Introducing Jodie Whittaker -The Thirteenth DoctorThe BBC today announced to the world that Jodie Whittaker will be the new Doctor Who. The identity of the new Doctor was revealed exclusively on BBC One and on social media around the world after the Men’s Wimbledon Final on Sunday 16 July. She will be the Thirteenth Time Lord and take over from Peter Capaldi, who leaves the global hit show at Christmas. New head writer and executive producer Chris Chibnall, who takes over from Steven Moffat on the next series, made the decision to cast the first ever woman in the iconic role. Jodie Whittaker says: “I’m beyond excited to begin this epic journey with Chris and with every Whovian on this planet. 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.” Chris Chibnall, New Head Writer and Executive Producer, says : “After months of lists, conversations, auditions, recalls, and a lot of secret-keeping, we’re excited to welcome Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor. "I always knew I wanted the Thirteenth Doctor to be a woman and we're thrilled to have secured our number one choice. 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.” Peter Capaldi says: “Anyone who has seen Jodie Whittaker’s work will know that she is a wonderful actress of great individuality and charm. She has above all the huge heart to play this most special part. She’s going to be a fantastic Doctor.” Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of BBC Content, says: “Making history is what Doctor Who is all about and Chris Chibnall’s bold new take on the next Time Lord is exactly that. The nation is going to fall in love with Jodie Whittaker - and have lots of fun too!” Piers Wenger, Controller BBC Drama, says : "Jodie is not just a talented actor but she has a bold and brilliant vision for her Doctor. She aced it in her audition both technically and with the powerful female life force she brings to the role. She is destined to be an utterly iconic Doctor." Matt Strevens, Executive Producer, says : "I'm so thrilled that Jodie Whittaker said yes to playing the Doctor. I've been a fan for years and always hoped to work with her. She is an actor of great emotional range and inhabits every role with complete passion and conviction. Just thinking about what she will bring to the Doctor makes me as excited as a kid at Christmas. It's going to be a lot of fun." Thirteen need-to-know answers to questions about the new Doctor Who
2. Why did you want the role? 3. Has it been hard to keep the secret? 4. Who was the first person you told when you got the role? 5. Did you have a codename and if so what was it? 6. What does it feel like to be the first woman Doctor? 7. What do you want to tell the fans? 8. What are you most excited about? 9. How did Chris sell you the part? 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! 10. Did he persuade you? 11. What are you going to wear? 12. Is that your costume in the filmed sequence which introduced you as the new Doctor? 13. Have any of the other Doctors given you advice? Jodie Whittaker BiographyJodie Whittaker graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2005 with a gold medal in Acting. Since then she has worked continually in Film, Television and Theatre. Her TV credits include the critically acclaimed ITV drama Broadchurch (for which she was nominated for Best Actress for the RTS Television Awards), Emmy award-winning Black Mirror, Sky 1’s The Smoke, BBC’s Cranford, in which she starred opposite Judi Dench and Imelda Staunton, The Night Watch (BBC), The Accused (BBC), and Tess of the D'Urbervilles (BBC). Jodie has recently finished shooting Journeyman, written and directed by Paddy Considine, as is the lead in the new BBC drama series Trust Me. Her other film credits include Venus, (which earned her nominations for Best Newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards; Best British Newcomer at the Critics' Circle Awards and Best Actress In A Motion Picture at the Satellite Awards); Attack The Block, One Day, Black Sea, Good Vibrations, St.Trinian's, Get Santa and most recently Adult Life Skills, which she Executive Produced as well as starred in which received a number of BIFA nominations. Jodie made her professional theatrical debut at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in The Storm. Other theatre credits include playing the title role in Antigone at the Royal National Theatre, Bash at the Trafalgar Studios, Awake And Sing and Enemies at the Almeida, both directed by the then Artistic Director Michael Attenborough. July 16, 2017 12:17pm ET by BBC One |