Doctor Who Star Reflects on Surprising Return of Classic Villain After Nearly 5 Decades

Summary

• Sutekh the Destroyer makes a powerful comeback after almost half a century in
  Doctor Who
  , delighting fans with its unexpected revival.
• Gabriel Woolf’s return as Sutekh stirs nostalgia and excitement in the
  Doctor Who
  community, bringing a mix of astonishment and joy.
• Sutekh’s formidable presence and influence as a villain cements his legacy within the
  Doctor Who
  universe, appealing to both classic and new fans.

Gabriel Woolf has reprised his role as the nefarious Sutekh the Destroyer in Doctor Who, nearly five decades after the character’s initial appearance. The menacing figure first appeared in 1975 during Tom Baker’s tenure as the iconic Time Lord, featuring in the episode Pyramids of Mars. Here, Sutekh, an Osiran villain, sought to escape centuries of confinement to unleash destruction upon his captors and the universe.

Fast forward to the present, and the revival of this powerful foe has stirred a mix of excitement and nostalgia within the Doctor Who community. Woolf’s return to voice Sutekh in the show’s 14th season caught many by surprise, including the actor himself. Reflecting on his character’s unexpected comeback in the season’s penultimate episode, where Sutekh plots to conquer the TARDIS and eliminate the Doctor, Woolf shared his astonishment and joy during his interview with BBC, saying:

I was over the moon, delighted and thrilled. It was wonderful. The fans have always said ‘Oh you must come back!’, and I always said back ‘It’s not up to me!’ – and now it’s happened. Extraordinary…. No. it’s been 48 years since we did it so I thought it was pretty unlikely. It was a big surprise but a good one!

Doctor Who

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Originally premiered in 1963, Doctor Who is a sci-fi series that follows a powerful being known as a Time Lord, referred to as the Doctor. Using an interdimensional time-traveling ship known as the TARDIS, the Doctor travels time and space with various companions as they solve multiple problems and help avert catastrophe as much as they almost cause it. Though the Doctor is always the same character, they experience regenerations, allowing them to be recast every few seasons as a unique immortal being with new personality traits.

Release Date November 23, 1963

Seasons 14

Franchise Doctor Who

Story By Sydney Newman C. E. Webber Donald Wilson

Network BBC

Franchise(s) Doctor Who

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Doctor Who’s Pyramids of Mars & Sutekh Mixed Gothic Horror with Sci-Fi

Doctor Who’s 1975 episode Pyramids of Mars combined gothic horror with the series’ trademark sci-fi, introducing the antagonist Sutekh the Destroyer. The episode effectively channeled the essence of Hammer Film Productions’ horror into its storytelling, drawing praise for how it merged these chilling elements with the adventurous spirit of Doctor Who.

The narrative prowess and intricate character development in the series culminated in high viewership, with its 1976 omnibus broadcast becoming one of the most-watched in the show’s history until City of Death took over under unique circumstances. The episode’s success largely hinged on the character of Sutekh. The villain, portrayed by Gabriel Woolf, was depicted as an ancient, god-like adversary whose powers surpassed those of any previous foes faced by the Doctor.

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With abilities that included bypassing the TARDIS’ defenses and altering timelines, Sutekh brought a level of threat that was both unprecedented and terrifying. These elements helped cement Sutekh’s legacy as a formidable villain within the Doctor Who universe.

Despite being a one-off villain, Sutekh’s influence persisted, appealing to classic fans and instilling a sense of awe in new viewers. His mythological roots and intimidating presence made him a fitting enemy in the series, aligning well with the more fantastical narratives favored by showrunner Russell T Davies.

Russell T Davies Optimistic on Doctor Who’s Slowly Climbing Ratings

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Recently, Davies addressed the lukewarm reception of the latest Doctor Who season by audiences, which contr sharply with its critical success. The show boasts a commendable 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an initial perfect score upon debut. However, it struggles with a surprisingly low audience score of just 27%.

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The showrunner remains optimistic, attributing the sluggish start to a gradual viewership increase. Speaking with Radio Times, Davies expressed pride in the new season but acknowledged the ratings hadn’t reached expected levels. He said:

“I mean, no, to be honest – I’m very proud of it! You know, they might not be the ratings we’d love. We always want higher. But they are building over the 28-day period . Episode one, ‘Space Babies’, is already up to 5.6 million and counting. So it is getting there.”

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