Site Menu

July 16th, 2017 1,093 comments

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

Jodie Whittaker Announced As The 13th Doctor

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.


Adverts/Affiliates

1,093 comments

  • pats86

    July 27th, 2017 - 6:09pm

    A number of papers are now reporting that the lead character (the Doctor) is going to be bisexual and will have a lovely interest girl on girl it says, it’s probably paper talk and hopefully the Doctor will stay asexual as always!
    I really liked Bill and representing GLTB is fine with me but I’d rather it not be the Doctor and keep it to the support characters.

    Reply
    • R1ch1e

      July 27th, 2017 - 7:28pm

      Lol I’ve read these too. It’s typical of the press. They’ve taken a comment from Michelle Gomez and blown it WAS WAY out of proportion just for the sake of click bait.

    • Doctor Stu

      July 27th, 2017 - 7:32pm

      I think it’s because Michelle said if missy returns it would be girl on girl in the tardis in a kind of tongue in cheek way and the newspapers have just blown it out of proportion

    • The Outcast

      July 28th, 2017 - 1:37am

      The Doctor needs to remain asexual. I hate all NuWho’s Doctor romances.

    • Simon W

      July 28th, 2017 - 5:32pm

      It’s the press stirring things up. As a friend once said take what the press says with a pinch of salt. Its only true if u see it in the show until then don’t believe in it.

  • Mrs Davros

    July 26th, 2017 - 4:46pm

    It was only a matter of time before we had a female Doctor. I think most of us should agree that it would likely be at some point. Someone was going to cast a female Doctor somewhere along the line. And whether we agree with it or not, the time has clearly come.

    Reply
    • The Moffatt Paradox

      July 26th, 2017 - 5:37pm

      Only because its been politically and socially constructed with added in universe tinkering to make it seem that this is either necessary or inevitable.

      Ultimately Science Fiction while influenced by the actual world it’s creators and writers live in is not really that world and it’s a concern that subtly (or not so) this series in “modern” form outside of the spectacle has been allowed to become that little bit too ideological.

    • Doctor Stu

      July 27th, 2017 - 4:05pm

      People saying it’s a gimmick because they only auditioned women whereas for all the other Doctors they’ve only auditioned men and people are fine with that apparently. Moffat wanted his Doctor to be a man, so men were chosen to audition, Chibnall wanted HIS doctor to be a woman, so women were auditioned. And it was well established that the Doctor could only regenerate 13 times throughout Doctor Who’s history and so without in universe tinkering Matt Smith would have been the last Doctor as he’s the 13th regeneration so this ‘hes changing canon’ thing annoys me due to the fact that without a change in canon Capaldis era never would have happened. It’s only a woman it’s not like she’s got two heads or 8 arms, if you strip it all back it’s just a woman playing a role for 13 episodes who hasn’t been given a chance yet.

    • Chris

      July 27th, 2017 - 4:22pm

      Well said Doctor Stu!

    • T.A

      July 27th, 2017 - 6:23pm

      No moffat auditioned women when David was leaving. Also even if Moffat had just done males. The doctor has mainly been male not female.

    • The Outcast

      July 28th, 2017 - 1:43am

      It is still wrong to only go for one gender though. I’ll let it pass this time, but in future we need to audition both genders unless the show-runner has someone specific in mind for the role.

    • The Moffatt Paradox

      July 28th, 2017 - 2:24am

      There’s in universe tinkering and there’s in universe tinkering. Of course it was necessary to have a plot device in which the Doctor could get beyond 13 regenerations.

      But even before “The Time Of The Doctor “it was during Moffatt’s tenure with episodes like “The Doctor’s Wife” and mention of the gender changing Gallifreyan called the Corsair before the big reveal in the Capaldi era that Missy was the Master and seeing the General actually switch genders in “Hell Bent” that created the gender changing precedent.That was never there before so why introduce it?

      Because it’s in the actual world we live in agenda driven and not because it is otherwise inevitable or necessary.(As well as threatening to undermine the whole series dynamic which has been centred very successfully around the central character being male.)

      Chinball in making the casting choice fired the gun so to speak but Moffatt with the in universe tinkering HERE made the bullets such that he wouldn’t be restricted to male actors.

    • Doctor Stu

      July 28th, 2017 - 11:17am

      I don’t know if the outcast agrees with the new Doctor or not and I’m not suggesting you do or you don’t but I’ve heard the argument before with other people where they think the possibility that they’ve only auditioned women is outrageous and have said they should cast both genders to make it fair. But then if they did cast both genders these people would still complain about the final outcome being a woman even tho the casting process is something that they wanted. It’s like saying ‘yes let everyone audition it’s fair’ and then getting mad when this process is carried out and a woman is cast at the end because everyone wants it to be open to everyone so they can get another man. This probabaly made no sense whatsoever but I know what I’m trying to say in my head. My brain knows. My mouth is just having a hard time XD

    • The Outcast

      July 28th, 2017 - 12:22pm

      My stance on 13 is:
      No stance until Series 11 because ultimately the writing will decide whether 13 will be loved or loathed.

    • Doctor Stu

      July 28th, 2017 - 3:29pm

      There have been so many guest stars under moffat who have been wasted or under used due to bad writing I just pray series 11 is a better beginning for Doctor Who and not a disaster like series 7 part 2 and series 8 and 9 apart from a few episodes here and there

  • R1ch1e

    July 26th, 2017 - 6:36am

    Regarding the ratings, I’ve read that they may spike for the first episode of series 11 and then drop later but I really don’t think they will be that good from the start. Nothing to do with casting or production it just that ratings for everything are generally awful anyway with the exception of X Factor and Britain’s got Talent finals.
    Peter Capaldi is the finest Doctor this age but even then it only averaged 3 million overnight. So whether it’s brilliant or not the ratings really won’t get much better than that.

    Reply
    • Pats86

      July 26th, 2017 - 9:15pm

      Are you saying X factor and Britain’s got Talent are brilliant? Or am I reading that coment wrong?

    • Michael

      July 26th, 2017 - 10:06pm

      he didn’t say x factor and bgt are brilliant he said the are the only shows with high ratings

    • Pats86

      July 27th, 2017 - 10:26am

      I wasn’t sure that’s why I asked.

    • Lightningboy

      July 27th, 2017 - 4:25pm

      Totally agree re the quality/ratings…I personally think this series that’s just finished is by far the best since the days of Doctor’s 5 & 6…maybe even 4…yet everything is about bl**dy ratings these days.

      Capaldi is almost as irreplaceable as Tom Baker was in the original run,so i’m happy they haven’t tried to replace him with a man..a female Doctor (whether better or worse) will give it a very different slant and re-generate the entire show not just the lead character.

      I can’t wait.

    • The Outcast

      July 28th, 2017 - 12:19pm

      But, but… what about 7? Remembrance of the Daleks, Survival, all the other good ones?

    • Doctor Stu

      July 28th, 2017 - 3:32pm

      Overnight Ratings mean nothing anymore due to people recording it or watching it on iPlayer or even if you’re a low key fan waiting for the DVDs or it to come on Netflix or whatever people use to watch things. And some people watch doctor who but jumped on the train late and so are still on like series 5 or 6 when the new series airs and so don’t watch live because of that

  • The Moffat Paradox

    July 26th, 2017 - 1:52am

    With David Bradley playing the first Doctor( what I and others would consider to be an incarnation of the real Doctor through to Capaldi) in the Christmas special it’s got me thinking why doesn’t the BBC get David Bradley(for as long as he in his 70’s is up to it) and Reece Shearsmith who played Patrick Troughton in an “An Adverture In Space And Time” to do remakes of stories where episodes are missing from the Hartnell and Troughton eras?

    Reply
    • R1ch1e

      July 26th, 2017 - 6:28am

      That would be awesome. The Dalek Master plan would be so good

    • Pats86

      July 26th, 2017 - 8:44am

      Now that would be worth watching, excellent idea.

    • The Temporal Jelly Baby

      July 26th, 2017 - 9:31am

      That’s an interesting idea. Would you prefer remakes with different actors to the animated versions then? For me, it’d largely depend on just how convincing Reece Shearsmith’s portrayal of the 2nd Doctor would be (we’ve already seen that David Bradley is capable of doing a great job as the 1st). Also, how about the companions? They’d need to be recast too.

    • The Moffat Paradox

      July 26th, 2017 - 12:03pm

      Well their effectively recreating or adding some scenes to the 10th Planet int the Christmas Special with other actors as the companions so I would imagine it being done as remakes completely of potentially all the incomplete stories in Colour/HD making some use where appropriate of modern effects but otherwise maintaining the look and feel of the original episodes as much as possible.

    • 12th Doctor Fan

      July 26th, 2017 - 7:26pm

      Oh love it please please

    • Dalek Eye Stalk

      July 27th, 2017 - 6:34pm

      They would ‘NEVER’ do this! Firstly it would cost a small fortune to cast, film, direct, build sets etc. Secondly, they have all of the audio soundtrack for ALL the missing episodes, why remake them with different actors? Thirdly, if the audio exists then I’d rather see it coupled with animation, or at a later time, recreated visually with CGI. Looking at the recreation of Peter Cushing in ‘Star Wars: Rogue One’, I don’t see why in the future if it progresses and gets cheaper and easier, it could be made to look like it was made in the 1960’s, and in black and white.

    • The Moffatt Paradox

      July 28th, 2017 - 2:40am

      Improved CGI might be a way to go but with regard to budget when there’s perhaps a never to be repeated unique opportunity (Particularly with a regarded actor like David Bradley who looks in costume so much like William Hartwell) money was found outside of Doctor Who itself for the rather underwhelming Class.

    • Dalek Eye Stalk

      July 28th, 2017 - 9:44am

      Well if you were to have a spin off of different Doctor Who, a.k.a remaking the old Hartnell and Troughton stories. That wouldn’t be deemed adequate if the main current series is being aired in the same year. It would seem like two different versions of the same series (with the same name) being made. And anyway if such a spinoff titled Doctor Who was made, then myself and many others would rather it featured ‘brand new adventures with the 8th Doctor, Paul McGann. That would make much more sense, even if again it potentially undermined the current series.

    • Dalek Eye Stalk

      July 28th, 2017 - 9:50am

      Plus David Bradley is a in high demand actor. I’d very much doubt he’d have time available. Also, whilst Bradley is an adequate replacement for Hartnell, Shearsmith is out of his depth and a totally inadequate replacement for Troughton.

    • The Moffat Paradox

      July 28th, 2017 - 11:23am

      Outside of enhanced CGI I would only conceive of this being one offs to better fill the gaps with missing episodes.So any conflict with the main series shouldn’treally arise.

    • Ralph

      August 4th, 2017 - 8:05am

      I hope they never do this you can’t replace troughton, would be pointless watching.

    • nygel Harrot

      August 4th, 2017 - 10:11pm

      What IF… They made some BRAND NEW stories that were as good as the old ones… Now that WOULD be a turn up 🙂

  • The Voice of Reason

    July 26th, 2017 - 12:40am

    Do you know what’s so wrong about this casting? Its that Chibnall actively only auditioned women for this role, we knew way back in February that Olivia Coleman was approached but turned it down. This means that Chibnall and the BBC purposely casted Whittaker as a second choice and also because she’s a women, so this whole thing is (whether femenazis and SJWs like it or not) a gimmick and it stinks of political correctness right from the get-go.

    I know it sounds awful but I cant give her chance because of what she represents; she doesn’t represent what women can do and how brilliant they are because she is in a MALE’s role, she doesn’t represent the best choice available for the thirteenth Doctor because there were far better options available (i.e. Kris Marshal, Paterson Joseph and David Threllfall), she represents a gimmick to depict equality and I will not see my childhood hero in that way, I just wont.

    I wont be tuning in next year, not because I hate Whittaker or women, but because of HOW Chibnall has selected his first (and I guarantee you last) Doctor. To be honest though, I reckon she will get a second series because of how fans will be interested to see what her Doctor is like in series 11, but series 12 will be the final series of New Who because those ratings will go into free fall. Its a shame that I kind of want this to happen to be honest, so that someone with fresh but sensible ideas like RTD can give the show new life in the future and find away around not just this terrible mistake but maybe Moffat’s era of Doctor Who as well. RIP Doctor Who 1963-2017

    Reply
    • The Moffat Paradox

      July 26th, 2017 - 8:43am

      And it should be more established horses for courses between the genders. We can’t imagine the original Alien movies without the STRONG female character of Ellen Ripley played by Sirgourney Weaver because that was a character that was originally established as female and developed for in the sequels in a way that was JUST RIGHT for the story.

      PC considerations had nothing to do with it.Same goes for Linda Hamiton/ Lena Headey/Emilia Clarke as Sarah Connor in the Terminator franchise.

    • The Outcast

      July 26th, 2017 - 9:13am

      I didn’t know Olivia Coleman was asked? Who said this?

    • Chris

      July 26th, 2017 - 2:57pm

      But, on the flip side of this, for the last 12 doctors (13 including the war doctor) the BBC have only, as far as we know, auditioned men. As someone mentioned on another site this sounds a lot like people have had their cake for the past 54 years and now have to share 1/13th of it and are kicking up a fuss! There has been inequality in the casting process for a long time, now that for one time it rightly shifted in the other direction is a GOOD thing. Long live the Doctor!

    • Pats86

      July 26th, 2017 - 4:21pm

      The Voice of Reason, the casting process is what upsets me the most. If any male actors auditioned for the part they were wasting their time because they never going to get the part even if they were better than Jodie.
      I am likely to give it a go but it will be under duress and I will stop if I am unable to make peace with this absurd decision.

    • pats86

      July 26th, 2017 - 5:24pm

      Chris, the reason only males auditioned for the part is because the Doctor was and should always have been male.
      This change is new and for an agenda forced reason only.

    • R1ch1e

      July 26th, 2017 - 6:34pm

      Long live The Doctor Chris! Man or woman they are always the Doctor to me!

    • 12th Doctor Fan

      July 26th, 2017 - 7:28pm

      Agree entirely with you, won’t be buying any 13th stuff at all.

    • Pats86

      July 26th, 2017 - 9:09pm

      That’s OK R1ch1e, your happy with it as are others, Myself and others on here do not conform to whatever we are told, this is called choice and we chose not to be sheep. And that is how the BBC and Moffat expect us to be like. Well NO MORE ; )

    • The Living Shadow

      July 27th, 2017 - 11:40am

      A show-runner wanting someone to like their show? Nah, that’s unheard of! If you like that, you must be a sheep. Totally not because the show-runner has good intentions in terms of entertaining an audience, and you want to actually try to enjoy your one of your favourite shows, without attaching your own cynical political opinions…

    • Pats86

      July 27th, 2017 - 1:01pm

      Cynical? I don’t know what you mean?

    • Pats86

      July 27th, 2017 - 1:03pm

      And what about the showrunner and the BBC attaching their political opinions? That’s OK then is it?

    • Chris

      July 27th, 2017 - 2:22pm

      Should always have been male? If we go by that logic then the doctor was and should always have been William Hartnell. Thank goodness the showrunners don’t listen to the stuck-in-the-past fans but actually have ideas to take the show forwards!

    • Chris

      July 27th, 2017 - 2:50pm

      And I would rather be a sheep heading in the right direction than a lemming walking towards a cliff!

    • Adam

      July 27th, 2017 - 3:22pm

      The Doctor is like Sherlock Holmes,Robin Hood,Tarzan and James Bond….an established MALE iconic hero..Which is not to be tampered with for the sake of ‘gender diversity’…no,no,no,no…NO!!
      Only yesterday on one of the news channels they were talking about the newly announced Bond movie and if Daniel Craig would be returning to the role..when the presenter quipped ..Maybe it’s time for a JANE Bond!…for pity sake..

    • Pats86

      July 27th, 2017 - 3:38pm

      Jodie could well tip this over the edge, but we will see.

    • The Living Shadow

      July 27th, 2017 - 5:27pm

      You don’t know that this move was politically motivated. You’ve just made your own links.

    • The Living Shadow

      July 27th, 2017 - 5:29pm

      Regeneration, Adam, Regeneration… That’s the key.

    • pats86

      July 27th, 2017 - 5:52pm

      I’m glad we can see through the political agenda Adam, I read the Bond article and it mentioned Gillian Anderson as a possible Bond, I assume it was in jest?
      Had the Doctor continued to be male we wouldn’t be arguing with Chris, The Living Shadow and others and that is a shame but because we are doing and it shows the division in the fanbase! Am I wrong? No, Moffat has caused this along with Chibnall and the BBC.

    • The Prydonian

      July 28th, 2017 - 12:13am

      Here, here VOR. I couldn’t agree more. I noticed In the Radio Times letters page the editorial commented that most of the correspondence was unhappy with the casting of a female Doctor. I see the audio adventures are adding female Doctor stories. Good god

    • Chris

      July 28th, 2017 - 12:01pm

      But Pats you are contradicting yourself – you say you think they should have had a female doctor in the eighties but at the same time you are angry that the show runners have now added on to the lore of Galifrey that Time Lords and Ladies can change gender, if they wish. But IF they had a female doctor in the eighties it would have not been canon!

    • The Outcast

      July 28th, 2017 - 12:17pm

      I think what he’s trying to say is that if this had happened earlier in the Classics, back when there wasn’t a PC agenda, not many people would have minded, but nowadays, they are clearly only changing the formula to be more PC. If that was right, I can see where Pats is coming from. It’s only been the last 4 or 5 years that have established this as being possible and the PC agenda has only really come out in the last 4 or 5 years. I think the thing Pats and others are most worried about is the reasons for this casting. Are they doing it because they think they can do something new and different with a female or are they doing it to be PC?

    • pats86

      July 28th, 2017 - 2:25pm

      That is what I’m trying to say The outcast, had it happened much earlier it would have been an easier transition not now after 50 years.

    • pats86

      July 28th, 2017 - 2:26pm

      And for all the wrong reasons I feel.

    • Chris

      July 28th, 2017 - 2:38pm

      I have not personally seen this new PC agenda. Where is their official manifesto written? Is there a group or society I can join to show my solidarity with women and force the BBC and other channels to cast more females when they can? I was taught about the inequality when I was in school (many years ago now) and how women had fought for the vote and took over jobs while the lads were fighting for freedom etc. I had not realised that it was only in the last 5 years that they were able to be heard, but this is great news if its true!

    • The Outcast

      July 28th, 2017 - 4:22pm

      Political correctness isn’t the same as woman’s lib though…
      Probably could have worded the original post better, but unlike my Hell Bent RANTS, I don’t tend to put the most time into these posts, so they can get kinda ramble-y at times.

    • pats86

      July 28th, 2017 - 5:01pm

      You know that is not what I mean! Females do get top roles just look at Tennison (prime suspect) Top of the lake, The Fall, In the dark, Happy Valley, among many others. In Movies we have strong female roles in Star Wars, Ghost in the Shell, Hidden Figures (brilliant film) Arrival, Bridget Jones Diary again with loads more top roles.
      Chris, all I am trying to say is the Doctor need not have changed, a new male Doctor and a better showrunner along with good writing and everyone is happy, we keep watching. This change will cause loads to stop because for some it is a step too far, we all knew this would be the case, so why do it? I honestly feel it is an agenda to appease a certain political type.
      It has been a recent thing in the show and it wasn’t needed at all.
      So just to clarify, I am all for strong female lead females in TV and Film but not when you change a much loved male lead character like the Doctor, so your insinuating my lack of support for females in real life and fantasy is completely incorrect, I and others are not being sexest by wanting the Doctor to stay male, it’s simply how we see the Doctor, a male anti violent role model we wanted to stay that way (as Peter Davison has also said )
      Hope I make sense?

    • Chris

      July 28th, 2017 - 6:12pm

      Hi Pats – you do make sense but I worry that having to create a new character for the DW universe or give Romana a spin-off is just a replacement/2nd best spin-off type show (a la Sarah Jane Adventures) which will never quite live up to the quality of the original. Those shows listed do have great roles for women – but it is nothing like the long running successful sci-fi/fantasy show which warms everyone hearts like Doctor Who. Doctor Who is UNIQUE in that the lead character can change every single cell in their body. James Bond is inherently a human male and so will/should never change gender in the same way which Bridget Jones won’t suddenly morph into a male version. Why can’t the Doctor simply be a human anti violent role model rather than specifically a male? That doesn’t seem so sickening to me. Although series 10 was one of the best series’ of Nu-Who the ratings are steadily in decline. The show needs to change in order to stop going stale. Nobody likes the same format again and again. I firmly believe that this change and that CC’s 5 year plan will revitalise the show, keep the original viewers entertained while bringing in a whole new dearth of fans to our wonderful world. If certain fans are unable to keep up with the changing world around them, then unfortunately maybe it is time that they stopped watching, as the show has always been about progression and change. It is not one step too far. We are advancing through time (and space) after all – Gallifreyans are beyond our petit views on gender and their associated stereotypes. We are on our way!

    • Pats86

      July 28th, 2017 - 10:07pm

      As I have said before I will give it a go, I might enjoy it. If I don’t I will let go.
      I would point out that it I am able to go with all the changes the world proposes, to a point. But this didn’t need to happen, it’s split fans and that makes me sad, I don’t expect you to fully understand but I feel that I have lost a childhood hero.
      Back in 1983 when I was 12 I stood up in an assembly at school and talked about my favourite thing, yes it was Doctor Who and I tell you what I got some stick for that lol, it wasn’t funny at the time but it made me have belief in someone who was different to the male role models at that time (political correctness didn’t exist back then) I was forever pigeon holed as a nerd but I didn’t care.
      I find it difficult to express my feelings on this matter, the more I try the more upset I get.
      I sincerely hope I can make peace with the decision, Jodie may well be brilliant and hopefully my love for this show doesn’t die, but I have my doubts.
      Sorry for the snide remarks to you and others in earlier posts, it’s only frustration
      My wife asked to look at what I have been posting and even she says I’m a nerd now, having said that she has asked me to tell everyone she will not watch anymore because it doesn’t feel right after all these years (and she says I’m a nerd?)

    • Adam

      July 29th, 2017 - 1:17pm

      Regeneration no more The Living Shadow….No from christmas it’s Regenderation…

  • Adam

    July 25th, 2017 - 10:33pm

    If only Peter Davison was in charge at the BBC…he’d have commissioned ‘The Doctor’s Daughter’ so all young girls everywhere would have their own Time Lady heroine to look up to…and young boys and old farts like me would still have our Timelord hero.Yes..the Doctor Who cosmos would be a happy and peaceful place if sensible Peter were in charge…

    Reply
    • Ade

      August 2nd, 2017 - 5:31pm

      When I was a boy I had my Timelord hero.

      Now that I am an old fart I still have my Timelord hero.

  • Pats86

    July 24th, 2017 - 9:50pm

    In my reply from the BBC complaints department they said they a unable to reply to all the emails on a one to one because they have had an unprecedented amount of correspondence, so how many complaints have the BBC had? They do send an email they forward to all complaints on this issue.
    I feel extremely angry with Moffat the BBC and Chibnall yet again, I had calmed down but this honestly makes me want to stick to fingers up at them and stop watching! I can’t believe the gaul of the man, talk about being a patronising arrogant #+^€.
    I simply cannot believe what he has said at comic con!

    Reply
    • Mrs Davros

      July 25th, 2017 - 10:39am

      Moffat is fueling the fire. I dread how much he could damage ‘classic’ Who before he leaves. The 1st Doctor with a firework glowing hand!!! What’s happening next?…The 1st Doctor standing up, arms outstretched and regenerating into the 2nd Doctor, differently to events seen in ‘The Tenth Planet’?

    • Pats86

      July 25th, 2017 - 1:37pm

      Your not wrong, he is obsessed with ruining the show or it looks like that to me. The more I think about it the more I don’t want to watch, I’m torn as to what to do.
      I was angry with the initial announcement but after his latest comments? I can’t forgive him for them, that man is no fan of the show, his agenda and comments prove this.

    • R1ch1e

      July 25th, 2017 - 2:07pm

      I had exactly the same response from the BBC but I’m afraid that I didn’t complain! I do agree that Moffat was out of order, in fact I’m so ashamed of him right now. People against this change are very outspoken and MUST be entitled their opinion! Belittling people because of their views is an absolute no no!! Fans are fans!
      Mrs Davros (absolutely the best name on here by the way) i share your concern but I don’t think that even Moffat would stoop so low as to tread on the legacy of the very first regeneration! The actual concept fair cuddles the blood! The Tenth Planet is one of my favorites EVER and I would never be able to watch it the same way again!

    • Chris

      July 25th, 2017 - 2:30pm

      Hi Pats86, out of curiosity what would you like the BBC’s response to be?

    • Mrs Davros

      July 25th, 2017 - 5:17pm

      I called myself Mrs Davros because I wouldn’t be surprised if Chibnall continues Moffats gender agenda, and gives Davros a change of gender too!

    • Pats86

      July 25th, 2017 - 6:51pm

      In an ideal world an apology for screwing up a great show!

    • Pats86

      July 25th, 2017 - 6:52pm

      That’s my answer Chris, but the reason I complained is all down below on posts somewhere.

    • The Temporal Jelly Baby

      July 25th, 2017 - 8:26pm

      Mrs Davros, that would be a different issue since Davros cannot regenerate and change his whole appearance whereas Time Lords can and do. To use other examples I’ve seen, the same applies to James Bond and Wonder Woman. Changing the gender of either of them would be a bit strange but the Doctor (and other Time Lords) is a different case entirely and should be judged that way (whether for better or for worse).

      But I do agree that Moffat’s comment is a bit disdainful. Well, either that or ignorant. As Peter Davison said, “it might be more helpful to be encouraging, and not simply scornful, of fans who are uncertain about change.”

    • booboo

      July 25th, 2017 - 8:34pm

      and was subsequently driven off twitter for being about the only sensible voice in all of this.

    • Mrs Davros

      July 25th, 2017 - 8:32pm

      Davros could change his gender the same way as humans do, surgery and tablets. So he could still become a she, if Chibnall wished it.

    • T.A

      July 25th, 2017 - 8:48pm

      We don’t know if the first doctor had regeneration engery because it was in black and white so it’s not a big thing.

    • Chris

      July 26th, 2017 - 2:48pm

      Okay Pats86, but the show has thankfully not yet been “screwed up”. If Jodie is terrible, or if a female actor as The Doctor simply does not work, then fair enough you deserve that response. I actually think the BBC/SM/CC has done a great job in this. There has been talk of a woman doctor whenever there is a new casting. If this had happened for any doctor 6 -12 (before they had really made it canon) then maybe there would be a cause for a contention, but surely it is better that it is done now, now that they have explained this is possible for Timelords to regenerate into a different gender in the DW universe?

    • pats86

      July 26th, 2017 - 5:28pm

      I would say it would have been better in the eighties after a handful of Doctors, not after a whole regeneration cycle when gender is supposed to be fluid.

    • Chris

      July 27th, 2017 - 2:23pm

      So because they didn’t have the balls to do it back then therefore they should NEVER do it?

    • pats86

      July 27th, 2017 - 5:40pm

      Yes

    • Chris

      July 28th, 2017 - 11:08am

      I could not disagree more. 🙂

    • pats86

      July 28th, 2017 - 2:27pm

      Dito

    • nygel Harrot

      August 4th, 2017 - 10:24pm

      Pats86 I know what you feel, your story of the school assembly, your deep feelings about the program.. I agree with you totally. I’ve been watching the prog since 1963. I too have been very upset at the last 7 years… Its SO good to know that we are not alone in how we feel about this marvellous program. It used to be so very very good 🙁

  • The Moffat Paradox

    July 24th, 2017 - 5:21pm

    Moffat’s appeared with Peter Capaldi at SDCC ,says casting decison was entirely Chibnall’s sidestepping how he made it possible and typicallv dismissing anyone that dissents as “tiny minority”.How arrogant as well as distoring of a sharper divide.

    Reply
    • Gravy6

      July 24th, 2017 - 6:44pm

      Didn’t he say that journalists even asking the question about a backlash should shut the hell up?
      Arrogance yes-but I wonder if it’s mainly panic. After putting heart and soul into the writing of his final episode, it may now be dawning on him that Chibnall’s imminent two page addition could see a mass boycott.

    • booboo

      July 24th, 2017 - 6:57pm

      the whole episode has turned into something far removed from the show itself.

      I have seen those who have taken a most sensible approach being hounded from both sides.

      To me what’s happening around social media and behaviour from other quarters is far worse than casting a female Doctor

    • R1ch1e

      July 24th, 2017 - 7:12pm

      Agreed! It’s a disgrace! Steven Moffat has not done himself any favors by being as harsh as that at all!

    • Pats86

      July 24th, 2017 - 7:34pm

      This is part of what he said….
      “There has been no backlash at all. The story of the moment is that the notionally conservative Doctor Who fandom has utterly embraced that change completely — 80% approval on social media, not that I check these things obsessively. And yet so many people wanted to pretend there’s a problem. There isn’t.”

      WHAT? Where is he looking?

    • The Moffat Paradox

      July 24th, 2017 - 8:53pm

      The 80% supposedly refers to Twitter and we can all play the numbers game to support our argument; just like in politics. Even if that claim is verifiable if we include YouTube (What people comment as opposed to just upload )and other sites like this one no way is there such an emphatic endorsement.

      And as with opinion polls as we’ve recently seen it’s the numbers where it counts that matters; in this case viewing figures beyond the first couple of episodes of Series 11.

    • Adam

      July 25th, 2017 - 12:57am

      Is Moffat suffering from ‘Donald Trump’ syndrome..It’s all ‘fake news’ people!

    • The Outcast

      July 26th, 2017 - 8:45am

      *37 thousand is a “Tiny Minority”? I’m not someone who any opinions on the 13th Doctor (partly because until Series 11 as there isn’t currently anything to indicate what her Doctor will be like), but I don’t think dismissing the atleast *20% of people who are against it will do any good?

      *As of this time, there are 37 thousand dislikes on the 13th Doctor announcement video. That is around 1/3 of all the people who have liked/disliked the video. The 20% is actually Moffat’s own words. 20% is still a large percentage.

  • Arthurian2

    July 23rd, 2017 - 5:58pm

    I appreciate Jodie Whittaker as a good actor but being presented with such an attractive Who could steer the show in a totally different direction. Ok, it could be argued that David Tennant, Matt Smith and Peter Davison were regarded as eye candy, but they all had some geeky, Doctorish characteristic. With an attractive female Who, do you glam her up (Romana) or dress her down? I would imagine that there would be complaints for either scenario. Also if you have a red blooded male, twenty something assistant, where do you go with that? Rose and the Doctor was handled brilliantly but we’ve been there and got the teeshirt, and other assistants faired less favourably in their feelings, (poor Martha). A female assistant, ok I’m putting my tin hat on now, makes the show very female orientated, theres always been a bloke in the TARDIS up till now. Also as Chris Evans said on the breakfast show, everyones talking about Who again, but I just wonder how many of those voiced opinions actually watch the show!

    Reply
    • pats86

      July 23rd, 2017 - 7:17pm

      How many indeed?

    • Doctor Stu

      July 23rd, 2017 - 8:14pm

      She’ll be a strong female I’m assuming with her male companion lusting over her and she’ll have a ‘none of that funny business in my TARDIS’ attitude

    • The Outcast

      July 26th, 2017 - 8:47am

      I do wonder how many of the people positive about the change, yet don’t watch Who, will begin to watch because of the Gender change.

  • whovian

    July 23rd, 2017 - 3:32pm

    “It doesn’t matter which is being worn, they are all the Doctor to me” to slightly paraphrase a sentence from The Witch’s Familiar.

    Reply
    • whovian

      July 23rd, 2017 - 11:37pm

      “It doesn’t matter which face is being worn, they are all the Doctor to me” to paraphrase a sentence from The Witch’s Familiar.

      Had to re post as id forgotten to write face beforehand

  • Doctor you

    July 23rd, 2017 - 7:45am

    What people don’t realise is that she would never have been cast if she wasn’t great and somewhat like the doctor we know today, so even if right now it doesn’t seem like she could ever be the doctor, please reserve your judgement until she has actually said at least five words as the doctor.

    Reply
    • R1ch1e

      July 23rd, 2017 - 10:19am

      I agree with you. David Tennant said at Comic Con that she is the best working actress in the country at the moment and that the better the actor, the better the show. I think she’ll be great

    • Anonymous

      July 24th, 2017 - 9:01am

      It’s the BBC we are talking about of course they cast her because she was a woman

  • Adkead80

    July 22nd, 2017 - 4:08am

    I hope that Jodie Whittaker will do well as the 13th Doctor, but I really wish the identity of the next Doctor would have remained a secret.

    First, time lords have the ability to regenerate from a state of death with the cost of altering their appearance and personality with random results. I wanted to be left speculating on who or what the next Doctor will be like and have an open mind of all the possibilies of who the next Doctor would.

    Secondly, the latest episode of Doctor Who ended with cliffhanger with the 12th Doctor starting to regenerate, but he resists his change and his regeneration because the Doctor doesn’t like to be someone else, leaving us to ask “what happens next?” Is the Doctor going finally die? Could this finally be the end? That ending alone should be a good reason to not reveal the identity of the next Doctor. We were left in suspense that this could be the end of Doctor Who, but they ruined the suspense and the experience for us just by revealing Jodie Whittaker as the next Doctor.

    Reply
    • Doctor Stu

      July 22nd, 2017 - 11:03am

      Filming for series 11 would have to begin before the Christmas special airs and the BBC would have to get all of the promotional and publicity photos done and dusted ready for the media and merchandise etc I’m assuming so there’s no way it wouldn’t have been leaked but I do agree it would have been a nice surprise

    • Sherlock Holmes

      July 22nd, 2017 - 4:51pm

      Even if they kept it a secret we would already know dw would continue because it was announced that chibnall would be head writer for series 11

    • booboo

      July 22nd, 2017 - 5:22pm

      I understand why they had to do this but i hope they can keep a lid on the big spoilers from now on

      its kind of spoilt some of the last few series

    • R1ch1e

      July 22nd, 2017 - 6:05pm

      I’m still mad about The Masters reveal at the start of the series.
      I honestly think of they hadn’t spoiled then we could well have got to the end of the series without knowing and it would have been an amazing reveal!

    • Doctor Stu

      July 22nd, 2017 - 7:57pm

      I think they spoilt the masters return to generate hype because they knew viewers were flagging and if that was the case then they should have kept the mondasian cybermen a secret instead so at least we had something unknown to surprise us, although alpha centurai was a nice surprise but nothing ground breaking

    • R1ch1e

      July 22nd, 2017 - 9:17pm

      Alpha Centurai was my favorite thing of the whole series. It was a great series, I can’t wait till next year now

    • The Outcast

      July 23rd, 2017 - 6:06am

      They had to reveal the Mondasian Cybermen though, as they were filming in the open. DWSR (the buggers) would have leaked it otherwise. The Saxon Master’s return could have been kept a secret though. No one realised it was him until they announced it. And from memory it did nothing for the viewing figures.

    • Gravy6

      July 24th, 2017 - 7:51pm

      It’s odd they didn’t leave it as surprise on the day. Let’s face it, even if it had leaked beforehand no-one would have really believed it. So maybe it is that whole gender pay gap ‘thing’. Or perhaps, they were worried about the shock having people choke on their yule log?.

  • Jackson

    July 21st, 2017 - 6:31pm

    I would just like to say, speaking as a fan of Doctor Who since I was born, that this is the first time in 10 years that I have felt this excited about where the programme will go in the not-too-distant future.

    If you call yourself a fan of Doctor Who, and you believe that the Doctor – a time-travelling alien with the ability to regenerate into a completely new body, together with a brand new personality – can’t regenerate into a female, then you have not understood the most fundamental property that has made both the Doctor and the programme a success that it is today.

    Reply
    • pats86

      July 21st, 2017 - 6:53pm

      As a fan of Doctor Who since I was born this is the first time I have been this disappointed ever about where the programme will go in the not-too-distant future.
      And I do call myself a fan who understands that the dynamics of the show has been changed against the wishes of at least half the fan base because of an agenda led corporation and its stooges.

    • booboo

      July 21st, 2017 - 7:13pm

      I have never understood all this “if your a fan you have like everything they do” business to be honest

    • Gravy6

      July 21st, 2017 - 7:13pm

      The transgender aspect of the regeneration cycle is a Steven Moffat retcon from 2012 onwards. In other words, for the first 49 years of this programmes history timelords could not change sex. It may be convenient for you to believe otherwise, but not so much for the rest of us. As for calling ourselves fans well, respectfully, we all determine the terms and definition of our own fandom. We don’t need you, Colin Baker or anyone else to do it for us.

    • Doctor Stu

      July 21st, 2017 - 7:23pm

      Same I’m really excited because I want to see her first episode to gauge where the series will go

    • pats86

      July 21st, 2017 - 7:32pm

      Good job booboo because I don’t….clearly

    • Tim M

      July 21st, 2017 - 7:53pm

      We all know and we all expect the first episode with Jodie Whittaker to get high viewing figures. It’s how it sustains itself over the course of a series. But I would rather a female Doctor came along later. So I’d rather this run (since 2005) ended with a male Doctor. Then if the series was brought back in the future, they would then start with a female Doctor. Like Ecclestone, it would begin without a regeneration. So if the reboot with a female Doctor didn’t work, they could reboot the next series with a male Doctor. Then you just say she wasn’t the Doctor but a fake that wanted to be like the Doctor, and stole his Tardis.

    • Jackson

      July 21st, 2017 - 8:13pm

      I admit my wording was a little harsh, and I apologise.

      However, I feel it grossly unfair to dismiss Jodie out of hand without actually seeing her as the Doctor. Today, you may believe that this is the end of Doctor Who; this time next year, you could be saying that this is the greatest thing to happen to the programme since the very first regeneration, or since its reboot in 2005.

      I would like everyone to put aside their hostilities and wait until we see her in action. Is that too much to wish for?!

    • pats86

      July 21st, 2017 - 9:31pm

      We don’t have much choice Jackson, I will add as I have said many times already, give Jodie a chance.
      I hope the Xmas episode explains why the Doctor has never been female before, because if gender is fluid on Gallifrey as Moffat seems to think then why was the Doctor male for the whole set of his regeneration cycle? It makes no sense at all.

    • The Outcast

      July 22nd, 2017 - 4:08am

      I am waiting till Series 11 to make my judgement on this, because what is most important is the writing, not the Actress. Jodie is probably an amazing Actress (I don’t know, I have seen anything she’s been in yet) but if she doesn’t have great writing behind her, then the show will not reach a new golden age.

      Also, I agree we do need a slight explanation why the Doctor hasn’t been female before at some point when the gender change is address (although, hopefully it won’t be address until the Doctor meets someone who knew her as a man, Kate the-brigs-daughter perhaps?).

    • Gravy6

      July 22nd, 2017 - 5:43pm

      I’ve got be honest, i’m furious about this (as if you couldn’t tell!). However I have no problem with anyone who is okay with it, provided they don’t become aggressive with those of us who share a different view. Fortunately there doesn’t seem to be any of that going on here. This forum seems to be comprised largely of reasonable, decent sorts. But my word, on other sites…

    • Adam

      July 23rd, 2017 - 6:18pm

      You sum it perfectly Gravy6…but according to Moffat it’s only a small minority of ‘tiny mad men’ who’s against this new casting…the gall of the man!

    • The Prydonian

      July 24th, 2017 - 11:20pm

      Spot on Pats86

    • nygel Harrot

      August 4th, 2017 - 10:35pm

      Crumbs!!! You think the program is a success today!!!! I’ve said before on here … if it wasn’t for the ORIGINAL series this new version would have been taken off the air… It’s been feeding off its past achievements more than it’s been giving back.

  • booboo

    July 21st, 2017 - 4:46pm

    can anyone who posted about Deborah Watling please repost in the article i just put on as a better tribute as the comments will just get missed here eventually

    thanks

    Reply
  • Tim M

    July 21st, 2017 - 4:38pm

    Such sad news. The lovely Deborah Watling (Victoria Waterfield) has passed away. Victoria and Jamie are my favourite companions of the Troughton era. I’m pleased she got to see ‘The Enemy of the World’ and ‘The Web of Fear’ returned a few years ago. Two fantastic stories, and combined with ‘Tomb of the Cybermen’ recovered in 1992 (another classic), we have all been so fortunate and lucky to appreciate Deborah’s performance in these great stories. The interplay between The Doctor, Jamie and Victoria is something special. Doctor Who fans will greatly miss you. My thoughts and prayers go to her friends and family. R.I.P Deborah Watling.

    Reply
  • Pats86

    July 21st, 2017 - 4:30pm

    Apparently 85% of Radio Times readers think the Doctor changing genders is great? Does the BBC think we were all born yesterday? Never have I heard such rubbish in all my life! What a bare faced lie!
    They never stop fo they lol, at least Peter Davidson understands how at least half the fan base feels, and as for Colin Bakers rebuttal to Peter? What an numpty! He is completely missing the point.

    Reply
    • Pats86

      July 21st, 2017 - 4:31pm

      Five was superior to six anyway 😉

    • Ralph

      July 21st, 2017 - 4:59pm

      Thing is the radio times is read by a wide range and not just doctor who fans, so whilst some who fans maybe against it the general public non fan could well be behind it. Of course it could be the bbc PR machine but who knows whether the general public who just watch the show and nothing more like the idea or not, we won’t know until next Series and that will be after a big promotional campaign by the Bbc.

    • booboo

      July 21st, 2017 - 5:08pm

      The polls seem to vary widely because of the mix on the site, how much time people have had to think and where the votes are coming from.

    • Tim M

      July 21st, 2017 - 5:05pm

      It’s good to see the Doctors are as split as the fanbase. 🙂

    • booboo

      July 21st, 2017 - 5:18pm

      that’s the problem when you say what you believe in to people who have different view

      With social media it all very public now

    • Adam

      July 21st, 2017 - 5:34pm

      I think Colin might be just a little biased towards the new casting..

    • Pats86

      July 21st, 2017 - 5:43pm

      The Doctors being split make me feel much better.

    • Pats86

      July 21st, 2017 - 5:46pm

      Considering how Colin’s time as the Doctor was received and how it ended maybe he can see what might be coming and is trying to soften the blow?

    • Tim M

      July 21st, 2017 - 5:55pm

      Of the Doctors sadly no longer with us, I would presume Hartnell would disapprove. Troughton I think would be happy, I’m sure even he said something about female Doctors in the future. Pertwee I’m not sure. I think he would be more diplomatic and wait and see.

    • Tim M

      July 21st, 2017 - 5:59pm

      Perhaps Colin likes the thought of a female Doctor, because maybe he actually thinks it won’t work…so at least there will be a Doctor lower than him in the ‘Favourite Doctor Polls’… Only joking! 🙂

    • Pats86

      July 21st, 2017 - 6:18pm

      You might be joking but regarding the poll but you may well end up being right.

    • Gareth Pugh

      July 23rd, 2017 - 11:36am

      Well, RT won’t be doing this out of any BBC-led bias: remember, BBC sold off Radio Times a few years ago, and I believe they no longer have either any financial stake nor any editorial control over it. Indeed, many have commented on other forums on how RT has become much, much more critical (in its news coverage and in reviewing shows) of Doctor Who and also several other BBC programmes since the sell-off.

    • booboo

      July 23rd, 2017 - 12:16pm

      Its all about click bait

      the headline is misleading

      its 40% for 43% on the fence and 17% no

      so it could have read “60% of fans not sure on new casting”

      our own poll could be interpreted the same way as 37% in favour and 63% not sure so they are not that far apart

      and the RT have a far more even Male / female readership than Us

      The also seem to have leaked about “The Doctors daughter” coming to Big Finish for more click bait

    • Stop that TARDIS

      July 25th, 2017 - 3:37pm

      Well Sixth has never been a fan favourite anyway…

    • The Outcast

      August 31st, 2017 - 1:10pm

      I think that is unfair to say about Six. Sure, his TV run was short and shoddy, but in other media Six really shines!

  • R1ch1e

    July 21st, 2017 - 4:05pm

    TOP Deborah Watling!

    Reply
    • R1ch1e

      July 21st, 2017 - 4:06pm

      RIP Deborah Watling (sorry about type error)

    • Adam

      July 21st, 2017 - 4:29pm

      Awful news..and only 69 years young..RIP..

  • Chris

    July 21st, 2017 - 3:32pm

    I’ve kind of had enough now of everyone saying this is “PC” and all about SJW’s and an “agenda” that the BBC are “pandering” to. Listen to that rhetoric – it really sounds like everyone throwing their sonic screwdriver replicas out of a pram! What is WRONG with being Politically Correct? What is wrong about Social Justice? These are the very things the Doctor has always fought for. Why are you now standing against her? 50 years and 12 (or 13) variations of the Doctor have been played by a male so far. Most people say they always knew the Doctor was going to be played by a woman at some point. Why not now? Do you feel it has been rushed, even though it is now cannon, whether you like it or not? Would you rather it happened in ten years time or twenty? Ideally it would have happened a long time ago but it didn’t because the sixties and seventies were not as advanced as we are. This culture change is a good thing. The Doctor has not suddenly changed forever. We still all have Hartnell – Capaldi as men – this has not been rewritten. This is not a reboot. This is nothing like any other character out there because the Doctor, by her very nature is unique. This is a continuation and growth of the Doctor and their universe. And we are bound to have more male doctors further down the line too – if you feel you can only respect a male actor in that role. Keep calm and carry on!

    Reply
    • R1ch1e

      July 21st, 2017 - 4:53pm

      Well said my friend!

    • Mick181

      July 22nd, 2017 - 12:38am

      Very very good points, lets ask this question
      How would the Doctors themselves react to this news?
      I think they would all be supportive.

    • Mick181

      July 22nd, 2017 - 12:39am

      I mean the Characters not the people who played them.

    • The Outcast

      July 22nd, 2017 - 3:59am

      I think the problem is that most of the SJW are just labelling people who dislike the concept of the Doctor changing gender “Sexist”, even when they aren’t. This is why I’m waiting till Series 11 to judge whether I like or dislike 13 (bar the fact I’ll have nothing to judge 13 on until then), so I don’t have to take a side and be dubbed a “Fake fan” or a “Sexist”.

    • Chris

      July 24th, 2017 - 10:57am

      I’m not calling anyone with genuine concerns and worries sexist – but a lot of people seem to be attacking SJW’s and a PC Brigade for absolutely no reason – because it’s easy to attack a ‘group’ that doesn’t exist who believe in equality and change? Somebody else wrote in another comment (I can’t be bothered to go and find it) that they would rather have a Doctor in 10 years time after this series ends. So they would prefer their favourite series to end, instead of having a female doctor as part of the genuine chronology!! That remark is plain weird to me because as a fan I want the show to grow and evolve, not to end and get rebooted with a whole new backstory and agenda!

    • Ade

      August 2nd, 2017 - 5:39pm

      Excellent post.

    • Anonymous

      August 3rd, 2017 - 12:48am

      Thankyou, perhaps the most sensible comment I’ve seen heard since July 16th.

    • nygel Harrot

      August 4th, 2017 - 10:41pm

      Here here Chris… but what i would really like to see is a black lesbian in dr.who. …WAIT a moment…Darn!! That didn’t work :/

    • Chris

      August 10th, 2017 - 4:35pm

      but it DID work – brilliantly! Bill was one of the best companions in Dr Who history, right up there with Donna in NuWho. It was just fun and adventures as it should be! There was no silly romantic tension between her and the Doctor. Her preferences in the bedroom were not important in any way, and was only even mentioned in a handful of episodes. Her love life was not the focus of a single episode, unlike the escapades of Clara and Amy before her. Her race was also nether here nor there and in fact made for some fun when she met someone “blueish”. The demise of Bill in World Enough and Time was devastatingly beautifully sad. I would say we should have loads more ethnic LGBT companions if they are all fabulous as Bill!

  • Adam

    July 21st, 2017 - 3:18pm

    So was Peter Capaldi (my favourite Doctor since the mighty Tom Baker) really asked to stay on? Or was he pushed out for the sake of diversity?

    Reply
    • Pats86

      July 21st, 2017 - 4:59pm

      Indeed he was the best Doctor since Tom Baker, was he pushed? I’d hate to think that was the case and I doubt it, he would have gone all Malcolm Tucker on them and left a trial of beaten bodies in his wake.

    • Pats86

      July 21st, 2017 - 5:01pm

      I offten wonder how good Capaldi could have become under a good showrunner?
      Now we will never know

    • Adam

      July 21st, 2017 - 6:35pm

      Maybe so, but i do think Chibnall has had this new Timelady version in the works for some time and that Capaldi was never going to be part of it…And yes i agree it’s a great shame not to have at least one more series with 12. Personally i think five series should the minimum that each actor should stay in the role..
      And if you’re reading this ‘Mr Chibnall’ don’t be getting any funny ideas!

    • pats86

      July 21st, 2017 - 6:59pm

      Joking aside you could well be right about Chibnall, but if Jodie stays five seasons I will hold you personally responsible for putting such an Idea out there in the first place!

    • Mick181

      July 22nd, 2017 - 12:41am

      From what i have heard, filming Dr Who is very hard work and about 3 yrs seems to be the max time they want to do it for.

    • Ade

      August 2nd, 2017 - 5:42pm

      Capaldi (who imho is the greatest Doctor since Tom Baker) chose to leave. I watched him being interviewed and he said that it’s ten months of extremely long days that goes into a series, and almost “factory like”. He wanted to leave while he was still doing his best work on the show.

  • Classic Who now even more better than New Who

    July 20th, 2017 - 10:38pm

    Admit it Mr Moffat. The Master becoming Missy was a move to make it more acceptable for the Doctor to change from a him to a her. You’ve known for sometime that the 13th Doctor would be female. It’s a gender agenda created between You, Chibnall and especially the BBC.

    Reply
    • Adam

      July 21st, 2017 - 3:06pm

      Yes this new piece of stunt casting is all ‘gender agenda’ driven..and oddly enough in the same week the BBC release the obscene amounts of money they pay their presenters..Oh but they’ll say it’s just coincidence…

    • Classic series now even better than the Newer series

      July 23rd, 2017 - 1:35pm

      The BBC will clearly use Doctor Who as an example. That it now has a female lead, and they will be paid the same as their previous male lead. By using a flagship show that is a big earner for the BBC, they can say “well if we can do it this iconic show, we can do it for any show.

  • R1ch1e

    July 20th, 2017 - 8:51pm

    I think, I THINK John Barrowman has just given just given his blessing to the 13th Doctor in his own, very unique John Barrowman way. LOL

    Reply
    • Tyler Prescott

      July 21st, 2017 - 4:00pm

      What do you mean?

  • Pats86

    July 20th, 2017 - 8:42pm

    After my complaint that I sent to the BBC last night I have had a reply, unfortunately it is the one they send everyone (they tell you this) this is the last paragraph…..

    We really appreciate your feedback and this has been made available to all the relevant teams in our daily report. We’re aware that Doctor Who has a very passionate audience, and we love hearing all the different opinions as to which episodes, Doctors and companions you prefer. We look forward to hearing from you when the next series airs.

    OK so where are all the different opinions? I struggle to find any on BBC media outlets! And I will make sure they do hear from me once the next series starts be it positive or negative.
    After today’s news that Jodie Whittaker will get the same pay as Peter Capaldi (and that’s only fair)the more it appears to have been a complete set up on every level including the pay gap of male to female?
    The BBC look more incompetent every day.
    As others have already mentioned on this site, where are Moffat, Chibnall and Whittaker? After such an outcry they should be out trying to make the peace with fans, not hiding behind the sofa!

    Reply
    • R1ch1e

      July 20th, 2017 - 9:36pm

      Do you want Whittaker out?

    • The Living Shadow

      July 20th, 2017 - 9:50pm

      It’s over 5 months until her first appearance, and then another few months before Whittaker’s first series as the Doctor. There’s plenty of time for interviews and things later. So far, at most, Whittaker’s only filmed one scene, so I don’t think they’d really have much to say anyway.

    • booboo

      July 21st, 2017 - 4:45am

      also i think all this overshadowing the fact Peter Capaldi is still the Doctor right now and has one more episode to do

    • Neal T.

      July 20th, 2017 - 10:35pm

      The whole thing has become a socio-political football! Fans who don’t agree with the decision pilloried, the actress slated, the BBC using the whole thing as a way to cover their backsides over lopsided pay structures. Rumors abound about Kris Marshall being the companion! Is this a compensation to him not being the new Doctor, and the BBC caving in to those who wanted a female Doctor to look like they are progressive when they were preempting the pay backlash? Another thing came to mind after reading a new article (by a female journalist, I might add), the Doctor is usually kept on the right track morally and emotionally by a female companion. If that is done with a male companion now will it be considered patronising? The Doctor is a flawed hero, one of the reasons he is loved (we are all seriously flawed, yes male and female!), If this changes when the Doctor is female then it won’t be the Doctor. We will have to wait to see what the writers have in store, I believe Jodie Whittaker will be tremendous in the acting role, but the writing is the key element to make or break it. And if the BBC really want to be hip and progressive…. Use female writers and directors, and remember that you have a larger audience spectrum than the average IQ of a Love Island contestant!!

    • Adam

      July 20th, 2017 - 11:40pm

      Yes it’s all very strange..maybe they were expecting a backlash and are waiting for things to simmer down?

    • R1ch1e

      July 21st, 2017 - 5:18am

      I understand that this has been a shock for most, I really do and I certainly wouldn’t tell anybody how to feel about it, but Chris Chibnall is a clever man in charge of a show now that we all love and Jodie Whittaker IS The Doctor and there is nothing we can do about it.
      We simply can’t judge by one clip where she doesn’t speak and walk toward a Photoshop TARDIS.
      What she does so however is smile, and that smile shows me optimism and hope and a look toward a bright future which we still have to wait over a year to see (apart from Xmas special).
      When the time is right, they will speak to us. Jodie will probably be on the One Show to talk about her next show before Who anyway and then they will both be interviewed by DWM. Remember John Simm said he would ONLY speak to them when he came back.
      I think in the end she will be a fine doctor, I really do from the bottom of my heart.
      Tom Baker said that if she doesn’t work out then she should move on. Fair Point! But he’s ALSO said that NOBODY has failed in that role, it’s just how it is!
      Let’s all try to be encouraging now and try and find some beauty in this situation so we can all move forward and as Booboo said, try and enjoy the Xmas special. We got Capaldi Swanson to come yet which I’m sure will be incredible!!!!!!!!

    • Pats86

      July 21st, 2017 - 6:44am

      R1ch1e, to answer your firs question I didn’t complain about wanting Jodie Whittaker out I went down the line off this gender change being very new and undermining over 50 years of history and cannon.
      I also went into how boys have now lost one of the very few non violent role models and how sad that is for many.
      I am prepared to give give Whittaker a chance, I don’t have a choice as you say, it is what it is now. If the shift is too much then I will stop watching but hand on heart I’m not looking forward to it at all.
      I sincerely hope I can take to Whittaker as the Doctor, it will be difficult for me because I only see the Doctor as male, not from a sexist view but as I have explained in other posts.
      I do not understand why people think I and many others are judging Whittaker on the 60 second clip we have seen? It’s not about that it about the shift in direction and all the implications it might bring like a possible cancellation, I don’t believe the BBC have at least a five year plan for the show! they are hardly the most honest institution going after all.

    • NoMore

      July 21st, 2017 - 3:59pm

      Pats86, exactly how I feel about it. I just can’t make peace with it.

  • The Moffat Paradox

    July 20th, 2017 - 2:34pm

    Moffat/Chibnall/Whitaker still noticeable in their absence for interviews.

    Reply
    • Tim M

      July 20th, 2017 - 2:49pm

      Yes, it’s all surprisingly low key for such a major change in the entire series. But all three know this will eventually play out either one of two ways. A resounding success, or epic failure. Make no mistake, Doctor Who is at a crossroads, and it’s one of the biggest gambles. It’s a make or break moment, and the future of Doctor Who is at stake.

    • Chris

      July 20th, 2017 - 2:50pm

      There isn’t really a lot to say right now though to be fair. The decision has been made. We will see a snippet of #13 at Christmas and then roll on series 11. Probably best for the “fans” to calm down before they reappear saying something which may rile them up more that the next incarnation of the doctor will be a wee bit different!

    • The Outcast

      July 20th, 2017 - 2:54pm

      Yeah, I really want to see an interview with Whittaker as I haven’t seen any of the stuff she’s been in.

    • R1ch1e

      July 20th, 2017 - 4:21pm

      They will probably give their first interviews to Doctor Who Magazine! It does seem to be logical. Either that or SDCC if they make a surprise appearance. But i agree Chris there doesn’t really seem a lot to say at the moment!

    • Adam

      July 20th, 2017 - 11:27pm

      Maybe they’re having a rethink..

    • Stop that TARDIS

      July 21st, 2017 - 12:08pm

      Good! Peter Capaldi is still the doctor till Christmas!

    • booboo

      July 21st, 2017 - 2:00pm

      But even then will still be A Doctor for all eternity

    • Adam

      July 21st, 2017 - 3:47pm

      It’s criminal Capaldi is leaving already…his Doctor and the wonderful Pearl Mackie’s Bill Potts have easily been my favourite team since the 7th Doctor and Ace! Yes i would have loved at least one more series with them…and under a different showrunner…Such a shame..

    • NoMore

      July 21st, 2017 - 3:55pm

      Can’t help but wish Adam’s right.

    • Tim M

      July 21st, 2017 - 8:01pm

      Totally agree Adam. Capaldi and Mackie made series 10 the strongest for some time. Plus it wasn’t until series 10 that I felt Capaldi hit his stride. I don’t agree with Capaldi that he didn’t feel he could add anymore to the character. Series 10 felt like his first series proper. I easily could have watched another season with Capaldi and Mackie.

    • The Moffatt Paradox

      July 21st, 2017 - 10:23pm

      Series 10 was generally his best; all the difference when you’ve got better material to do you justice.even if in typical Moffatt style there’s no explanation of how for example Missy escaped from Skaro.

      He was also right to gripe about the scheduling as it is traditional TV viewing figures in the country where it’s made that keeps a series going.

      He should have been better induced to stay for at least another year and I hoped we would see him tackle as he had intimated himself other classic foes like the Daemons and I would have loved to see his Doctor up against the original Silurians; especially the Sea Devils.
      But that will no longer except in other media be.

      A well there’s Avengers Infinity War, Star Trek Discovery (Although I’ve got my question marks about that as well) and The Predator to look forward to in 2018 if “Doctor Who” proves to be a personal no go area.

  • obsie

    July 20th, 2017 - 12:36pm

    Well this is going to be “fun” for all fans, old and new. Where once we had to get used to a new Doctor we now have to adjust even more to a change of gender. Two big steps in one go (sort of). My concern chiefly is trying work out how this new incarnation will display any idiosyncrasies the other actors brought to the role, which was always a part of themselves from real life being let loose in the character of The Doctor. I don’t know enough about Jodie Whittaker to be able to draw on any one thing; this had better be good.

    Reply
  • Doctor Stu

    July 20th, 2017 - 12:23pm

    It would be interesting to do another poll in a couple of weeks time to see if the majority opinion has changed now people have had time to process it

    Reply
    • booboo

      July 20th, 2017 - 12:54pm

      I might just do that, not so much here but I,m sure other for and against polls are being voted in by people who never watch the show and still won’t

    • The Outcast

      July 20th, 2017 - 2:08pm

      I think its a bit hypocritical for people to call fans unhappy about the change “Sexist” and then not watch the show themselves. I mean, how many people will see this, comment how wonderful this change is and not even watch an episode to show their support for the change?

  • Anonymous

    July 20th, 2017 - 2:53am

    I know a lot of people are upset that the Doctor is female but I’m more disappointed that the Doctor has yet to become a ginger.

    Reply
    • Gordon

      July 20th, 2017 - 9:19am

      It’s a running gag about him not being ginger. Not to be taken seriously

    • Tyler Prescott

      July 21st, 2017 - 4:02pm

      We need a Doctor, as the 9th Doctor said, with two heads. Or no head.

    • Doctor Why???

      August 31st, 2017 - 1:15am

      This ginger thing is so often commented upon but I honestly think most people entirely missed the point of RTD’s original ‘gag’… ginger, you know… cockney rhyming slang… ginger beer!

  • Phil

    July 20th, 2017 - 12:12am

    Hey, did anyone notice that when Moffat wrote ” Doctor Who and the fatal death “, right before the revived show he cast 4 male doctors and then a female doctor ? Then the Actual show casts 4 males then a female. The fatal death had the master falling for a female doctor which mirrors the Missy Capaldi interactions. As well as some other little similarities.

    Reply
    • Gordon

      July 20th, 2017 - 9:17am

      Don’t forget the war doctor in that. That’s 5 male doctors then 1 female

    • The Outcast

      July 21st, 2017 - 10:49am

      Yeah but if we go by what the Doctors are called, then its only 4 male and 1 female. I find it weird how alot of the stuff Moffat did in that skit actually became part of the real show.

  • Adam

    July 19th, 2017 - 11:00pm

    More rumours..Kris marshall is the new companion..

    Reply
    • Gordon

      July 20th, 2017 - 12:38am

      Only because he was rumoured to play the doctor. I wouldn’t put that much faith in it

    • The Outcast

      July 20th, 2017 - 2:04pm

      I think Marshall as the companion would certainly bring in viewers who are familiar with him.

  • Doctor Stu

    July 19th, 2017 - 10:39pm

    Maybe the thirteenth doctor is a woman because the female heather space puddle tears that Bill cries land on the doctors forehead at the end of the doctor falls. Someone even commented a couple of weeks back that the doctor began to regenerate at the spot where the tears fell. Maybe this influences the transition, just a thought I don’t know

    Reply
    • The Moffat Paradox

      July 20th, 2017 - 12:50am

      Good get out clause for male (normal) regeneragtion 14.

    • R1ch1e

      July 20th, 2017 - 6:36am

      That’s a good thought!

  • The Oldest Dalek

    July 19th, 2017 - 9:15pm

    Well isn’t this a pickle?
    A woman Doctor, hmmm not sold on the idea as it’s taken this long to get one.
    If you look at the signs we had a Male time lord regenerate into a female, The master changed into a female, we’re we soften up for this? I didn’t rate Missy very good so was good to see J.Simms back.
    Will the 13th Doctor work….
    well this could be a big fail as there is a huge negative response to her which could back fire on the BBC and it’s the 13th version (unlucky for some)
    I don’t like her personally feel she’s too… big headed but that’s my opinion.
    In all this could mark either the quickest regeneration to the 14th or the end of doctor who.
    we will wait and see

    Reply
    • The Living Shadow

      July 19th, 2017 - 10:07pm

      I don’t think there’s too much of a negative response. Don’t get me wrong it’s probably the most negative out of all the new Doctor announcements…
      An example of what I mean is how on BBC’s facebook posts, there are more negative comments, however the ‘like’ and ‘heart’ reactions colossally outnumber the ‘angry’ reactions. It seems that most of the supporters are less vocal about their opinions.

      We know that she won’t be the shortest incarnation of the Doctor, as we know she’ll have a small scene in the upcoming special, as well as at least 1 series, which is more than Eccleston and McGann (excluding Big Finish).

    • booboo

      July 19th, 2017 - 10:20pm

      in youtube terms the amount of thumbs down are massive make no mistake

      around 35% as opposed to around 2% for the Capaldi and Smith reveals

      I would be a thumbs up for the record but the negativity is far greater than some people would like to admit.

    • The Moffat Paradox

      July 20th, 2017 - 1:26am

      I’ve made my extreme scepticism about the development abundant and while Missy and the General’s regeneration in Hell Bent were signposts I nonetheless enjoyed Michelle Gomez as Missy and her combination of mad zaniness and pure malevolence.(Though I also like John Simm’s classic Master.)

      My and others problem is: put in some Liberal Left PC biases,and some gender changing Gallifreyians if YOU MUST (We’ll otherwise just grit our teeth about it) but otherwise LEAVE him known as the Doctor AS HIM.

    • Deborah Fields

      July 20th, 2017 - 1:59am

      My sentiments exactly!!!

    • Mick181

      July 20th, 2017 - 5:18am

      Don’t have much time for You tube Comments, very little real thought or knowledge goes into them. Way below the quality on here.

    • The Outcast

      July 20th, 2017 - 9:55am

      Even here, the second most voted answer in the poll was “No, Way”, so there is a lot of backlash from this decision.

    • booboo

      July 20th, 2017 - 10:12am

      25-30% seem to be the totally negative figure but will vary from site to site depending on their audience make-up

      many of those will be an initial impulse reaction though,

    • The Living Shadow

      July 20th, 2017 - 4:17pm

      It would be very interesting to try to find out which Social Media platform shows the most accurate representation of fans opinion…
      I picked facebook for my earlier example because the user is more likely to see the post if they’ve already actively liked Doctor Who, and the trending tab on Facebook sends the reader to various articles, rather than the original post itself (unlike YouTube trending, which will send anyone who clicks on it in the trending tab, to the original video itself). In my opinion, this means that Facebook would seem to give a better overview of what fans of the show think.

      I feel that the positivity is greater than some people would wish it to be. Those people being the ones who say “the show will be cancelled!” Etc.

    • booboo

      July 20th, 2017 - 4:35pm

      and regional and gender, 95% of people on this site are UK based and I would expect the vast majority are male so are poll would only represent that.

      The merchandise section which is very important to us is i know mostly visited by males which may come as no surprise, but if we are now going to get merchandise that maybe appealing to female buyers we are going to have to step up to the mark as well!

      Interesting times, be interested to see how retailers deal with this as well, Girls section of boys section? We dont want a Sarah Jane Adventures all over again

    • Gravy6

      July 20th, 2017 - 4:45pm

      People here seem to be ignoring the other responses in the poll. Sitting on the fence, Not my first choice and Will just have to put up with them. If you look at it that way, only 36% of respondents are happy with this decision-the other 64% AREN’T.

    • booboo

      July 20th, 2017 - 4:57pm

      probably unwise to give so many choices in hind site but it was set up to go live straight away

      many left their polls for a day or 2

      Have to admit if we ran it again now I think the results would be very different

    • 12th Doctor Fan

      July 20th, 2017 - 5:05pm

      If the new companion is male hell be overshadowed by femail dr as 12th Dr was overshadowed by the Clara who show in s9

    • booboo

      July 20th, 2017 - 5:08pm

      not necessarily, Captain Jack springs to mind

    • Tim M

      July 20th, 2017 - 5:13pm

      John Barrowman’s big ego overshadows his own reflection! 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

By clicking submit you agree to our terms and conditions (below), we reserve the right to edit or delete inappropriate messages.

Comment rules

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

Click here to read full comments terms and conditions

Twitter

Facebook