Lenny Henry Regenerates into David Tennant (TV story)

As a part of Comic Relief 2023, an untitled Doctor Who scene opened the night's programme. It saw the second live-action appearance of David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor, albeit in an unexpected form. The show started with the actor Lenny Henry, shown to be in pain, regenerating and turning into Tennant as his latest Doctor.

Tennant uses his “English accent” in the scene confirming he’s the Doctor, though his accent slips slightly when he says “hosting”.

If taken at face value, this was the second time that Henry had played "the Doctor," the first being in a 1985 sketch in The Lenny Henry Show, wherein Henry became the first black actor to play the role in a BBC production. It was also his third role in Doctor Who media, as he had also appeared in TV: Spyfall.

For simplicity’s sake this article covers the minisode only and not any live non-Doctor Who segments. Thus the live-show hosted by Tennant that follows the sketch is not considered part of the minisode.

Synopsis
There was no better way to kick off Red Nose Day 2023 than with Comic Relief icon Lenny Henry regenerating into none other than The Doctor himself David Tennant.

Plot
Lenny Henry is in his dressing room. A woman knocks on the door asking for him. He is told that it’s ninety seconds until he’s on air. He then looks in the mirror and says “Comic Relief Salford make some noise."

Henry is told he is needed on stage ASAP. He then complains of stomach pains claiming he needs a “Doctor”. His hand starts to glow orange. He then begins to regenerate, turning into the Fourteenth Doctor. Henry’s clothes changing at the same time.

The Fourteenth Doctor says he knows his teeth and realises he’s late to be hosting Comic Relief.

Cast

 * Lenny Henry - Himself
 * Fourteenth Doctor - David Tennant
 * Production assistant - Unknown

Crew
to be added

Story notes

 * This minisode is a recreation of the regeneration from the Thirteenth Doctor into the Fourteenth Doctor at the end of The Power of the Doctor, albeit with Lenny Henry in place of Jodie Whittaker.
 * Previously, the Dead Ringers sketch Tony Blair Regenerates paid homage to the regeneration into the Tenth Doctor at the end of The Parting of the Ways by having Tony Blair, played by Jon Culshaw, regenerate into a new incarnation played by David Tennant.
 * Contradictory to the regeneration scene in Power, the sketch has the Fourteenth Doctor look at his left hand first rather than his right hand, he looks behind himself to see a red nose and exclaim "What?! I’m gonna be hosting Comic Relief?" rather than looking into the horizon, and finally he looks at his watch, exclaims a fourth "What?!" and runs off.
 * The Doctor looking at his left hand is also a break in a long-standing tradition on Doctor Who since The Parting of the Ways in 2005, which has seen the Doctor look at the their right hand first in regeneration scenes.
 * In the broadcast of the sketch, She's The Doctor (the Thirteenth Doctor's theme) played during the regeneration, and the 2018-22 theme tune played as the Doctor examined his own body. Both of these tunes were removed in the YouTube upload on "Comic Relief: Red Nose Day".
 * Lenny Henry had previously played a Seventh Doctor emerging from regeneration in an untitled sketch.

Continuity

 * The Fourteenth Doctor lives through a different account of his regeneration from the Thirteenth Doctor. (TV: The Power of the Doctor)
 * The Fourteenth Doctor recognises his teeth. (TV: The Power of the Doctor, The Parting of the Ways)