{"id":5608,"date":"2021-10-11T17:37:34","date_gmt":"2021-10-11T15:37:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1385165"},"modified":"2021-10-12T09:23:35","modified_gmt":"2021-10-12T07:23:35","slug":"doctor-who-series-13-clue-could-point-to-the-return-of-another-classic-villain","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/doctor-who-series-13-clue-could-point-to-the-return-of-another-classic-villain\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctor Who series 13 clue could point to the return of another classic villain"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Huw Fullerton\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 11 October 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Jodie Whittaker is set to take on some familiar foes when Doctor Who<\/a> returns later this month, with a new series 13 teaser trailer<\/a> confirming that iconic baddies the Sontarans<\/a> and the Weeping Angels will be among the threats faced by the Doctor and her friends (also including a new threat called the Ravagers).<\/p>\n

But are more villains set to be revealed? Fans think that a subtle clue from series showrunner Chris Chibnall could hint at a return for another Big Bad, possibly making a comeback later in the series.<\/p>

This theory comes from a hint dropped by Chibnall during a San Diego Comic-Con panel, when he and the cast were asked to describe the upcoming series 13 (aka Doctor Who: Flux<\/a>) in one word. Rather than go down the usual path of muttering \u201cepic\u201d or \u201cexciting\u201d Chibnall instead went for \u201cSwarm,\u201d leading to a frenzy of speculation<\/a> as many (including us<\/a>) tried to decipher whether Swarm referred to a classic monster, some new organisation or something else entirely.<\/p>\n

But now, fans think they\u2019ve cracked what Chibnall was saying based on the new series 13 teaser \u2013 because if you lay out the confirmed monsters appearing in Flux, they perfectly match the teaser word\u2019s initials. Or, to lay it out more clearly\u2026<\/p>\n

S \u2013 Sontarans<\/p>\n

W \u2013 Weeping<\/p>\n

A \u2013 Angels<\/p>\n

R \u2013 Ravagers<\/p>\n

M \u2013???<\/p>\n

In other words, it could be that Chibnall\u2019s use of that word was a clever nod to the threats the Doctor would face over the course of the series, or even some kind of group designation used by the monsters in the series itself (though it is hard to imagine the Weeping Angels really getting into acronyms).<\/p>\n

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BBC<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

The kicker? That mysterious missing M, which could point to none other than one of the Doctor\u2019s greatest foes \u2013 rogue Time Lord the Master, as played by Sacha Dhawan in recent appearances. While not yet confirmed for series 13 it wouldn\u2019t be surprising to see him pop up again \u2013 he appeared to escape his doom in the series 12 finale and has unfinished business with Whittaker\u2019s Doctor \u2013 and the fact that Sacha Dhawan has recently been spotted in Cardiff (where Doctor Who is currently filming) doesn\u2019t exactly hurt this theory.<\/p>\n

Read more:\u00a0<\/strong>Sacha Dhawan \u201cwould really love\u201d Doctor Who comeback as The Master<\/a><\/p>\n

Of course, the SWARM theory isn\u2019t foolproof, and while it fits very closely it could still be a coincidence, like when John Simm\u2019s Mister Saxon was unintentionally an anagram of \u201cMaster No. Six\u201d back in 2007. Plus, with rumours that the Daleks could also be in for a return this series and with six episodes to fill, the short list of monsters in the \u201cSwarm\u201d anagram starts to seem a little confining the more you look at it.<\/p>\n