Change is Key. Whittaker unlocks new era for ‘Who’…

“Nevertheless, she regenerated…”

Jodie Whittaker  has formally been announced as the next Doctor Who. The decision – bound to be seen as controversial by some because it’s the first female incarnation of the Time Lord – was seen for the first time in a specially-shot teaser which debuted after the Wimbledon Men’s Final.  The respected actor, probably best known for her role in Broadchurch, also helmed by new Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall, had seen a last-minute flurry of bets in the last week, though she was still seen as an outsider.

There had been a lot of talk about a woman taking the role, though some still felt that the very lucrative jewel in the BBC‘s crown would risk losing a section of its audience with such a radical shift. But the show, which has already survived being shuffled around the schedules and erratic programming, has set out that it is possible for Gallifreyan Time Lords to change their gender and there have certainly been hints that Chibnall was behind the idea.

After the reveal, Chibnall admitted as much…

“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,” he explained.

Whittaker herself admitted that it had been hard to keep the secret.

“I’ve told a lot of lies! I’ve embroiled myself in a whole world of lies which is going to come back at me when this is announced! It’s very nerve-racking, as it’s been so secret! To be asked to play the ultimate character, to get to play pretend in the truest form: this is why I wanted to be an actor in the first place. To be able to play someone who is literally reinvented on screen, with all the freedoms that brings – what an unbelievable opportunity. And added to that, to be the first woman in that role.

She also admits that she knows the pressure of being the first female Doctor…

“It feels completely overwhelming; as a feminist, as a woman, as an actor, as a human, as someone who wants to continually push themselves and challenge themselves, and not be boxed in by what you’re told you can and can’t be. It feels incredible. I want to tell the fans not to be scared by my gender. Because this is a really exciting time, and Doctor Who represents everything that’s exciting about change. The fans have lived through so many changes, and this is only a new, different one, not a fearful one. I’m most excited about becoming part of a family I didn’t even know existed. I was born in 1982 – it’s been around longer than me, and it’s a family I couldn’t ever have dreamed I’d be part of.

Whittaker can next be seen in BBC drama Trust Me, due to begin broadcast shortly…