David Tennant on Doctor Who restaurant: 'Surreal but delightful'
Synopsis
David Tennant stumbled upon a Doctor Who-themed restaurant in a small Upstate New York town — and admitted he dodged it before eventually going in. The actor called it 'surreal but delightful,' a reaction that says everything about the enduring global footprint of his most iconic role.
Key Takeaways
David Tennant , 55 , revealed he found a Doctor Who -themed restaurant on a main street in a small town in Upstate New York .
He described the experience as 'very unlikely, a bit weird and a little surreal, but delightful' on The Graham Norton Show .
Tennant has reprised the role of Lord Tony Baddingham for the concluding episodes of Rivals Season 2 , based on Dame Jilly Cooper's Rutshire Chronicles.
He paid tribute to Dame Jilly Cooper , who passed away last year aged 88 , calling her 'glamorous and very mischievous.' Tennant played both the 10th and 14th Doctor in the BBC sci-fi series.
Actor David Tennant has revealed that stumbling upon a Doctor Who-themed restaurant in a small town in Upstate New York left him genuinely stunned — and that he initially avoided the eatery before curiosity got the better of him. The 55-year-old Scottish actor, best known for playing both the 10th and 14th incarnations of the Doctor in the long-running BBC sci-fi series, described the experience as 'very unlikely, a bit weird and a little surreal, but delightful.'
The Doctor Who Restaurant Discovery
Tennant made the revelation during an appearance on the latest episode of The Graham Norton Show. 'I was in a small town in Upstate New York and was surprised to find a Doctor Who-themed restaurant on the main street. It was very unexpected and I avoided it for a while but then I thought I should,' he said. The candid admission drew laughs, with Tennant capturing both the oddness and the charm of finding a shrine to his most famous role in the unlikeliest of American settings.
Back as Lord Tony Baddingham in 'Rivals' Season 2
Away from the TARDIS, Tennant has reprised his role as the villainous Lord Tony Baddingham for the concluding episodes of Season 2 of the hit OTT series Rivals. The show is adapted from the late Dame Jilly Cooper's Rutshire Chronicles novels and is set in the television industry of 1980s Britain. Tennant described his character as 'a creature of the 80s, slightly monstrous, power hungry, and pretty ruthless,' while also insisting, with evident playfulness, that 'he is misunderstood!'
Praising both the source material and his fellow cast members, Tennant said: 'The characters are so beautifully drawn from Jilly Cooper's novels and are juicy and great fun. It is a great cast to be in amongst, and everyone has a vivid character to play, and they all do it so well. I adore them.'
A Tribute to Dame Jilly Cooper
Tennant also paid an emotional tribute to Dame Jilly Cooper, who passed away last year at the age of 88. He expressed pride in having come to know her personally during what he called her 'glorious final act' — the period in which the Rivals adaptation brought her beloved novels back into the cultural spotlight. 'She was everything you'd hoped she would be. She was glamorous and very mischievous. She was as thrilled with it as we were. I think she glorified in the fact that people had rediscovered her stories. She had a glorious final act, and I am very proud to have got to know her,' he said.
What's Next for Tennant
With the concluding episodes of Rivals Season 2 now airing, Tennant's Lord Baddingham arc is set to reach its climax. The actor's dual standing — as a beloved science-fiction icon and a critically recognised dramatic performer — continues to generate strong audience interest on both sides of the Atlantic. Whether more Doctor Who appearances are on the horizon remains to be seen, but the accidental restaurant pilgrimage suggests the role follows him wherever he goes.
Point of View
His dual presence across Rivals and Doctor Who mythology underscores a career that defies easy categorisation — a rare combination of populist icon and respected dramatic performer that few actors in the streaming era manage to sustain.
NationPress
14 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did David Tennant say about the Doctor Who restaurant in New York?
David Tennant said he was surprised to find a Doctor Who-themed restaurant on the main street of a small town in Upstate New York, calling the visit 'very unlikely, a bit weird and a little surreal, but delightful.' He admitted he initially avoided the restaurant before deciding to go in.
Which incarnations of the Doctor did David Tennant play?
David Tennant played both the 10th and 14th incarnations of the Doctor in the BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who. His return as the 14th Doctor marked a rare instance of an actor reprising the role after a long absence.
What is David Tennant's role in Rivals Season 2?
David Tennant plays Lord Tony Baddingham in Rivals, an OTT series adapted from Dame Jilly Cooper's Rutshire Chronicles novels. He has reprised the role for the concluding episodes of Season 2, describing his character as 'a creature of the 80s, slightly monstrous, power hungry, and pretty ruthless.'
What did David Tennant say about Dame Jilly Cooper?
Tennant paid tribute to Dame Jilly Cooper, who passed away last year at the age of 88, saying she was 'glamorous and very mischievous' and that she was thrilled to see her stories rediscovered through the Rivals adaptation. He said he was 'very proud' to have got to know her during what he called her 'glorious final act.'
Where did David Tennant appear to discuss the Doctor Who restaurant?
David Tennant made the revelation during an appearance on the latest episode of The Graham Norton Show, where he also discussed his role in Rivals Season 2 and paid tribute to the late Dame Jilly Cooper.
