Introducing Jodie Whittaker -The Thirteenth Doctor
The BBC today announced to the world that Jodie Whittaker will be the new Doctor Who.
The identity of the new Doctor was revealed exclusively on BBC One and on social media around the world after the Men’s
Wimbledon Final on Sunday 16 July.
She will be the Thirteenth Time Lord and take over from Peter Capaldi, who leaves the global hit show at Christmas.
New head writer and executive producer Chris Chibnall, who takes over from Steven Moffat on the next series, made the
decision to cast the first ever woman in the iconic role.
Jodie Whittaker says: “I’m beyond excited to begin this epic journey with Chris and with every Whovian on this planet.
It’s more than an honour to play the Doctor. It means remembering everyone I used to be, while stepping forward to
embrace everything the Doctor stands for: hope. I can’t wait.”
Chris Chibnall, New Head Writer and Executive Producer, says : “After months of lists, conversations, auditions,
recalls, and a lot of secret-keeping, we’re excited to welcome Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor.
"I always knew I wanted the Thirteenth Doctor to be a woman and we're thrilled to have secured our number one choice.
Her audition for The Doctor simply blew us all away. Jodie is an in-demand, funny, inspiring, super-smart force of
nature and will bring loads of wit, strength and warmth to the role. The Thirteenth Doctor is on her way.”
Peter Capaldi says: “Anyone who has seen Jodie Whittaker’s work will know that she is a wonderful actress of great
individuality and charm. She has above all the huge heart to play this most special part. She’s going to be a fantastic
Doctor.”
Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of BBC Content, says: “Making history is what Doctor Who is all about and Chris Chibnall’s
bold new take on the next Time Lord is exactly that. The nation is going to fall in love with Jodie Whittaker - and have
lots of fun too!”
Piers Wenger, Controller BBC Drama, says : "Jodie is not just a talented actor but she has a bold and brilliant vision
for her Doctor. She aced it in her audition both technically and with the powerful female life force she brings to the
role. She is destined to be an utterly iconic Doctor."
Matt Strevens, Executive Producer, says : "I'm so thrilled that Jodie Whittaker said yes to playing the Doctor. I've
been a fan for years and always hoped to work with her. She is an actor of great emotional range and inhabits every role
with complete passion and conviction. Just thinking about what she will bring to the Doctor makes me as excited as a kid
at Christmas. It's going to be a lot of fun."
Thirteen need-to-know answers to questions about the new Doctor Who
1. What does it feel like to be the Thirteenth Doctor?
It’s very nerve-racking, as it’s been so secret!
2. Why did you want the role?
To be asked to play the ultimate character, to get to play pretend in the truest form: this is why I wanted to be an
actor in the first place. To be able to play someone who is literally reinvented on screen, with all the freedoms that
brings - what an unbelievable opportunity. And added to that, to be the first woman in that role.
3. Has it been hard to keep the secret?
Yes. Very hard! I’ve told a lot of lies! I’ve embroiled myself in a whole world of lies which is going to come back at
me when this is announced!
4. Who was the first person you told when you got the role?
My husband. Because I was allowed to!
5. Did you have a codename and if so what was it?
In my home, and with my agent, it was The Clooney. Because to me and my husband, George is an iconic guy. And we
thought, what’s a really famous iconic name? It was just fitting.
6. What does it feel like to be the first woman Doctor?
It feels completely overwhelming; as a feminist, as a woman, as an actor, as a human, as someone who wants to
continually push themselves and challenge themselves, and not be boxed in by what you’re told you can and can’t be. It
feels incredible.
7. What do you want to tell the fans?
I want to tell the fans not to be scared by my gender. Because this is a really exciting time, and Doctor Who represents
everything that’s exciting about change. The fans have lived through so many changes, and this is only a new, different
one, not a fearful one.
8. What are you most excited about?
I’m most excited about becoming part of a family I didn’t even know existed. I was born in 1982 - it’s been around
longer than me, and it’s a family I couldn’t ever have dreamed I’d be part of.
9. How did Chris sell you the part?
We had a strange chat earlier this year where he tricked me into thinking we were talking about Broadchurch. And I
started to quiz him about his new job in Wales, and asked him if I could be a baddie! And he quickly diverted the
conversation to suggest I should consider auditioning to be the 13th Clooney.
It was the most incredible chat because I asked every question under the sun, and I said I’d take a few weeks to decide
whether I was going to audition. He got a phone call within 24 hours. He would’ve got a phone call sooner, but my
husband was away and there was a time difference!
10. Did he persuade you?
No. There was no persuasion needed. If you need to be persuaded to do this part, you’re not right for this part, and the
part isn’t 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.
11. What are you going to wear?
I don’t know yet.
12. Is that your costume in the filmed sequence which introduced you as the new Doctor?
No.
13. Have any of the other Doctors given you advice?
Well they can’t because they haven’t known until now, but I’m certainly expecting a couple of calls - I’ve got a couple
of mates in there. I’m mates with a companion [Arthur Darvill], I’m mates with a trio of Doctors. I know Matt Smith,
Chris Eccleston and obviously David Tennant. Oh! And let’s throw in David Bradley! Four Doctors! So I’m hoping I get
some calls of advice.
Jodie Whittaker Biography
Jodie Whittaker graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2005 with a gold medal in Acting. Since then
she has worked continually in Film, Television and Theatre. Her TV credits include the critically acclaimed ITV drama
Broadchurch (for which she was nominated for Best Actress for the RTS Television Awards), Emmy award-winning Black
Mirror, Sky 1’s The Smoke, BBC’s Cranford, in which she starred opposite Judi Dench and Imelda Staunton, The Night Watch
(BBC), The Accused (BBC), and Tess of the D'Urbervilles (BBC).
Jodie has recently finished shooting Journeyman, written and directed by Paddy Considine, as is the lead in the new BBC
drama series Trust Me. Her other film credits include Venus, (which earned her nominations for Best Newcomer at the
British Independent Film Awards; Best British Newcomer at the Critics' Circle Awards and Best Actress In A Motion
Picture at the Satellite Awards); Attack The Block, One Day, Black Sea, Good Vibrations, St.Trinian's, Get Santa and
most recently Adult Life Skills, which she Executive Produced as well as starred in which received a number of BIFA
nominations.
Jodie made her professional theatrical debut at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in The Storm. Other theatre credits include
playing the title role in Antigone at the Royal National Theatre, Bash at the Trafalgar Studios, Awake And Sing and
Enemies at the Almeida, both directed by the then Arti