{"id":8254,"date":"2021-12-05T20:20:47","date_gmt":"2021-12-05T19:20:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1528668"},"modified":"2021-12-05T20:43:26","modified_gmt":"2021-12-05T19:43:26","slug":"doctor-who-teases-sacha-dhawan-master-return","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/doctor-who-teases-sacha-dhawan-master-return\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctor Who teases Sacha Dhawan Master return"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Published: Sunday, 05 December 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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It\u2019s been a while since we saw the Doctor\u2019s old frenemy-turned-enemy the Master in Doctor Who<\/a>. One year and nine months (and four days) to be precise, but who\u2019s counting?<\/p>\n

Last time he cropped up (played by Sacha Dhawan) in series 12 he blew up a plane, allied with the Kasaavin, got imprisoned, escaped, destroyed Gallifrey, betrayed some Cybermen, created Cyber-Time Lords and then got blown up again (not necessarily in that order) \u2013 though eagle-eared viewers believed that they heard him escape into a spare TARDIS during the explosion.<\/p>\n

Now, it seems those fans may have heard correctly \u2013 because a major hint to the character\u2019s return was dropped in the Doctor Who: Flux finale, The Vanquishers<\/a>, when the Doctor faced off with the personification of Time itself.<\/p>

Having stopped the Flux, destroyed the Sontarans and outmanoeuvred the Ravagers, the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) was feeling high on life \u2013 but Time was quick to burst her bubble, suggesting that her next regeneration was coming soon and that she was about to face some serious danger.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeware of the forces that mass against you\u2026and their Master,\u201d Time (also played by Jodie Whittaker) tells the Doctor, who was sharp enough to pick up on the double meaning of the last word (she learned from the whole \u201cSpy Master\u201d rug-pull, clearly). Sadly, before she can get answers she\u2019s zapped back into her normal body and left pondering the ominous words.<\/p>\n

So is Sacha Dhawan really returning? Well, almost certainly. Given how often they clashed in series 12 it\u2019d be bizarre for Jodie Whittaker\u2019s Doctor not to see her old nemesis before she regenerates next year, so fans have been expecting him to return at some point. Plus, there have been a few concrete clues that the Master is back in town.<\/p>\n

\""Jodie\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Jodie Whittaker and Sacha Dhawan in Doctor Who (BBC)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

During filming of the specials, fans noted a labelled box suggesting it contained props for the Master, while Sacha Dhawan was spotted hanging around Doctor Who\u2019s home city of Cardiff (and meeting fans) around the same time. Not quite a smoking gun, but perhaps a smouldering Tissue Compression Eliminator.<\/p>\n

Whether he\u2019ll be back soon<\/em> is a different story. Based on the trailer, it seems like the main foe for the upcoming New Year\u2019s Day special will be the Daleks<\/a> (they love a 1st January invasion these days), and it seems more likely that the Master\u2019s return will be saved for one (or both) of the other two 2022 specials Jodie Whittaker has before she bows out.<\/p>\n

Maybe, like the \u201cknock four times\u201d hints of David Tennant\u2019s final years, we\u2019ll keep getting suggestions of Dhawan\u2019s comeback over the specials, only for the Doctor to face off with him in her grand final battle (specifically, during the centenary special next year).<\/p>\n

Either way, it looks like we\u2019re in for a Time Lord clash of the ages. Fingers crossed it\u2019ll be masterful. Or at least Master-full.<\/p>\n

Read more about Doctor Who:<\/strong><\/p>\n