10 Doctor Who Moments More Important Than You Realised
7. The REAL Reason Jackie Tyler Turned 40
It was the Cybermen that featured in Doctor Who's 25th anniversary special Silver Nemesis, and by the time they returned in the 2005 revival in Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel, another anniversary was hiding in plain sight.
The big reveal of the redesigned Cybus models comes at the Tyler mansion, where the Jackie of Pete’s World is holding her 40th (or, as she’d have you believe, 39th) birthday party.
You might assume that this number was picked at random. Or on the basis that Camille Coduri had, at the time of recording, just celebrated her own big 4-0. But no! As RTD has since confirmed, it was actually a nod to the fact that The Tenth Planet – the story that first introduced the Cybermen, and saw the First Doctor regenerate – was turning 40 that year.
So yes, Jackie turning 40 was a nod to the fact that the Cybermen were also 40. Rather fitting, given that she ends up getting turned into one.
Given that 2026 marks the 60th birthday of the Cybermen, might they feature in the upcoming Christmas special in some way? Will we get to see Jackie Tyler's 60th?!
Never mind Billie Piper, these are the questions we should really be asking.