BBC confirms Jodie Whittaker is leaving Doctor Who, along with Chris Chibnall

[TMC]

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi...ho-newsupdate/

Whittaker and Chibnall's three-season Doctor Who stint will end after a six-episode 13th season airing later this year, plus two specials in 2022 and a final feature-length adventure for the Thirteenth Doctor that will also mark the BBC’s centenary next year. “In 2017 I opened my glorious gift box of size 13 shoes," Whittaker said in a statement. "I could not have guessed the brilliant adventures, worlds and wonders I was to see in them. 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. And I cannot thank Chris enough for entrusting me with his incredible stories. We knew that we wanted to ride this wave side by side, and pass on the baton together. So here we are, weeks away from wrapping on the best job I have ever had. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to express what this role has given me. I will carry the Doctor and the lessons I’ve learnt forever. know change can be scary and none of us know what’s out there. That’s why we keep looking. Travel Hopefully. The Universe will surprise you. Constantly." Chibnall, who took over the Doctor Who franchise in 2017, added: “Jodie and I made a ‘three series and out’ pact with each other at the start of this once-in-a-lifetime blast. So now our shift is done, and we’re handing back the TARDIS keys. Jodie’s magnificent, iconic Doctor has exceeded all our high expectations. She’s been the gold standard leading actor, shouldering the responsibility of being the first female Doctor with style, strength, warmth, generosity and humour. She captured the public imagination and continues to inspire adoration around the world, as well as from everyone on the production. I can’t imagine working with a more inspiring Doctor – so I’m not going to! For me, leading this exceptional team has been unrivalled creative fun, and one of the great joys of my career. I’m so proud of the people we’ve worked with and the stories we’ve told. To finish our time on the show with an additional Special, after the pandemic changed and challenged our production plans, is a lovely bonus. It’s great that the climax of the Thirteenth Doctor’s story will be at the heart(s) of the BBC’s centenary celebrations. I wish our successors – whoever the BBC and BBC Studios choose – as much fun as we’ve had. They’re in for a treat!”

How Doctor Who failed Jodie Whittaker: As the first female lead, she frequently took a backseat

The news that Whittaker and showrunner Chris Chibnall are leaving the Doctor Who franchise after three seasons "comes as a relief — not because of Whittaker's departure, but because of Chibnall's, who as showrunner is ultimately responsible for what has been the most disappointing era of the show's modern incarnation," says Liz Shannon Miller. "And the reason why it's been such a letdown isn't hard to figure out: The show never really believed that a female Doctor who could serve as the lead." As Miller points out, previous Doctors had a single female companion. "Meanwhile, when Whittaker was first introduced as the 13th Doctor, she did so after crashing into the lives of Essex residents Graham (Bradley Walsh), Ryan (Tosin Cole), and Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill), who then became her loyal 'fam,' game for ongoing travels," says Miller. While the trio made Doctor Who more diverse, they also took away from Whittaker as the Doctor. "They sucked up the oxygen, is the best way of putting it," says Miller. "The problem is that the typical Doctor Who episode is a stand-alone adventure in a new time period and location, featuring a brand-new supporting cast. This means these episodes require a whole lot of set-up early on, and there's frankly not a lot of screen time to spare on additional character stories. Dropping into that mix the Doctor and a companion (maybe two, if a boyfriend or Captain Jack was along for the ride) worked out fine as a rule. But three companions, all of whom were heavily featured in the plots for these episodes, meant that more often than not, the Doctor had to take a backseat on her own show. Even when the Doctor did get a bit of a storyline focusing on her past, it came largely in the form of longtime nemesis The Master (Sacha Dhawan in this incarnation) shouting at her while she lingered in prison." Miller also notes that Whittaker's seasons have been shorter than her Doctor Who predecessors. Seasons 1 through 10 consisted of 12 to 13 episodes. Whittaker's first two seasons had 10 episodes each and her final season will have only six episodes. Additionally, Whittaker's stint hasn't had the "companion-lite" episodes that have showcased previous Doctors. ALSO: Michaela Coel, Richard Ayoade and Olly Alexander are some of the fan picks for the next Doctor.