Jenny is the Doctor’s only child, but despite being such a unique character, Jenny never returned to Doctor Who. The Doctor’s (then David Tennant) daughter (Georgia Tennant) first appeared in season 4, episode 8 “The Doctor’s Daughter” and was created from a DNA extraction the Doctor was forced to give when he, Martha (Freema Agyeman), and Donna (Catherine Tate) land on the planet Messaline. Jenny is actually a clone, as the inhabitants of the planet had been churning out clones of themselves to supply their army for the war of Haths versus humans.

Jenny and the Doctor’s story was very turbulent, from the Doctor not accepting Jenny as his child to Jenny taking a bullet for the Doctor to save him. Throughout the episode the Doctor does start to see Jenny as his own and teaches her his morals, causing him heartbreak when she dies, and he soon departs Messaline. However, Jenny comes back to life afterward, most likely through a weaker form of regeneration inherited from her father. She takes off to explore both the universe and her new-found independence, as well as search for her father, but Jenny never crossed paths with the Doctor again in Doctor Who.

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Jenny Was Only Meant For 1 Doctor Who Episode (& It Completed Her Arc)

David Tennant; Georgia Tennant; Doctor's Daughter

The reason Jenny never returned to Doctor Who was because she was only meant for one episode, and that episode completed her arc anyway. Jenny was born as a clone to join her army, but, after Jenny's form of regeneration, her ability to gain independence and detach herself from the reason she was made meant she was able to achieve her goal. Georgia Tennant herself said Jenny’s ending in “The Doctor’s Daughter” “felt like a lovely stop” (via Radio Times) and that she did not feel the need to continue Jenny’s story.

Plus, although Moffat said the door was always open for Jenny’s return (via Digital Spy), there was no need to bring her back at that point especially as Jenny was a brand-new person, so she needed the chance to go and form her own personality away from the Doctor. Although Jenny brought herself back to life, it is unlikely she can fully regenerate like the Doctor as she did not change appearance, so at best her appearances would have been sporadic throughout Doctor Who, like River Song (Alex Kingston). Jenny had achieved her goal and there was no need for her to return to Doctor Who at the time.

Jenny Can Still Return To Doctor Who (& Should)

The Doctor and The Doctor's Daughter in Doctor Who

The spin-off audio series, “Jenny – The Doctor’s Daughter” sees Georgia Tennant reprising her role as Jenny, and emphasizes that Jenny can still return to Doctor Who. The spin-off has given Jenny her own story and background which could be built up and linked to through Jenny returning to Doctor Who. Plus, with Tennant returning as the Doctor for the 60th anniversary special, it could be the best time to bring Jenny back as the stories of the Tenth Doctor will be at the forefront of the audience’s minds.

If Jenny cannot regenerate, there is no issue of the actor aging and Jenny can slot in as a prominent figure for the new Doctor’s development, especially as some identity issues will be central to the Doctor’s journey, with Tennant's return as the Doctor. The audio series has provided the perfect platform for Jenny’s return, and she can be a key figure in exploring the Doctor’s struggle with protecting his loved ones. There has been no mention of Jenny’s return to Doctor Who but Georgia Tennant does acknowledge a reunion could work with Jenny’s new development. Plus, as a fan-favorite character, Jenny should return to Doctor Who.

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