Doctor Who: David Tennant 'giving up hope' for 50th anniversary return

It's very rare that a still-running television show turns fifty years old, particularly a science fiction series like the BBC's Doctor Who. 2013 marks the half-century mark for the long-running series, and you can bet the series will be celebrating. Following the completion of its seven series this spring, the series will return for at least one fiftieth anniversary special in the fall, which will undoubtedly be a spectacular event. But there's one big question hanging over the anniversary specials: will past Doctors return? 

It's been a will-they-won't-they game that the show has played with the press, with the notoriously coy showrunner Steven Moffat leading the press in both directions: It sure would be disappointing if they didn't show up, he remarks on the one hand, but he'll never tell if it's actually going to happen. 

We probably should read that as at least a confirmation for some past Doctors to return. 

But David Tennant, who played the tenth incarnation of the iconic character from 2005 to 2010, claims ignorance. Tennant is reportedly "beginning to give up hope that anything’s going to happen" regarding a role for him in the special. 

Given the intense secrecy surrounding the anniversary special, I find it difficult to believe Tennant. He might be telling the truth, but it seems more likely in my mind that he's giving fans the runaround. It's highly improbable that he's not at least spoken with Moffat about a return, so a plea of complete ignorance as this one strikes me as false. Not that anyone could blame him for wanting to keep it a surprise, of course. 

What do you think? Is Tennant telling the truth, or is he secretly plotting a return? 

Doctor Who will return for the rest of its seventh series on March 30, with the episode "Phantom of the Hex" on BBC One in the UK and BBC America in the US.