Jodie Whittaker Is Doctor Who's Thirteenth Doctor
It's time to regenerate.
Jodie Whittaker has emerged as the newest incarnation of the famed time-traveling doctor, the titular Time Lord from the beloved BBC classic, Doctor Who.
The news was revealed, in an expectedly grand fashion, immediately following the final Wimbledon men's finals between Marin Čilić and Roger Federer. Many fans eagerly anticipated the unveiling, crossing their fingers that the tennis match would soon end. The BBC delivered deliciously, first unleashing an interstitial on the BBC One network station and then taking to Twitter to post the official Doctor Who regeneration.
The clip shows Whittaker pulling back her hood to stand proud as the Thirteenth Doctor and the first-ever female doctor featured on the show. Not only will the actress find fame on BBC One in the U.K. and on BBC America in the US, she'll also gain a devoted global audience, as Doctor Who is one of the best-selling shows in the BBC Worldwide books.
Of her pseudo-coronation, Whittaker was clearly thrilled. "I'm beyond excited to begin this epic journey, with Chris [Chibnall, the new Doctor Who showrunner] and with every Whovian on this planet," the actress stated (via Variety). "It's more than an honour to play the Doctor. It means remembering everyone I used to be, while stepping forward to embrace everything the Doctor stands for: hope. I can't wait."
Whittaker, known for her work on Attack the Block, replaces In the Loop actor Peter Capaldi, who became the series' Twelfth Doctor back in 2013. In January of this year, Capaldi revealed during an interview with BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley that it was "time to move on" from the show and confirmed he would be leaving in the 2017 Christmas special. Capaldi took over the role of the Time Lord from The Crown actor Matt Smith.
First created in 1963, Doctor Who saw its current run kick off in a 2005 reboot led by Christopher Eccleston (Thor: The Dark World). David Tennant (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) took over in 2010.
The series has also seen a flurry of different writers and showrunners, including Russell T. Davies (Torchwood, Queer as Folk), Mark Gatiss (Sherlock), and Steven Moffat (Jekyll). Moffat is leaving the show alongside Capaldi, and is teaming up with Gatiss for a Dracula series. Chris Chibnall of Broadchurch is taking over for Moffat as showrunner, picking up where the Moffat and Capaldi era ends on Christmas Day.
Chibnall said of Whittaker's casting, "I always knew I wanted the Thirteenth Doctor to be a woman and we're thrilled to have secured our number one choice. Her audition for The Doctor simply blew us all away. Jodie is an in-demand, funny, inspiring, super-smart force of nature and will bring loads of wit, strength and warmth to the role. The Thirteenth Doctor is on her way" (via Variety).
Former Time Lord Capaldi added (via Variety): "Anyone who has seen Jodie Whittaker's work will know that she is a wonderful actress of great individuality and charm. She has above all the huge heart to play this most special part. She's going to be a fantastic Doctor."
Doctor Who is set to return for a Christmas special this December. Until then, take a look at the untold truth of Doctor Who.