Very little about the ‘Doctor Who’ 50th anniversary special has been officially released by the BBC. We know that it will be shown in 3D, that we’ll see Zygons, UNIT, Queen Elizabeth (played by Joanna Page) and the return of the 10th Doctor (David Tennant) and his companion Rose Tyler (Billie Piper). Also guest starring in the special is John Hurt, who was rumored to play a special part in the episode. Not much was known about his role, that is, until now.

At this is the point, I have to warn you that there are some major spoilers in this article and if you don’t want to know too much about the 50th anniversary special, then now is the time to turn back.

No, really….

 

Don’t say you weren’t warned….

 

Still with me?

 

In an interview with Eastern Daily Press, Hurt teased about his role on ‘Doctor Who.’ According to the article:

Mr Hurt, who lives near Cromer, earlier told the EDP he had just finished shooting a Dr Who 3D special in which he plays “part of the Doctor” in a “kind of trinity” which includes David Tennant

“Kind of trinity”? Well it does seem to verify the rumor that Hurt will be playing a “forgotten Doctor” that was lost when the Time War was time locked. He would be the Doctor that regenerated between the 8th Doctor (Paul McGann) and the supposed 9th Doctor (Christopher Eccleston). If this is the case, then that would make Eccleston’s Doctor the 10th Doctor, Tennant’s the 11th and our current rendition of the Doctor the 12th. Somehow the past three regenerations have forgotten, repressed or have been forced to forget about their 9th Doctor counterpart, but for what reason? Is this what Clara has been telling the 11th (possibly 12th) Doctor to remember when she utters, “Run you clever boy and remember”? Is she the key to him remembering?

Rumors were first fueled when this photo of Hurt in costume was posted online looking as though he is donning the 9th Doctor’s leather jacket:

 

Furthermore, could this be the big secret that will be revealed in the Season 7 finale ‘The Name of the Doctor’ due to air next week? Is the secret that his hidden in plain sight the secret that the 11th Doctor is really the 12th? If the question asked was , “Doctor, who?” does that mean the question is really asking which Doctor is he really and if it was answered if would mess up the time line as we know it? Does the fall of the 11th really mean the fall of who we think is the 10th Doctor (Tennant) who will be the key to realigning time?

Major revelations are in store for Whovians and frankly this would be a bigger secret than his name, don’t you think?

We’ll soon see how Hurt fits in the 50th anniversary special as the finale will give clues, but until then, what do you think of all the theories?