ATTACK THE BLOCK Actress Jodie Whitaker is The New Doctor in DOCTOR WHO!
A lot of fans have been wondering if we would ever see a female version of The Doctor in Doctor Who. Well, wonder no longer because today it's been announced that Attack The Block actress Jodie Whitaker is the new Doctor! It's a casting choice that fans didn't see coming, but I think it's great!
Whitaker will be the 13th Doctor for BBC's Doctor Who after Peter Capaldi ends his run after the upcoming Christmas special. I know there are fans out there that might not be into the idea of The Doctor being a woman, but the actress hopes she's accepted. In a statement she said:
"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. 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."
She went on to talk about how she was approached for the role by producer Chris Chibnall, who she previously worked with on Broadchurch. She explained:
"We had a strange chat earlier this year where [Chibnall] 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 [Doctor]. 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!"
Whitaker then expressed her excitement for taking on the role saying:
"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.
I’m beyond excited to begin this epic journey — with Chris and with every Whovian on this planet. It’s more than an honor 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."
Whitaker is a solid actress, who had done some great work and I think she's going to bring something fun and interesting to The Doctor. I've enjoyed all of the unique personalities that have been brought to this character over the years and there's no doubt that this will be one of the most unique. I'm looking forward to seeing what her version of The Doctor will end up being.
What do you all think of Whitaker taking on the role of The Doctor!?
Meet the Thirteenth Doctor #DoctorWho #Doctor13 pic.twitter.com/wycdcneZ7o
— BBC One (@BBCOne) July 16, 2017
