After a lengthy run of rumours, Jodie Whittaker is officially leaving her role in Doctor Who.
The actor has played the coveted role of the Time Lord since 2017, the Thirteenth Doctor in the series following Peter Capaldi. Whittaker will hand over the keys to the TARDIS in autumn 2022, the BBC confirmed on Thursday.
“In 2017 I opened my glorious gift box of size 13 shoes,” said Whittaker in a press 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.”
“I know change can be scary and none of us know what”s out there,” she added. “That’s why we keep looking. Travel Hopefully. The Universe will surprise you. Constantly.”
Showrunner Chris Chibnall will also be leaving the show, responsible for casting Whittaker as the first ever female Doctor in the show’s history.
“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,” said Chibnall in a press statement.
“Jodie’s magnificent, iconic Doctor has exceeded all our high expectations,” he added. “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!”
Whittaker will leave the show with a bang, of course. A six-part “event serial” has been announced for the autumn, along with three specials already set to air in 2022, the first of which will air on BBC on New Year’s Day, the second in spring 2022. The final special will be a movie-length episode in autumn 2022 to farewell the Thirteenth Doctor before the regeneration into whoever takes the highly sought-after role next.
Over 8 million people in the UK tuned in to watch Whittaker’s first ever episode as the new Doctor, and she’s nailed it ever since. They’re going to be big Time Lord shoes to fill.
