Jodie Whittaker, first female ‘Doctor Who,’ leaves after three seasons
The Doctor is out.
The 13th Doctor is retiring her supernatural scrubs: The BBC confirmed that Jodie Whittaker, who became the first female actor to portray “Doctor Who,” will end her run on the sci-fi mystery show in 2022 after the new season airs. Chris Chibnall, the showrunner who brought Whittaker aboard, will also be leaving the series.
“The Thirteenth Doctor, Jodie Whittaker, and Showrunner Chris Chibnall will be moving on from the most famous police box on Earth — and the universe,” announced the BBC on its Twitter press account Thursday morning.
Thankfully, fans will get to see the pioneering 39-year-old UK native step into the box once more in the show’s heavily delayed upcoming season, slated to premiere at the end of 2021 (fans can check out the trailer here), per the BBC. She’ll also appear in a trio of specials in 2022 before the Doctor regenerates anew.
This marks the end of a memorable run for Whittaker and Cibnall, who cast the actress as the first female iteration of “Doctor Who” after taking over the detective series in 2017.
Their partnership produced critically acclaimed episodes such as “Rosa,” “Demons Of The Punjab” and “Spyfall.” Meanwhile, the series’ 12th season was voted Best Science Fiction Show by readers at Radio Times.com, beating out “The Mandalorian,” “Lucifer” and “The Boys,” per the release.
Upon seeing her 2018 on-screen debut, Post film critic Sara Stewart described Whittaker as so “organically right for the part that her femaleness seems almost an afterthought.”
Whittaker, for one, finds her departure from “Doctor Who” bittersweet.
“My heart is so full of love for this show, for the team who make it, for the fans who watch it and for what it has brought to my life,” the “Broadchurch” star gushed to the BBC. “And I cannot thank Chris enough for entrusting me with his incredible stories.”
The TV trailblazer added, “I will carry the Doctor and the lessons I’ve learnt forever.”
Chibnall seconded her sentiment.
“Jodie’s magnificent, iconic Doctor has exceeded all our high expectations,” the “Torchwood” writer wrote. “She’s been the gold standard leading actor, shouldering the responsibility of being the first female Doctor with style, strength, warmth, generosity and humor.”
The BBC has yet to confirm who will succeed Whittaker as “Doctor Who,” which premiered in 1963.
