July 16th, 2017
1,093 comments
We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Please note ALL comments are on moderation and it may take a while before they are put through.
Please note ALL comments are on moderation and it may take a while before they are put through.
Please note ALL comments are on moderation and it may take a while before they are put through.
The Doctor Who site welcomes constuctive comments related to the news article in question. Links posted in comments may not be displayed. We reserve the right to delete or edit any post entirely at our discretion. If you leave unacceptable comments your IP address will be banned and reported
The Doctor Who Site
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. The Doctor Who Site also participates in various other affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commission on products purchased through our links.
The Doctor Who Site is a Doctor Who fan site with no connection to the BBC.
Doctor Who is copyright © by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). No copyright infringement is intended.
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Merchandise
Flickr
YouTube
Alexander
July 17th, 2017 - 1:35amI do wonder how they are going to explain the countless times the Doctor has been indentified as male through it(the Doctor) being called a “he” by other characters. Was it because he was always intended to be a male of his species? Yes it was. I understand in such a wonderful show as Doctor Who anything is possible, but it hurts that the BBC are actually walking over the legacy of the show, the show was built on a male lead and that should be respected throughout the show. By all means have time ladies and seriously good female characters, even gay or lesbian characters within the show but by no means take away my Doctor. As a young fan, I am of a generation of acceptance and PCness, I am open minded and accepting. However, rewriting the character of the Doctor in such a way that it actually undermines the shows history and success is offensive to everyone. People are also afraid to criticise this new casting choice of the Doctor, mainly young fans, out of fear of being seen as prejudice against women. I am not that, I just feel sadness today. I also think the creator of Doctor Who will have turned in his grave today.
Pats86
July 17th, 2017 - 6:26amThat was beautifully put Alexander, I couldn’t have put it better myself. Well said.
Lorraine
July 17th, 2017 - 7:12amI was 6 when Doctor Who started so I am the other end of the age spectrum for viewers. When we played Doctor Who in the playground I was always Jamie because I could do the accent and that fact that I was a girl was not important. However certain things are fixed points in time and the doctor being male should be one of them. I wish Jodie well but it just doesn’t seem right somehow. We will just have to see how it all pans out but at the moment I feel rather annoyed about such silly tinkering with such an important character.
Gordon
July 17th, 2017 - 7:39amSydney Newman suggested having the character played by a woman in 1986 so I think he won’t be turning in his grave.
Gordon
July 17th, 2017 - 7:44amDoctor isn’t male to begin with. He’s an alien that can switch to any gender or race. Chris e said regeneration is a lottery and you don’t know what you are going to get. Is a woman that much of a larger stretch than a dog or a man with no head?
prototype dalek
July 17th, 2017 - 8:13amThe Best and more sensible comment I have seen on here Alexander, I agree 110% with everything you said
pats86
July 17th, 2017 - 8:18amGordon he is male, he has a wife and kids and Susan his granddaughter? Not male eh?
Gordon
July 17th, 2017 - 8:40amExcept the doctor isn’t a man. He’s an alien that can change to any gender or race. If he can be a man with no heads or a dog the character can just as much be a woman. Capaldis doctor said that timelords are beyond gender after all
pats86
July 17th, 2017 - 9:42amOnly recently, until a few years ago it was never part of the show at all?
prototype dalek
July 17th, 2017 - 10:11amThis is only a new thing though, the classic series never mentioned anything about gender swap at all, only in the last couple of years especially the 12th Doctor era that it has been mentioned
Gordon
July 17th, 2017 - 10:23amChris e in 2005. “Regeneration is a lottery. You don’t know what you going to get”. If the doctor can come back as a dog or a man with no head is a woman that much of a larger stretch. if romana In 1979 can change species is a gender change that much more of a stretch. Plus were all those aliens romana changed into female? We never saw the male equivilant of the small alien to compare
pats86
July 17th, 2017 - 11:15amWe never saw it because it was not part of the show.
Gordon
July 17th, 2017 - 11:33amBut romana came out as the little alien. It appeared on screen so was part of the show in the episode destiny of the Daleks. We don’t know if that alien was male or female. It was never specified
Pats86
July 17th, 2017 - 12:01pmIt looked female to me!
Anonymous
July 16th, 2017 - 11:33pmYou’ve had this place rengendered, I don’t like it!
It’s Still The Doctor
July 16th, 2017 - 11:26pmWhy are people so surprised by a female Doctor? This has been suggested since Tom Baker quit in 1981 – the only real surprise is that it’s taken so long. Doctor Who is a show that thrives on change. Capaldi has been amazing (if a little poorly served development wise) but how many times can they refresh the same format of man turns into different man? This is the shake up the show needs. If you need further proof, look how fantastic Joanna Lumley was in Curse of Fatal Death… and that was back in the 90s. It’s not a new idea, just one that took a long time to realise.
Also, we may finally get a well written, fully rounded male companion. So,etching the show hasn’t had since 1969!
Remember… It’s still the same old Doctor!
There’s no room in Doctor Who for hate and spite. If you really can’t tolerate the idea of a female Doctor, crawl back into your box and dig out your old VHS tapes. This is the future. It’s called change.
Also… comparing a female Doctor to having a female James Bond or Captain Kirk or male Marple is redundant… none of those characters can change their physical form… that’s what makes Doctor Who so much fun and so original.
Embrace it.
Floppy Who
July 17th, 2017 - 6:35amAnd remember…Curse of Fatal Death was written by a certain S Moffat Esq who not only wrote the first trams gender regeneration a whole six years before the show returned, but also wrote the first regeneration into a dashing younger Doctor that the companion falls for as well as predicting that Richard E Grant would be cast as the Doctor (albeit having his short run as the BBC’s official ninth Doctor overwritten by the announcement of Chris Eccleston a few months later..!)
The thing is with change…we should all keep an open mind about it and give it a go. After all, it’s the only one of the three certain things in life things that most people can look forward to.
🙂
Judooning
July 16th, 2017 - 11:20pmNow THIS should get the ball rolling for a relaunch on the 5.5″ figures 🙂
booboo
July 17th, 2017 - 5:45amIf retailers think so then yes, but I think its going to take some change to the way things have been done in the past
Omega63
July 17th, 2017 - 8:43amI look forward to the new monster designs more…
The Outcast
July 17th, 2017 - 8:53amMaybe if it goes well, we’ll get more classic figures.
booboo
July 17th, 2017 - 8:59amno doubt the market research will begin today.
The Outcast
July 17th, 2017 - 9:03amFor some reason, when I read that ^ I thought of this quote from Planet of the Daleks:
“… The invasion of all solar planets will begin today”
Or in this case, the invasion of shop shelves.
booboo
July 17th, 2017 - 9:09amretailers will need to be convinced a female in the lead role will sell merchandise
like i have said this is massive change not just for the show but for merchandise as well
It could give it a massive boost, or kill it off completely.
prototype dalek
July 17th, 2017 - 10:12amI think they will wait after the series and see if they want to invest or not, but the online arguments on both sides are really not helping
booboo
July 17th, 2017 - 10:34amDoctor Who licensing is a huge source of income for BBC Worldwide, make no mistake this HAS to work for them.
From my point of view (and this site) what happens to merchandise in the future is a big deal
Dr RevWho
July 16th, 2017 - 11:11pmYou realize they finished filming Series 10 BEFORE it was broadcast? Bill was always going to leave at the end, fan reaction had nothing to do with it.
Dr phil
July 16th, 2017 - 11:08pmI think the role of the Doctor is similar to that of who captains the ship in Star Trek. It is an opportunity here to learn new things about the person who is the doctor.
I hope I’m the future we get a doctor from an ethic minority. Or even a new species
I would like to see the 8th back as a cameo. He should have even had his own one off season arc
booboo
July 16th, 2017 - 11:06pmcomments on moderation until early morning.
123456789
July 16th, 2017 - 10:50pmI wonder who her companion will be. In the words of John SIMM, IS THE FUTURE GOING TO BE ALL GIRL NOW? Well I guess we have to wait till christmas to find out more. In the actions of missy, <o/.
Michael
July 16th, 2017 - 10:36pmWhilst I am not to happy I wont stop watching and if any of you do you are not true whovians 🙂
Anonymous
July 16th, 2017 - 10:38pmYou’re not a true FAN if you use the word “Whovian”
booboo
July 16th, 2017 - 10:43pmnever really understood this if your a fan you have to watch it regardless thing
loved death in paradise with Kris Marshall, hardly watched any with the other fella, but its the same show.
Michael
July 16th, 2017 - 10:43pmAnonymous hows that then
Sandra
July 17th, 2017 - 12:06amThank you Anonymous!!!!
Sandra
July 17th, 2017 - 12:17amI was so happy last year when I heard that Moffat was leaving, and now I am so disappointed about the Doctor not being a man! 🙁
prototype dalek
July 17th, 2017 - 10:14amDo you know booboo, I only started watching it with Kris Marshall myself and none at all with Ben Miller but still a good show
booboo
July 17th, 2017 - 10:24amand looking forward to Ardal O’Hanlon
T.A
July 16th, 2017 - 10:17pmBooboo why did my messages get taken down?
booboo
July 16th, 2017 - 10:20pmbecause the comment you were replying to got take down
T.A
July 16th, 2017 - 10:20pmWhy
booboo
July 16th, 2017 - 10:23pmbecause of yours and other peoples comments
T.A
July 16th, 2017 - 10:25pmSorry I did not realise I was offending anyone. Oh and what do you think of the 13 doctor?
booboo
July 16th, 2017 - 10:32pmI’m fine with it, but can completely understand those who are not
T.A
July 16th, 2017 - 10:32pmNice.
Mr sandman
July 16th, 2017 - 11:57pmIt’s a shame that more people can’t be like you booboo
Whorules
July 16th, 2017 - 10:08pmI do wish they’d used her proper number, she should be refered to as the 15th doctor.
Gordon
July 16th, 2017 - 10:24pmAn alien that can travel in time in a 1960s police police box that is bigger in the inside and can regenerate into any race or gender and most people think the ridiculous thing is that the alien can turn into a woman. Brilliant
Anonymous
July 16th, 2017 - 10:24pmNope, she is the 13th Doctor and 14th incarnation (the War Doctor not having a number as he didnt call himself the Doctor) and the will be the 14th regeneration (1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5, 5-6, 6-7, 7-8, 8-War, War-9, 9-10, wasted 10th Doc regen, 10-11, 11-12, 12-13).
Whorules
July 16th, 2017 - 10:39pmSorry but she is the 15th, war doctor is a regeneration and tennant was doctor twice, hers will be 14th regeneration making 15th body
Whorules
July 16th, 2017 - 10:43pmAlso see the list in the guide section on the site here to see all the regenerations
booboo
July 16th, 2017 - 10:48pmthe sequence of regenerations is never followed thorough with any consistency , especially where merchandise is concerned, no wonder things get confused
Anonymous
July 16th, 2017 - 10:54pmNot 15th body – 10 wasted a regen. Don’t confuse the other 10th Doctor that grew out of the hand as an incarnation. That was a metacrisis doctor. 13 Doctors, 14 bodies 14 regenerations (once 12 regenerates)
Whorules
July 16th, 2017 - 11:45pmAnon, the regeneration still occurred so there were two tenth doctors, the original and a healed one,
Whorules
July 17th, 2017 - 12:00amMatt smith says in time of the doctor that he is on his last regeneration (war doctor is mentioned and the tenth doctor using up a regeneration to heal himself) so smith was the 12th regeneration 13th doctor. And no I’m not counting the metacrisis body as that isn’t the real doctor, the whole point of time and the doctor was that the doctor was on his last life having used all his regenerations, hence the the need for the time lords to give him new regenerations. So capaldi is 14th and whitaker is15th.
Anonymous
July 17th, 2017 - 7:24amOk…lets try this another way. If she is the 15th doctor, list the 15 actors. You are getting confused. You are correct, Matt Smiths incarnation was the last in the cycle due to the War doctor and the wasted regeneration. A cycle has 12 regenerations/13 bodies but as 10 wasted a regeneration, the Doctors cycle had 12 regenerations but only 12 bodies. Capaldi was the 13th body and Wittaker will be the 14th body. Howver as the Warrior was not consider to be the Doctor, she will be the 13th Doctor.
Thomas Meehan
July 16th, 2017 - 10:07pmIt’s about time we have a female Doctor & I’m so happy and I can’t wait for Jodie. I know, she’ll be a great incarnation!
it shows young girls can grow up to be in the role as men have been and it’s a step foward for maybe casting a LGBTQ+ person or a person with a disability in the future (I hope!)
Omega63
July 16th, 2017 - 10:11pmI want a one legged frog Doctor that originated from Mexico not Gallifrey – gawd. Some diversity of species please….
The Temporal Jelly Baby
July 16th, 2017 - 10:36pmIf there’s a proper explanation given for it within the show, there’s a good actor for the role and the writing team are up for the challenge/have ideas for it then I honestly have no real problem with a one legged frog Doctor. 🙂
The frog Doctor would still be from Gallifrey though.
Pats86
July 17th, 2017 - 6:30amAnd he would want to find POND again : )
Omega63
July 17th, 2017 - 8:46amIt began as a joke, but I really have an urge to see how a one legged frog Doctor would be like on TV
pats86
July 17th, 2017 - 9:46amWell it would hop from one episode to another and at some point croak it then regenerate into a fly and get caught in a web and eaten by a spider bringing and end to Doctor who.
Nick Gray
July 16th, 2017 - 10:02pmA bold move when the BBC could have played it safe and cast another ‘pretty boy’ after Capaldi. Great actor that the series is lucky to have on board. Been a fan since watching Pertwee turn into Baker. Kris Marshall would I’m sure have been good…but an underwhelming choice. Make no mistake, this is the shot in the arm that the series needs at this point in its life.
Cyberman2
July 16th, 2017 - 9:55pmI don’t mind the gender change (even though that only existed since Moffat) I only care about the qualities the person playing them has. But she is a poor as hell casting choice. Her acting is not good at all in Broadchurch. Also the only reason they cast her is because of PC culture crap and bending over for SJWs because they wouldn’t shut up about a female Doctor.
Doctor 25
July 16th, 2017 - 9:41pmI don’t want her to be the 13th Doctor. I hate a female Doctor. It’s unfair. I would be very, very upset. I want the new Doctor to be Kris Marshall or any other man.
Thomas Meehan
July 16th, 2017 - 10:05pmIt shows young girls can grow up to be in the role as men have been and It’s a step foward for maybe casting a LGBTQ+ person or a person with a disability in the future (I hope!)
Doctor you
July 16th, 2017 - 10:35pmI don’t believe a person with a disability would be a good idea, it would take away from the show and isn’t the doctor already bi? But as for a female doctor I’m fine. I will only be annoyed if she plays the role badly, and the same goes for any doctor, if they are played badly people won’t like them. But fingers crossed that Jodie will be exactly what we need!
Whorules
July 16th, 2017 - 9:18pmTalking to my non-who fan friends and rather a lot of them are actually going to try the show with her in it. Seems it’s just who fans who are intolerant
booboo
July 16th, 2017 - 9:22pmthere will be huge interest and no doubt big viewing figures for episode one
pats86
July 16th, 2017 - 9:26pmI’ve had the opposite reaction from most who I have spoken to including wysiwyg wife?
pats86
July 16th, 2017 - 9:26pmMy wife
prototype dalek
July 16th, 2017 - 9:42pmI think we just have to wait and see as for now its just a lot of arguing
Whorules
July 16th, 2017 - 9:17pmCan’t say I’m surprised by the horrible comments, just very saddened…
pats86
July 16th, 2017 - 9:27pmIt a lot worse elsewhere!
Whorules
July 16th, 2017 - 9:39pmThat does not excuse it, or make it acceptable
pats86
July 16th, 2017 - 9:56pmI know, but this was always going to happen.
Phil
July 16th, 2017 - 9:14pmWell, at least we know the ratings will be consistent
The Dalek Whovian
July 16th, 2017 - 9:08pmWow, applause for Chibnall and the BBC for having the guts to do this. This is rather exciting. My only concern is that I really really hope the companion is male. I want this show to appeal to BOTH genders.
Also the backlash to this makes me really sad, give her a chance for god’s sake people.
Pusher
July 16th, 2017 - 9:25pmGive her a chance, like you all gave the paradigm daleks?
You all never gave them a chance!
The Dalek Whovian
July 16th, 2017 - 9:36pmYou’d be surprised. There were a few fans who supported the paradigm daleks mentioned in DWM and youtube
Exterminator
July 16th, 2017 - 9:54pmYep me for one, I loved the Paradigm Daleks. Taller, deeper voice, superior, villainous and I even liked the colours.
Sebatron
July 17th, 2017 - 3:01amLoved the Supreme dalek, it reminded me of a mobile Dalek Emperor. Still wondering what the Eternal Dalek was for…
Trenzalore
July 16th, 2017 - 9:05pmIm excited, the shows been heading this way for a while and it needed a shake up to become the event TV it was with tennant. Hopefully we can finally have a decent male companion in new who. Most guy companions are just part of the females story. What would be a step too far is both a female companion and doctor. I don’t know how Chibnall writes women but the doctor can not be like River (aka every woman in dw) and the companion can not be like Rory (aka every guy in dw)
pats86
July 16th, 2017 - 9:04pmHad this decision been taken in the eighties it would have been better received, a whole set of regenerations and never once female? According to Moffat gender is fluid on Gallifrey? Well I watched since the early 70s and it was never ever mentioned until 3 years or so ago in “The Doctors Wife”
Strange that isn’t it Moffat?
Gordon
July 16th, 2017 - 10:17pmExcept it was hinted before then. Chris e said regeneration was a lottery and you don’t know what you are going to get. Sure he didn’t actually mention turning into a woman but surely it’s not that far of stretch from a man with no head
Gordon
July 16th, 2017 - 10:18pmAlso 1 of the first things Matt said when he felt his hair was “am I a girl?”
Pats86
July 17th, 2017 - 6:34amStill a while cycle of regenerations and not once female? Not very fluid is it? It was Moffats agenda along with the BBC.
Tim M
July 16th, 2017 - 9:02pmI can accept the Doctor has changed and will be female. But if they change the Tardis or Theme tune, it may as well be a different series completely.
pats86
July 16th, 2017 - 9:07pmAt least the TARDIS will get cleaned now and all those dishes on the draining board too, LOL
Only joking everyone
The Moment
July 16th, 2017 - 8:59pmA great casting! People will disagree, but why can’t the Doctor be female. And to attract someone as talented as Jodie Whittaker is amazing. I cannot wait for Series 11. Doctor Who is in safe hands. Also the reveal and other trailer does not feature the current DW logo, does that mean a change in logo for series 11?
Josh smith
July 16th, 2017 - 8:56pmNot watching doctor who new series anymore RIP doctor who 1963-2010
Anonymous
July 16th, 2017 - 9:10pmWhy?
pats86
July 16th, 2017 - 9:28pmHe’s not happy that’s why.
Hilary Koe
July 17th, 2017 - 10:18amAnother one ticked off on my bingo card!
Disappointed
July 16th, 2017 - 8:41pmDoesn’t anyone remember, we have Time Lord’s and Times Lady’s. If the BBC wanted to increase marked appeal incorporate a Time Lady into the series, or a spin off. After all Romana could be brought back as she was in an alternate universe. A strong, intelligent character just waiting to be developed.
Doctor Stu
July 16th, 2017 - 8:41pmThe Doctor has been a man for nearly 900 episodes can we please at least give a female Doctor a chance for the next 13 episodes and then decide if you hate her from there
Doctorsmith12
July 16th, 2017 - 8:33pmwe might get a MALE companion??
P.S: its good to return to this page after nearly 3 years
Doctor Stu
July 16th, 2017 - 8:58pmThey should have a gay male companion because people say they’re sick of the Doctor – companion romance
pats86
July 16th, 2017 - 9:08pmOr Frobisher the shape shifting penguin?
Paul walukiewicz
July 16th, 2017 - 8:32pmUsing my maths I have calculated that the bbc might have just lost about half their viewers(this is using poll results above ) now how do you feel . I’m sorry but a female doctor is absurd how come it’s only been in the last 2-3 years that the idea of switching genders through regeneration has come about there has been no problem with the doctor being a man in the past so why is there now why does he have to switch genders this is a disgrace
#goodbye doctor who
pats86
July 16th, 2017 - 8:34pmMoffat is to blame, he is responsible for the split in the fan base!
booboo
July 16th, 2017 - 8:45pmthere is an initial, and in all honesty expected backlash (the youtube thumbs down are massive compared to the Capaldi and Smith reveals), but i suspect many will watch and it very much depends on what happens on screen from then onwards.
The Moffat Paradox
July 16th, 2017 - 8:58pmPerfectly saw the possibility of it coming (Moffat left enough clues with in universe tinkering) but HOPED for the central character they wouldn’finally ACTUALLY do it.
pats86
July 16th, 2017 - 9:11pmSome comments on YouTube are disgusting, no need for it at all
booboo
July 16th, 2017 - 9:14pmand twitter, got to hand it to everyone hear today though its actually been for the most part quite civil in comparison
pats86
July 16th, 2017 - 9:33pmYou have a great site here booboo and the fans to boot (even if I don’t agree with a number of them)
Kendo
July 16th, 2017 - 10:37pmIt’s over a year till she begins her first series so plenty of time for who fans to get use to the idea, as much as I love Capaldi I think Moffat fell into the same trap as 80’s who writers and this is the best way for the BBC to reboot the series without starting again. Let’s hope Chibnall keeps it original and fresh, after all no one wants it to be taken off TV again!!!(my heart still bleeds Sylvester)
Gordon
July 16th, 2017 - 10:56pmLove how Moffat is to blame when he didn’t cast her
pats86
July 17th, 2017 - 8:22amMoffat is to blame because he shoved this idea into the show recently.
The Moffat Paradox
July 17th, 2017 - 12:54pmThe idea that Moffat didn’t have any input in this decision by at least laying the premise development groundwork and could bot foresee the reaction (but still went ahead with turning apple carts anyway beggars credulity.
Plus he and (maybe Chibnall ) seem to exude an attitude that just about everyone else is an idiot but him.
Sid Rat
July 16th, 2017 - 8:24pmI’ll reserve judgement. She might be brilliant, she might be rubbish, but given that she’s a good actress, it might be the scripts and not her that lets the 13th Doctor. She may be so good that she might carry any poor episodes. No way of knowing yet.
Prof Horner
July 16th, 2017 - 7:50pmIan Levine does not like it -what a surprise!
Doctorfan
July 16th, 2017 - 8:29pmThey sadly aren’t the only one.
GIVE HER A CHANCE EVERYONE WE SAW HER FOR 10 SECONDS YOU CAN’T JUDGE HER OFF OF THAT ALONE!!!