Iconic Dorset beauty spot, Durdle Door, featured in the BBC's special episode of Doctor Who on Sunday night.

The famous stone arch's appearance came at the end of the episode as Jodie Whittaker’s 13th Time Lord regenerated into David Tennant in the dramatic conclusion of the show’s BBC centenary special.

"Duplicitous and dishonest": Durdle Door owner's outrage over BBC's Doctor Who filming 

It was previously announced that Scottish actor Tennant, who first stepped into the Tardis in 2005 to play the 10th Doctor, would be returning to the sci-fi series for the show’s 60th anniversary celebrations – but it was not revealed in what capacity.

Durdle Door, which is owned by the Lulworth Estate, has rocketed in popularity as a tourist destination in the past few years, particularly during the Covid pandemic, as crowds on staycation flocked to the famous limestone arch.

It became a popular location for influencers, and also made the headlines when two people jumped off the top of the arch, which left both severely injured.

This latest appearance is likely to propel the special location to a new audience.

One Dorset councillor has urged people 'not to try and regenerate' on top of the arch.

Following Sunday’s 90-minute special, the BBC confirmed Tennant will become the 14th incarnation with Catherine Tate reprising her role as his former companion Donna Noble for three special episodes set to air in November 2023.

Ncuti Gatwa will then take control of the Tardis as the 15th Doctor, with his first episode due to air over the festive period in 2023.

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Whittaker’s last venture as the Doctor was loaded with drama as it saw her fight for her existence against some of her deadliest enemies: The Master, the Daleks and the Cybermen.

The episode, titled The Power Of The Doctor, also saw the surprise return of actors who have played Time Lords from the ages including Colin Baker, Peter Davison, Paul McGann and Sylvester McCoy.

It opened with the Doctor thrown straight into the action alongside companions Yasmin Khan, played by Mandip Gill, and John Bishop’s Dan Lewis, after being called to help out a spaceship which was being attacked by Cybermen.

As she faces this threat from outer galaxies, others brew in different time periods – one in Siberia in 1916 and another in present day London.

Whittaker, 40, became the first woman to portray the Doctor when she took over the role from Peter Capaldi in 2017.

Showrunner Chris Chibnall is also set to leave the programme, to be replaced by Davies, who was behind the 2005 revival of the show.