Doctor Who fans ‘upset’ and ‘emotional’ over departures of Bradley Walsh and Tosin Cole

Actors leave show as John Bishop joins series

Doctor Who fans were left devastated last night (1 January) over Bradley Walsh and Tosin Cole leaving the show.

The festive special, titled “Revolution of the Daleks”, saw The Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) reunite with Ryan (Cole), Graham (Walsh) and Yaz (Mandip Gill) after being imprisoned for 10 months.

Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) was also on the scene to help battle an army of cloned Daleks.

The episode ended with Ryan declaring he wanted to stay on Earth. "I think I'm going to stay here," he said. "My mates need me and I know this sounds stupid but I feel like my planet needs me. You’ve got to fight for it, right? Look, Doctor, before I met you I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life but now I know."  

Graham then decided to stay with Ryan. "Being here without you isn't going to be the same," he said. "I'd always be looking round to say something to you. Ryan, you're my family. I want to be at home with my grandson."

Fans were very sad to see them go, with one tweeting: “Very emotional episode. Going to miss the family!”

Another shared a picture of a cat looking sad, and wrote: “RYAN AND GRAHAM PLEASE IM GOING TO MISS THEM SO MUCH.”

The Independent’s critic Sean O’Grady gave the “superb” festive special a five-star review.

Comedian John Bishop is set to fill the gap left by Walsh and Cole, and will be joining Whittaker for the 13th series of Doctor Who.

The 54-year-old, who recently tested positive for coronavirus, said boarding the Tardis was a "dream come true".

He will play a character called Dan, who "becomes embroiled in the Doctor's adventures" and faces "evil alien races beyond his wildest nightmares".