Jodie Whittaker announces she is stepping down from the lead role in Doctor Who, bowing out in Autumn 2022.
Whittaker made history in 2017 by becoming the first woman to play the iconic Time Lord. She will star in one more six part series due to air later this year, and a further three specials next year. No announcement is made yet on who will take over from her in the title role.
Showrunner Chris Chibnall, who is in charge of the series since 2017, will also exit at the same time. He is the one responsible for hiring the actress four years ago to replace the departing Peter Capaldi.
Whittaker paid tribute to Chibnall and the team at Doctor Who in a statement, saying “I will carry the Doctor and the lessons I’ve learnt forever”. She adds, “In 2017 I opened my glorious gift box of size 13 shoes. I could not have guessed the brilliant adventures, worlds and wonders I was to see in them”. Her statement continued saying how full of love her heart is for the show, the team making it, and all the fans watching. It has brought so much to her life.
She “cannot thank Chris enough for entrusting” her with his “incredible stories”. They have shared the Doctor Who experience working alongside each other, and see it only fitting they leave together too. She is “weeks away from wrapping on the best job” she has ever had and continuing to look forward. The change is scary as you never know what’s out there, but Whittaker says, “the universe will surprise you. Constantly”.
‘Flat, worthy and woke’
In her final series, Whittaker is joined again by Mandip Gill as Yaz, and a new character Dan, played by comedian John Bishop.
In 2018, 11.5 million viewers tuned in to watch the 13th Doctor’s first episode, which is the sci-fi drama’s biggest audience in nearly 10 years. It also beat the Great British Bake Off and Strictly Come Dancing to become the highest rating show that week.
However, the show has not faired so well in recent years, with Whittaker’s latest episode, broadcast in January, falling to an audience of 6.3 million.
Many praise the casting of Jodie Whittaker in the role, but some fans and critics are not impressed by the recent narrative direction of the show. Despite Whittaker’s acting talents, newspapers label recent episodes as “flat, worthy and woke”. Reports suggest that viewers are furious by “unbearable political correctness”.
Work is currently underway on the next series of Doctor Who, with Chibnall writing and producing. It will air later this year, followed by a special on New Year’s Day 2022, and another episode later in spring. Whittaker’s final feature length special will broadcast as part of the BBC’s Centenary celebrations in autumn 2022.
One of the unique features of the long running drama is the Doctor’s regeneration, which allows the character to completely change their physical appearance. This enables the show to recast the role every few years with whomever they please. As the show approaches its 60th anniversary in 2023, speculation will arise on who will take over playing the part.
Thank you for reading Jodie Whittaker calls time on Doctor Who
Looking for additional living space or somewhere quiet to work from home? Look no further – Log cabins at affordable prices.