This is the story of the lost ending to The Parting of the Ways.
#DoctorWho #LostMedia #christophereccleston
SOCIALS:
Facebook: BowenMedia/?...
Twitter: / thetasigma2017
Twitter Art Page: / thetimeartist1
SOURCES:
Doctor Who Magazine Issue 588, page 7
Doctor Who: The Parting of the Ways [DVD Commentary]
Doctor Who: The Writer’s Tale, page 133-134
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainm... | Eccleston’s departure announcement
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainm... | BBC apology
www.shannonsullivan.com/doctor... | Brief History of Time Travel
lostmediawiki.com/Doctor_Who_...) | Lost Media Wiki page
www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/moffat-... | Moffat on The Day of the Doctor ending
www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/... | Eccleston explains departure
www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/... | Eccleston elaborates on press release
www.walesonline.co.uk/lifesty... | “environment and culture” quote
PICTURES:
The Black Archive | tbagallery.wixsite.com/thebla...
Tragical History Tour | tragicalhistorytour.com/d04/4...
MUSIC:
Cosmic Drift - DivKid
Familiar Things - The Whole Other
Griphop by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Doctor Who (1963-Present) and Doctor Who: Confidential (2005-11) are property of BBC Studios. This is a non-profit video essay and not an infringement on copyright.

[@TBowenMedia]

Really annoying mistake at 1:52. Due to some really poor wording, it sounds like I said that Ncuti Gatwa was announced as the next Doctor BEFORE Jodie Whittaker announced she was leaving. This was something I missed when recording and only picked up on during editing. Thanks to the person who pointed it out.

[@benjamindavis4974]

Jodie announced she was leaving in 2021, Ncuti wasn't cast until 2022

[@TBowenMedia]

@@benjamindavis4974 Yeah, bad wording on my part made that unclear.

[@jamesahanington]

David Tennant has also speculated that the alternate ending might have been broadcast if the show wasn't received well and the BBC decided to decommission series 2

[@shaunturner4622]

The actual reason that this has never been seen (along with ANY of the series 1 deleted scenes) is a rather unbelievable one. The team that were assembling the series 1 DVD asked the Doctor Who production team for the deleted scenes. It was only at that point that they realised they had LOST the deleted scenes. No one knew where they were stored. It wasn't until a couple of years later that they were discovered on a hard drive.

[@TBowenMedia]

I heard something similar off a friend when writing this video but since I couldn’t find an official source I left it out.

[@shaunturner4622]

I think it was originally in an issue of DWM. If I find the time I’ll dig through and see if I can find it.

[@kennethraymondmoore]

I heard this years ago, too, and have been rather annoyed that they have never been released and footage from them wasn't used for Eccleston's appearance in Day of the Doctor.

[@yam9195]

This alternate ending could lead to an unbound story with Big Finish since both Eccleston and Billie Piper do audio dramas there, "What if The 9th Doctor didn't sacrifice himself to save Rose?"

[@TBowenMedia]

That’s an interesting idea. Perhaps it could even go darker and deal with the fallout of Rose either dying or even becoming a god. There’s a lot of story potential there.

[@yam9195]

@@TBowenMedia That's why the Unbound series in Doctor Who exists to open up alternate possibilities and original ideas for what could've happened if the characters changed one thing. For example look at the unbound story "Auld Mortality" which is an unbound story where "what if the 1st doctor never left Gallifrey" or "He Jests At Scars" which was "What if The Valeyard successfully defeated the 6th Doctor within the Matrix?". It is possible for Big finish to do an unbound story based on the 9th doctor and the fact that both Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper both and still do Doctor Who audio stories.

[@charlestownsend9280]

That's what I was also thinking. I love the unbound stories, I wish they made more. I remember writing an outline of a story for each doctor, for 9 I had him retire post time war and never meet rose (well he does but he arrives to late to save her and immediately forgets her), the story ending with him becoming a dalek hunter after the events of dalek. I also had others, like 7 not being shot leading to him being in the time war, the 4th doctor dying on skaro leading to davros inventing time travel and erasing the timelords (this one still has the doctor alive due to the timeless child thing but it's in a much darker universe with the villains from flux, vampires and fenric), one where the daleks succeed in destroying reality and the characters on the crucible are the only survivors in the multiverse, what big adric did succeed if preventing the cybership from hitting earth, this just turns all the companions into talking dinosaurs and my favourite what if 12 accepted the army of cybermen (I've come up with 12 whole story outlines for that one, it gets very dark, with the doctor converting Clara, Bill, the rani and missy who he plays the long game on and always planned to do it to her).

[@AndrewHsieh96]

I actually came up with a similar idea to that, some time ago. Let's just say that it involved Jackie making shepherd's pie for dinner, plus Rose's ex-boyfriend Jimmy Stone turning out to be... an incarnation of the Master.

[@timrob12]

This is definitely one of the pieces of Doctor Who lost media that I'm most interested in seeing. I do think we might see it one day as Chris seems to be mellowing with his thoughts on the show, still calling RTD an excellent writer and even showing the series to his kids (hilarious transcriptions of his kids watching are actually described in his autobiography, for those interested). I would at least be interested to ask Chris at a con about said scene.

[@daedalus6433]

I think the BBC blacklisting him just for not wanting people behind the scenes being overworked and poorly managed is the bigger issue.

[@timrob12]

@@daedalus6433 The BBC not throwing out John Barrowman and Noel Clarke is the biggest issue of them all.

[@daedalus6433]

@@timrob12 What's wrong with those two?

[@TranscendentLion]

@@daedalus6433 There are allegations that they behaved inappropriately. I don't think they've been proven, but of course such allegations have to be taken seriously.

[@daedalus6433]

@@TranscendentLion With how many serious allegations have been proven false over the years, I have become jaded and would rather get the receipts.

[@HOTD108_]

Friendly reminder that lost media and unreleased media are NOT that same thing. In order for something to be lost media, it first has to be published publicly. That's what makes it lost, because it was released and we had it but then it was lost. If the media never made it outside of the proverbial closed doors of production, then it's not lost media, it's unreleased media. It's an important distinction. Aside from that, great video! Subscribed.

[@timothyweers8054]

The only difference between Christopher Eccleston's regeneration and the rest of new Who is his regeneration into and out did not destroy the tardis like other Doctors have.

[@Kryojenix]

Which is how it's meant to be. It's absolutely ridiculous how over-bombastic they're getting with superfluous re-design (see also: sonic screwdriver) and marketing gimmicks. I guess that's what it takes to pull in the kiddies to justify the expenditure these days. Harrumph!

[@SkydreamPony]

I remember hearing about this back when series 1 came out. My dad worked on series 1 of new Who (you can see him in the Doctor Who Confidential for episode 12) and he told me about this sequence. I would have to check, but I believe he still has his script copy.

[@TBowenMedia]

Oh wow! Thats really interesting. It would definitely be worth a look and thank you for commenting.

[@RossMoorhouse]

Great video, Tom! I've recently been digging the world of lost media lately. It's crazy how much stuff is out there, yet remains unseen and mysterious

[@TBowenMedia]

The Lost Media rabbit hole is a deep and fascinating one. Hope this was an interesting addition to it.

[@dwfan91-]

Great job, this was a really well done video man

[@SG-qx9ko]

Everywhere I go I see his face

[@jb888888888]

8:11 Eccleston also 'appears' via CGI in the "All 12" wedge shot at the very end of the episode.

[@MANGOM1LK]

i don't think it's fair to call that shot CGI since it's basically just still stock portraits of all of those doctors, at least when shown from the front

[@jb888888888]

@@MANGOM1LK It's 9 stand-ins with CGI Doctor heads, plus Smith/Tennant/Hurt with their own heads. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2a8i52cZ8upfdk

[@laurenkaitlyn6341]

This is super interesting information to have! Great stuff! You just got your 844th subscriber :)

[@AndrewHsieh96]

Fantastic video! I've always wondered what were the circumstances behind the alternate ending, since it was never made available to the public in any form. Maybe we'll see the light of the day... when the time is right.

[@reeverto]

Earned a new sub! Not sure if this is an idea of a video you’d use. But it would be interesting to see how videos like this are constructed. With specific things such as planning, research, extracting show clips and voice lines, editing techniques and softwares. I plan on making videos such as yours soon but I have no idea where to start. Gonna enjoy going through your content and seeing your future videos 👍🏻

[@TBowenMedia]

Thanks for the sub. I’d actually be interested in doing a video like that. I’m still pretty new to making videos like this so I don’t have much of a process yet but if I can help demystify the whole thing, that would be great. The thing about making videos is it’s more achievable than you think but the hard part is staying focus and determined with a project. Pick a topic you’re passionate about, research it as much as you can and see if you have anything to say about it. I’ll definitely consider a video like that.

[@marcialsblendsfragrance2972]

AWESOME INFO!!!

[@Budbrothers420]

Amazing video never knew about this and it is a shame there’s that many shorts and rubbish on here great content like your own is often missed out on

[@TBowenMedia]

Thanks mate. Really appreciate it. Seems to be a bit of a hit this one.

[@Budbrothers420]

@@TBowenMedia I’ve recently got into the audios for 9 it’s great hearing the passion he now has for the part crazy to think he thought people didn’t like his doctor happy he’s come to some sort of peace

[@TBowenMedia]

@@Budbrothers420 I’ve listened to ‘Respond to All Calls’ which I really enjoyed. He’s got such enthusiasm for those new stories and getting another shot at the role. Happy he’s enjoying himself with it.

[@KeiranCounsellKC1994]

There is likely alot of stuff that we never got, also this rose alternate ending was a set of press release versions, made after rough cut versions, we know the press release versions did have completed visual fx because the rose leak was the press release version not the rough cut version. Rough cut versions were shown in confidential but only short segments, they always had little bits of text on the visual fx shots. It depends if the actual final story press copy was finished but held back or was to be completed at the time of being held back

[@frazzlesreviews5379]

Great video. But interestingly the reason there are no deleted scenes was because of how difficult the team found making series one. None of them had made a drama this big and complex before and therefore episodes were running short with several additional scenes having to be made. This meant they literally couldn’t afford to get rid of anything major from the episodes.

[@TBowenMedia]

That is interesting. Do you have a source for that? I know Christopher Eccleston has always talked about how difficult he found the production especially since it was the first series for all involved.

[@frazzlesreviews5379]

@@TBowenMedia I know it’s annoying but I can’t actually remember where I heard it. Admittedly that makes it a less than valid fact but I can definitely remember Steven Moffat was the one who said it in an interview. I wish I could actually remember.

[@TBowenMedia]

@@frazzlesreviews5379 no worries. I’ll have to take a look to see if I can find that but thanks for letting me know

[@BadBadAngel3]

Chris running away from flames/explosion at 7:51 never appeared in an episode and was filmed in a subway under Newport train station.

[@gamewithadam7235]

Couldn't he just have responded "wait and see" instead of leaking 9's regeneration?

[@cozyvrc]

I’m surprised this only has 500 views, with the quality I bet this is gonna kick off

[@TBowenMedia]

Thank you. Have to say, since it came out this morning it’s doing amazingly well.

[@cozyvrc]

@@TBowenMediaomg you’re at 3.5k now!! Remember me when you’re famous!!

[@TBowenMedia]

@@cozyvrc I know right!! Will definitely remember 🫡

[@ambarodriguez4]

I'm extremely interested in seeing this footage :0

[@robbiemartin9312]

Eccleston is a good man and I hope he realises that!

[@kevin10001]

The aired regeneration isn’t completed in the episode there is more that u have to watch the bonus features for cause it continues in that year children in need celebration that puts the start of the Christmas invasion into better context cause without the children in need part it seems like rose goes from freaking out to totally understanding regeneration without any explanation

[@jaidanielparker]

I thought RTD said this deleted scene served two purposes, the first being misdirection to keep the regeneration a surprise during the press preview and the second was to be a genuine final scene in case the revival wasn't successful and it wasn't renewed. It seems hard ti believe in retrospect, considering how successful the Dr Who revival has been, but before Rose aired there was a genuine fear that the general public wouldn't take to Dr Who and it would join the list of one and done failed revivals.

[@TimothyCollins]

Honestly I think we actually saw the end of the show already. I mean, it's obvious that Chibnall thought he was writing the last episode of the show when Whitaker was regenerating and so the episode was cut to have her do the "Doctor whoever you are... tag, you're it" line, the camera sweeps out behind her and then fades to black. Thankfully that wasn't the end but it's really really obvious that was how the episode was originally supposed to end.

[@pitofneverendingsarcasm8476]

Doctor Who: Granddaddy

[@TBowenMedia]

Staring Pedro Pascal

[@pitofneverendingsarcasm8476]

Coming this fall to Disney plus

[@thedanielstraight]

Another lost ending I would love to see more about is Last Christmas. Clara should have stayed old and/or died. It would been more impactful. They did leave that orange on the window sil.... I'd like to see that reality, let 12 live his life. Coleman should’ve left with grace instead of 'tee hee, I guess I'll stay'. Don't get me started, lol.

[@celticarchie]

That regeneration was still a suprise to me because I never paid any attention to the media. ;P

[@Frankies.Channel]

So exited

[@TBowenMedia]

Hope it lived up to expectations

[@TBowenMedia]

@@Frankies.ChannelBrill!

[@QuarrellaDeVil]

And then there was the alternative ending to "Survival". To the best of my knowledge, they never filmed this due to JNT's having it removed in pre-production, but after "if we fight like animals, we'll die like animals", there's a flash and the Doctor and the Master suddenly find themselves safe back in Perivale. The Master confronts the Doctor and accuses him of not being a Time Lord, to which the Doctor responds that he's multi-talented and not "just" a Time Lord (following up on the Cartmel Masterplan). The Master escapes and the Doctor and Ace head off for the next season that never happened.

[@dreadtheweekend]

I think I read at the time that the scene was intended to be put on the dvd but they lost it. I’m sure RTD said that.

[@DavRossTheWhovian]

That whole ending is a case of what if...? The Ninth Doctor stayed?

[@jb888888888]

Why would they shoot the fake ending, which would be released to the press to keep the regeneration unspoiled, late with a minimum crew? Seems more likely that they would shoot the real ending in secret and use the full crew for the fake ending.

[@deadandburied7626]

If the War Doctor ever returns Ecclestone could play him 👽

[@djtwo2]

The word is alternative.

[@CashelOConnolly]

Chris Eccleston was always too big a name to stick around as the Doctor for long! 🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹💙

[@campgalore]

Something about Eccleston’s departure doesn’t ring true to me. The whole first season builds up to the doctor’s regeneration, with clues (Bad Wolf) dropped into most episodes. So if Eccleston decided to leave part way through his season, surely the scripts were drawn up prior to filming, so we’re the scripts changed? What was the original planned end of season cliffhanger? Surely there would have been an alternative ending written? The near death of Rose would have made sense but Piper says this was more a publicity stunt, so surely Eccleston was always just signed for one season. Can anyone enlighten me?

[@TBowenMedia]

From what I gather, Series 1's overall narrative was conceived to be as self-contained as possible in the event the revival wasn't successful. As a result, the Doctor was written with a full character arc and had Chris chosen to stay, The Parting of the Ways would probably end on a more open-ended note. That's just my theory.

[@ltfringr]

The BBC isn't allowed to lie about if he's leaving , but they can just make up a lie about why he left? Sure Russel.

[@MrLtia1234]

Depends if you think you can get away with it, I would assume. Him leaving was something that was going to be revealed. Puts the whole "Don't you think she looks tired" into context!

[@MrLtia1234]

@@beefbusiness52 Certainly sounds that way- it was literally the next episode.

[@paulkennedy8701]

1:54 "Jodie Whitaker announc[ed] her departure over a year before "Power of the Doctor"'s broadcast and months after Ncuti Gatwa was announced as her successor." What? They named the next Doctor and _then_ the current one revealed she was leaving?

[@TBowenMedia]

Yeah, only noticed that poor wording when editing 🤣 I meant to say the episode aired months after Ncuti was announced

[@paulkennedy8701]

@@TBowenMedia That's a pity. It was well-presented overall.

[@flareinc7413]

The mentioned version of End of Time would have been so much worse. O.o The version we got was amazing. (Also the less we get of Love and Monsters the better)

[@josephchambers2000]

My understanding of Mr Eccleston is that he will change his mind about something…if you pay him enough to do so.

[@stephensheridan1279]

Where did you get that TARDIS t-shirt with all of the Doctor’s actors names in it?!

[@TBowenMedia]

It’s a custom shirt from a shop called Diversions Gifts. Don’t know if it’s still available but I’d check there or on their Facebook.

[@stephensheridan1279]

@@TBowenMediathanks for the quick reply!!! That was SUPER fast! ❤❤❤❤

[@Kranitoko]

"so we are not allowed to lie" AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAAHAHhhhHHahahahahahahahahahHAHAHAHhhhahaahah

[@Nobby76]

97 missing episodes ?? We have a Dr who collection (old and new who) we have way less than 97 missing..

[@seanathans103]

Individual episodes, not serials

[@MrLtia1234]

Sadly not the case - there's still a wealth of missing episodes and entire stories frrom the 1st and 2nd Doctor. Wikipedia Doctor_Who_missing_episodes has the current list.

[@404TVfr]

Yo, how tf does this guy have less subs than me?

[@TBowenMedia]

A consistent uploading schedule and a few live performances in the mix could be the answer. Thanks for the compliment man.

[@404TVfr]

@@TBowenMedia heheh, no worries.

[@VinnieBartilucci]

I don't think Doctor Who is even in the top ten of lost media, at least in terms of quantity. Here in America, the output of the entire Dumont television network from the 50s is gone. It's certainly the one the most keenly sought after, for sure.

[@tmofee]

One thing I noticed due to John barrowmans idiocy behind the scenes and the fact there wasn’t many deleted scenes is probably also got to do with it as well

[@edwardrizer8505]

Wait what?

[@Kryojenix]

'Scrup?

[@TANG3RINE95]

good video (it's 3am and I'm tired, my comment can only be so good please understand).

[@indigohammer5732]

Scrupulously. Get a grown up to teach you how it is pronounced.

[@basilbrush9075]

Unecessary bad vibes. Glad you know the subtleties of pronunciation of every word.

[@bobjordan69]

I’m willing to bet Phil Collinson was the one Eccleston fell out with, and RTD picked a side-i.e. Production team over star