Jodie Whittaker is reportedly leaving Doctor Who after season 13, which is currently filming in the UK. In 2017, the BBC announced one of the biggest shake-ups in the history of Doctor Who: Jodie Whittaker would be taking over as the Thirteenth Doctor, the first woman to play the part. The idea of a female Doctor first came up during the Tom Baker era, with Baker quipping about the possibility when he announced he was leaving the show in 1980. It had seemed like nothing more than a joke until Steven Moffat's time as showrunner, when he established Time Lords could switch sexes by having the Master regenerate into a woman.
Whittaker's time as the Doctor has been a controversial one, initially because of the decision to change the Doctor's sex, but increasingly because of the unexpected decisions taken by showrunner Chris Chibnall. Doctor Who season 12 culminated in the Timeless Child retcon, revealing the Doctor is not a Time Lord but rather is a being who potentially predates the entire universe. This revelation is quite a dramatic change to the show's continuity, and it has divided the fanbase. It's reasonable to assume the Timeless Child retcon will dominate Jodie Whittaker's run in the mind of fans.
According to the British tabloid The Daily Mirror, Whittaker's time as the Doctor is reportedly coming to an end. Sources close to the show have told the paper Whittaker intends to leave Doctor Who after season 13, which is currently in production. "It’s all very hush-hush," one insider told The Daily Mirror, "but it is known on set that Jodie is leaving and they are gearing up for a regeneration. Her departure is top secret but at some point over the coming months the arrival of the 14th Doctor will need to be filmed. It’s very exciting." According to the tabloid, other sources claim Whittaker is keen to take on other roles. Showrunner Chris Chibnall is expected to remain.
The Daily Mirror is a British tabloid, so it's not the most reputable source, but it does have a history of Doctor Who scoops. What's more, Whittaker's departure after Doctor Who season 13 would be strangely appropriate, because she would be leaving after three seasons in the role - and that's actually quite traditional. Second Doctor Patrick Troughton left after three seasons, and famously advised Fifth Doctor Peter Davison to do the same; the so-called "Three-Season Rule" has also been followed by Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi. Even David Tennant only had three seasons, although technically his tenure was extended by a number of specials.
It would be a shame to see Whittaker go. Although she is a talented actress, recent scripts have left a lot to be desired, and she hasn't really had many opportunities to demonstrate her skill. The recent Doctor Who Holiday Special was a welcome change, because there she was able to portray the Doctor as emotionally wounded due to the shock of learning her whole identity is a lie. No doubt showrunner Chris Chibnall intends Doctor Who season 13 to build on the Timeless Child retcon, even if it has been cut to just eight episodes in length due to disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. If the Daily Mirror's account is accurate, then the next few months will keep Doctor Who fans occupied with speculating about just who Whittaker's successor will be as the Fourteenth Doctor.
Source: Daily Mirror
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