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.
Neal T
July 16th, 2017 - 5:53pmOn a plus note we still have Big Finish đ
Borg
July 16th, 2017 - 8:08pmMight be the only one keeping me with the franchise.
RORY DOCTOR RIVER POND
July 16th, 2017 - 5:52pmChibnall said the 13th Doctor was always going to be a woman.
He said: “I always knew I wanted the 13th Doctor to be a woman and we’re thrilled to have secured our number one choice.
from bbc website
i thought he said it wasn’t going to be a gimmick
Doctor Stu
July 16th, 2017 - 5:57pmIt’s not a gimmick, he’s the new writer, it’s now his character and he wanted the character to be a woman so it’s his vision not a gimmick
Anonymous
July 16th, 2017 - 6:02pmSo what if they’ve only looked at female actors. With every previous doctor they’ve only looked at male actors. The shows growing stale and needs a bog change to revitalise it. This could be that change
NoMore
July 16th, 2017 - 6:05pmGimmick.
pats86
July 16th, 2017 - 7:19pmIf he said that then the best actor might not have been given the role? It really has been done to tick a box at the BBC. (If it’s true)
RORY DOCTOR RIVER POND
July 16th, 2017 - 5:49pmno no no
Borg
July 16th, 2017 - 8:09pmSensible people unite!
pats86
July 16th, 2017 - 8:53pmRORY DOCTOR RIVER POND, are you the bloke from The Vicar Of Dibbly?
pats86
July 16th, 2017 - 8:53pmDo you mean yes?
DannyTheNerd
July 16th, 2017 - 9:16pmUNITE!
Stop that TARDIS!
July 16th, 2017 - 5:48pmCan I just say, if you’re happy for this choice, good! I’m happy for you! But please if somebody isn’t happy about it don’t assume they’re an awful person and hates them for female! I would’ve prefered Kris and personally am sad it’s not him. Let’s all let each other have opinions and not be rude đ
siberman
July 16th, 2017 - 5:47pmI personally think that the BBC has finally worked out how to alienate a majority of their Dr Who fan base with a view to at last axing the show. The only way they could have done worse would be to have cast Scarlett Muppet – sorry I mean Moffatt as the Dr.
bob fox
July 16th, 2017 - 5:50pmunlucky 13
siberman
July 16th, 2017 - 5:51pmOh, I forgot to mention that I will be giving her a chance before making my mind up before you think I’m a misogynistic dinosaur. Just thought that the BBC seems to have pandered to the PC brigade.
The Moffat Paradox
July 16th, 2017 - 6:00pmThey did that LONG AGO.Nnw witness the result.
Be v foster
July 16th, 2017 - 6:06pmI will not be watching Dr who now until 14th doctor appears and I am female Dr who is just not a part that lends itself to a female lead
paul
July 16th, 2017 - 5:46pmridiculous won’t be watching ,this is a male role shall we change barbie to a bunch of fellas just because we can.
my son 11 is upset and funny enough my daughter who is 17 thinks this is stupid as well. PC gone mad definitely list viewers here!!
The BBC is shambolic
bob fox
July 16th, 2017 - 5:55pmi will be watching but
i did watch time and the rani
Gordon
July 16th, 2017 - 6:56pmThe role is an alien that can change to any gender or race. How is changing to a woman ridiculous?
paul
July 16th, 2017 - 7:27pmgood for you Gordon iin my opinion they have ruined the show so I will stop watching. your opinion is different and I respect that.. honesty my main grudge here is with the BBC, this was one of the few programmes I enjoyed..now spoilt again by PC madness enjoy watching me and my family are out in would rather they canned the programme than this utter madness..
Borg
July 16th, 2017 - 8:10pmWait until they get their hands on James Bond, or should I saw Jamie Bond?
DannyTheNerd
July 16th, 2017 - 5:43pmWhat do you think on this decision booboo?
booboo
July 16th, 2017 - 5:49pmthe fact they cast a female surprised me but its doesn’t bother me, I for one would have loved Joanna Lumley in the role 30 years ago!
I can however understand both sides and it seems split 50/50
Its a very brave move however, it could make or break the show, i do have concerns on the merchandise side of things though.
Exterminator
July 16th, 2017 - 5:58pmUnpack the sonic lipstick.
Doctor Stu
July 16th, 2017 - 6:00pmI’d have loved Joanna Lumely XD, come here sweetie, darling, sweetie… facing off against the Daleks ‘don’t talk to me like that you piece of dribble (blank)”
Anonymous
July 16th, 2017 - 6:01pmMerchandise is the big question? The BBC rumours of a new ‘David Tennant Type’ to invigorate sales seem’s to have been unfounded after all. I considered Billie Piper as Rose in 2005 a terrible choice, but she turned out to be a fine actress & a good companion. This is like Star Trek all over again. I think certain ‘fans’ are more likely to destroy the show with their own vitriol, whilst proving they have no understanding of the show’s actual ‘ethos’
Exterminator
July 16th, 2017 - 8:37pmSomebody above in the comments has likened it to the flop ghostbusters reboot.
DannyTheNerd
July 16th, 2017 - 5:41pmCan’t believe this. Absloutely ridiculous.
Anonymous
July 16th, 2017 - 5:44pmI totally agree!
Stop that TARDIS!
July 16th, 2017 - 5:45pmAgain agree! I feel like if they wanted a lead time lord who’s a female, bring back romana
prototype dalek
July 16th, 2017 - 6:39pmOr the Rani
Clive Dunslett
July 16th, 2017 - 7:45pmHow about regenerating River Song again she was a great character.
Borg
July 16th, 2017 - 8:11pmThank you! Now all they must do is call it Nurse Who.
A
July 17th, 2017 - 8:35pmWhat the..? “Nurse Who”? Have you some kind of time displaced internet from the 70s? I’m fairly sure in the 21st century women can be doctors or be employed in all sorts of other “male” jobs. There may even be (shock! horror!) male nurses.
Pats86
July 16th, 2017 - 5:40pmIf nothing else she is the best looking Doctor so far!
Tim M
July 16th, 2017 - 7:45pmDefinitely gets my vote for best looking Doctor already! But too early to say best Doctor yet. I’m sure she will be great, and she must have auditioned for the role well. Prove me wrong but I’m not convinced she will win that best Doctor vote though.
The Surgeon
July 16th, 2017 - 5:36pmActually wow, I’ve just looked at the picture again and properly seen it. She actually looks like the Doctor. I don’t know why. She just does. Crikey.
Simon W
July 16th, 2017 - 5:39pmShe was in the film Attack the Block.
47
July 16th, 2017 - 5:33pmHmmmm…… The show has been pretty bad in the past few years, and has been supplanted by many others for me with the likes of Daredevil, Banshee, Penny Dreadful, et al, and I hope in the new format the show can re-thrive on, and go forward with, good sci-fi /adventure/drama at its heart, and none of the soap opera, buffoonery and dim “comedy” that has blighted it with Moffat.
And for me that is more important to the continuation of the show, because bad writing, production and characters have hamstrung the best of Doctors (and worst) alike !
The liberalism choice is always going to fly in the face, that being white male is not “O’K” anymore, even the BBC Breakfast reported this morning along the lines of ( so not a direct quote) ‘for many – a white male won’t be acceptable.’ and I believe that the Liberalism argument – if at all – is a separate argument all together.
Would I have preferred the Doctor to remain a fella, honesty, yes, am I upset that the Doctor is a girl, no – not at all. I have better things to worry about.
There are two options – watch the show – or don’t watch the show.
I choose to watch it, I look forward to the new interpretation and what it brings and hope that the quality of the story and acting is what comes through…. as I always hope it to do !!
Tim M
July 16th, 2017 - 5:40pmWell said. Indeed, there are many more things to trouble us in life, and believe me, I’ve gone through some issues in life. The change of gender for the Doctor should be seen in a positive light. It shows and displays to the world how unique and brilliant this show is. That it can go anywhere and be anything. Not many series can do that!
47
July 16th, 2017 - 6:22pmTim M : Very well said, too !!
Mick181
July 16th, 2017 - 5:33pmFunny thing is most of the negative comments start with, I’ve been watching since the 60s, so other words bigoted old men who think woman should be bare foot and pregnant in the Kitchen.
For crying out loud give her a go before writing the show off and stop being ridiculous. Wake up to yourselves and join the 21st century.
PS i’m a 56yo male who’s been watching since about 1970 and I’m fully prepared to give Jodie a season before making a judgement.
dave
July 16th, 2017 - 5:36pmHere here Mick. 48 year old white dude here – and am happy as Larry the show has gone for a big change. My 16 year old daughter is made up too. Its all about change…
Simon W
July 16th, 2017 - 5:43pmI know iv been watching it since I was just coming to the age of 5 the story Genesis of the Daleks. they have been saying the next doctor would be a woman since 81 just before Peter Davison took over and I’m happy they’ve done it and I can say its about time. No pun intended.
The Surgeon
July 16th, 2017 - 5:32pmDidn’t rate her in Broadchurch but clearly Chibbers did. Fine by me, she’s a decent actor and I’m really looking forward to Series 11!
The Moffat Paradox
July 16th, 2017 - 5:29pmMoffat/Chibnall.
SEEK,LOCATE,LOCATE,EXTEMINATE!!
Borg
July 16th, 2017 - 8:14pmI’ve had a bad feeling ever since Chibnall became showrunner. I hate my psychic powers.
The Moffat Paradox
July 16th, 2017 - 8:29pmWhy can no one just revive a show/take it over, not upset too many premise applecarts,not peddle too many implicit political biases/agendas , take advantage of the best modern sets/effects affordable for TV now and just make great dramatic stories that knock our socks off?
Stop that TARDIS
July 16th, 2017 - 5:26pmAm I the only on kinda wishing they’d brought back Romana instead?
dave
July 16th, 2017 - 5:32pmYeah – u are, or should be. Look to the future dude
Stop that TARDIS!
July 16th, 2017 - 5:47pmWow, thanks for letting me have my opinion. Either accept it or you’re an awful person without rational reasons, smh.
Clive Dunslett
July 16th, 2017 - 7:47pmThey should have brought back River Song instead.
Anonymous
July 16th, 2017 - 10:04pmWell I said romana because she doesn’t have a finished story like river and it’s open, plus she was a classic OG female doctor
Doctor Stu
July 16th, 2017 - 5:24pmI was more bothered by the fact it’s the wrong TARDIS design
100,000BC
July 16th, 2017 - 5:30pmSame here dude, although I imagine the new Doctor and showrunner may well have a new TARDIS design.
dave
July 16th, 2017 - 5:32pmThere have been loads of TARDIS designs. Pedantic and wrong! at the same time Dr Stu!
Doctor Stu
July 16th, 2017 - 5:33pmI’m actually so excited Christmas couldn’t come soon enough
Weeping Angel
July 16th, 2017 - 5:23pmGUYS YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ THIS ARTICLE FROM RADIO TIMES:
Doctor Whoâs new leading lady Jodie Whittaker wants to assure fans of the beloved sci-fi series that thereâs nothing to fear when she takes over the Tardis as the first female Doctor
âI want to tell the fans not to be scared by my genderâ said Whittaker. Because this is a really exciting time, and Doctor Who represents everything thatâs exciting about change. The fans have lived through so many changes, and this is only a new, different one, not a fearful one.â
The actress, best known to UK TV viewers as Danny Latimerâs mum, Beth, from Chris Chibnallâs Broadchurch â which also stared Tenth Doctor David Tennant â said she didnât need any convincing when it came to the role.
âThere was no persuasion needed. If you need to be persuaded to do this part, youâre not right for this part, and the part isnât right for you. I also think, for anyone taking this on, you have to want to fight for it, which I certainly had to do. I know there will have been some phenomenal actors who threw their hats in the ring.â
She’s particularly pleased to become the first female Doctor and mark such a milestone in Doctor Who history.
“It feels completely overwhelming, as a feminist, as a woman, as an actor, as a human, as someone who wants to continually push themselves and challenge themselves, and not be boxed in by what youâre told you can and canât be. It feels incredible.”
NoMore
July 16th, 2017 - 5:59pmCould be the last change though.
The Moffatt Paradox
July 19th, 2017 - 1:28amâThere was no persuasion needed. If you need to be persuaded to do this part, youâre not right for this part, and the part isnât right for you. I also”
LOL For the benefit of those who think there’s a parallel with the furore over the casting of Daniel Craig as Bond, gender issues aside, he DIDN’T think initially he was right for that role. So being certain your right for the role doesn’t necessarily mean that you are.
Anonymous
July 16th, 2017 - 5:22pmI don’t mind a female Doctor – I just mind Jodie Whittaker – I just don’t think she is a very good fit.
Adam
July 16th, 2017 - 5:38pmShe’s just bland! Awful casting on every level!
Haza14
July 16th, 2017 - 5:21pmI know a lot of people are unhappy, but I think this is a fantastic choice! Jodie Whittaker is a fantastic actress and I was very excited to see her announced. I had a suspicion it might be her.
Viewing figures have undisputedly dropped under Peter Capaldi (not a reflection on Peter or the quality of the show, it’s just that Doctor Who is no longer attracting the “casual viewer” as it was during David Tennant and Matt Smith’s time as the Doctor), but doing something different, if done well, could bring people flooding back to watch.
As for people saying that the Doctor is a male character, I don’t quite think this agruement stands up. If you were talking about James Bond or Sherlock Homles then yes, I agree with you, but Time Lords can change gender. The Doctor is unique in fiction that this can happen the the character, and surely that should be one of the main selling points of the show! No other show can do this!
I can’t wait to see what Jodie’s like in the role! I’m beyond excited! The most excited I’ve been about Doctor Who since I was about 13 or 14 (I’m 21 now!). It’s such a shame that this is such a controversial decision, but it was always going to be! But let’s just hope that Jodie’s so good, and Chris’ writting is so good, that the critics are silenced and Doctor Who can achieve something truely ground breaking in terms of ficton and story telling! Surely all Doctor Who fans what that anyway?
mick
July 16th, 2017 - 5:20pmwhen is the 13th doctor action figure getting released?
tom
July 16th, 2017 - 5:21pmSteady on… Only just been revealed, lol.
koloth
July 16th, 2017 - 5:19pmThis is a fantastic move! Doctor Who has become stale and stunted. 1 minute on the telly box already and there more energy and enthusiasm than in the past 4 series alone.
Good luck to Jodie and Chris. I will be watching with renewed excitement!
tom
July 16th, 2017 - 5:20pmHere here!!!! đ
dave
July 16th, 2017 - 5:34pmI don’t agree with you analysis of Doctor Who. It has been brilliant – and the change should ensure it continues to be!
Borg
July 16th, 2017 - 8:15pmForm what land do you come?
tom
July 16th, 2017 - 5:17pmCan everyone please stop getting angry over a woman doctor, i mean, she is different to the average doctor but give her a chance l, she might turn out to be one of the best incarnations ever?
Stop that TARDIS
July 16th, 2017 - 5:25pmPeople are allowed an opinion tho, over time opinions will change and mellow
dave
July 16th, 2017 - 5:17pmBrilliant – Who thrives on change.
phillip l poole
July 16th, 2017 - 5:17pmMissy was not adored just tolerated. Bill was hated, that’s why she only lasted one season
Dalek4ever
July 16th, 2017 - 5:16pmI don’t know what everyone is complaining about. I like how this is a show where they are brave enough to change the gender of a main character. I have not seen ANY of the stuff she has worked on, but I have a feeling that she will be good.
Koquillian
July 16th, 2017 - 5:42pmI’m mad because 50 years of continuity has been thrown in the bin because of a small, but vocal, segment of the fandom and a writing staff who want to push a narrative. I’ll give her a chance but to me she may be a doctor, but not one of the doctors.
Nigel M
July 16th, 2017 - 5:15pmI can’t say I’m surprised the way the show has been going. We went 50 years without any mention that a Time Lord could change gender, now it seems to be in integral part of the mainstream canon and I think it’s bizarre (i.e. what would River Song say and do ?). That being said I’ll probably give it a chance but I’m not sure it’s going to work.
The Monk
July 16th, 2017 - 5:14pmJust as the show finishes its best season to date, they announce this bombshell. Just why?? Why change an iconic male role? The creator of Doctor Who must be turning in their grave. Nothing against women but my favourite show has now been ruined. I can’t see myself watching this and neither can a lot of people. The BBC seemed to do this to please a smaller bunch of people, when all it will do is stop people from watching the show they’ve watched and loved for years. Fuming. Christmas will be the last time I watch this show, just as it finished airing the best series to date.
bob fox
July 16th, 2017 - 5:21pmi look forward to the 14th doctor. if there is one
The Surgeon
July 16th, 2017 - 5:34pmCreator of Doctor Who? You mean the FEMALE Verity Lambert. I’m sure she’s quite pleased to be honest mate. And to be honest, I’m pleased you won’t watch it because you’re not the kind of person who anyone wants to watch this show
Neal T
July 16th, 2017 - 5:35pmThis decision is the 21st century version of Michael Grade, both agenda driven.
Pats86
July 16th, 2017 - 5:51pmYou do right to voice your concerns The Monk, I feel similar to you but I will give it a go at least, I implore you to do the same and if you don’t like it then stop watching.
You are the kind of person true fans want to see watching the show, it’s your favourite TV show just as much as anyone else’s, give it a shot mate at least.
I fully understand those who are against thus move, I myself am not happy with it but as a 46 year old fan I am not prepared to give up on it yet. Look on the bright side…no more Moffat and surely it means better writing….doesn’t it?
Borg
July 16th, 2017 - 8:18pm1) This is a horrible decision I don’t see a 14th Doctor in the future.
2) I will create a fanfic series about what would have happened if Peter had a good regeneration. And not gone down the toilet.
3) Moffat has had some good writing. Chibnall has not.
Anonymous
July 16th, 2017 - 5:13pmJust out of curiosity, what figure do you think looks most like the New Doctor? I was thinking Rose or River because of the hair
Dalek4ever
July 16th, 2017 - 6:35pmYes
100,000BC
July 16th, 2017 - 5:12pmCan I just say that I LOVE THIS?
Please be considerate of other people’s opinions everybody, whatever you believe.
Mr. J
July 16th, 2017 - 5:09pmI previously typed a very long and anger fuelled comment that I was then not allowed post, I do not approve at all!! I think BBC and Chris have shot themselves in the foot! But, what Chris did; he did without choice. In the name of peace and sanity……. But not in the name of the Doctor! No…. just no…..
Michael
July 16th, 2017 - 8:27pmamen