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BBC Names the First Female Doctor Who

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Doctor Who
Introducing Jodie Whittaker – The thirteenth doctor (Image credit: BBC America)

The BBC has revealed the new thirteenth - and as somewhat expected - the first female Doctor Who, actor Jodi Whittaker ("Attack the Block").

"I'm beyond excited to begin this epic journey, with Chris and with every Whovian on this planet," Whittaker said in the anticipated Sunday announcement. "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."

Meet the Thirteenth Doctor #DoctorWho #Doctor13 pic.twitter.com/txHGz9tJEe

 

Whittaker takes over for the exiting Peter Capaldi who took over the role in 2013, the Twelth Doctor who have been, of course, up until now all men. Writer/showrunner Steven Moffat, who has led the show that originated in 1963 since its 2005 reboot, is also leaving.

The final Moffat-Capaldi episode is the show's annual Christmas Day special. Chris Chibnall (Broadchurch) will take over as showrunner at the same time Whittaker debuts, the eleventh season of the reboot.  [Why 'Doctor Who' Still Rules Time and Space After 50 Years]

"I always knew I wanted the Thirteenth Doctor to be a woman and we're thrilled to have secured our number one choice," said Chibnall in a statement. "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."

"Anyone who has seen Jodie Whittaker's work will know that she is a wonderful actress of great individuality and charm." added Capaldi. "She has above all the huge heart to play this most special part. She's going to be a fantastic Doctor."

Originally published on our sister site Newsarama.

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Michael Doran
Michael Doran
Newsarama Editor-in-Chief

I'm not just the Newsarama founder and editor-in-chief, I'm also a reader. And that reference is just a little bit older than the beginning of my Newsarama journey. I founded what would become the comic book news site in 1996, and except for a brief sojourn at Marvel Comics as its marketing and communications manager in 2003, I've been writing about new comic book titles, creative changes, and occasionally offering my perspective on important industry events and developments for the 25 years since. Despite many changes to Newsarama, my passion for the medium of comic books and the characters makes the last quarter-century (it's crazy to see that in writing) time spent doing what I love most.