returning showrunner Russell T Davies prepares for a new chapter.
The BBC announced in July 2021 that lead actor Jodie Whittaker and current Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall will bid a t farewell to the franchise with a series of three specials, set to culminate in a feature-length swansong spectacular for the Thirteenth Doctor. The special will be broadcast as part of the BBC's centenary celebrations later this year. Although officially unconfirmed, it's more than likely that Gill and fellow current companion actor John Bishop, who plays Dan Lewis, will depart from Doctor Who alongside Whittaker in the forthcoming centenary special.
Even if Gill does leave, one thing is almost for certain: Yaz Khan won't die. Gill revealed during a recent interview (Russell T Davies' reign as showrunner. This proposed future appearance from Gill very much implies that Yaz will make it out of the centenary special alive. The exits of former Chibnall era companions follow suit, with Bradley Walsh's Graham and Tosin Cole's Ryan leaving the TARDIS in 2021's Doctor Who New Year's Day special, "Revolution Of The Daleks," to spend more time on Earth, their home planet, while also investigating extraterrestrial incursions.
In the 2022 Doctor Who New Year's Day Special, "Eve Of The Daleks," Yaz confesses her love for the Doctor in a beautiful exchange with Dan Lewis, who had picked up on the Doctor and companion's romantic chemistry during the events of the preceding season 13. Although we don't yet know whether the Doctor will reciprocate these feelings, it is likely that she will, just not as directly as some might imagine. This could ultimately play into Yaz's exit. Perhaps the Thirteenth Doctor will show her love for Yaz by sending her away from conflict to ensure her safety before regenerating, as seen with former companions Rose Tyler and Clara Oswald.
As Russell T Davies is responsible for Doctor Who's two greatest spin-offs, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, it's likely that he'll greenlight more during his second regime as showrunner. Thus, it's not outside the realm of possibility to imagine Davies incorporating Yaz, the soon-to-be-former companion, into an spin-off series, especially as he adores the current era of Doctor Who. Regardless, the door will likely be left open for Mandip Gill's Doctor Who return in the future following Yaz's exit, the likes of which may have already been hinted at.