10 Doctor Who Endings Nobody Saw Coming

Between this, his actual regeneration, and his appearance as the Fourteenth Doctor, David Tennant really loves shooting bright lights out of his hands and face, doesn't he?

Back when he was the Tenth Doctor, Tennant's era on the show looked like it was coming to a premature end when he got himself shot by a Dalek in The Stolen Earth.

Moments after seeing Rose for the first time since she departed the TARDIS, the Doctor suffered this seemingly fatal wound, and had to be ushered back to his blue box by Rose, Donna, and Captain Jack.

As his companions fret around him, the Doctor's hand begins to glow that familiar orange-yellow hue. He then gets to his feet and unleashes a salvo of energy, beginning the process of changing his face.

There had been no news of Tennant leaving the show when this episode aired, so fans were left completely aghast when they saw their hero regenerate. Were they really going to replace him without warning? And, if not, how would they get around the fact that he had already begun regenerating?

The answer would come in the next episode of the show, but that week was a very long one for Doctor Who fans.