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Thirteenth Doctor

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The Doctor
The Thirteenth Doctor
Doctor Who character
Portrayed byJodie Whittaker
Preceded byPeter Capaldi (Twelfth Doctor)
Information

The Thirteenth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the fictional protagonist of the BBC science fiction television programme Doctor Who, and will be portrayed by Jodie Whittaker. Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a time travelling, humanoid alien from a race known as the Time Lords. When a Time Lord is critically injured, they can regenerate their body, and in doing so gain a new physical appearance, and with it a distinct new personality. This plot mechanism has allowed the Doctor to be portrayed by a series of actors over the decades since the programme's inception in 1963. Whittaker is the first woman to play the lead role.

Casting

Jodie Whittaker will play the Thirteenth Doctor, and is the first woman cast for the role of the Doctor.

A year after the announcement that Steven Moffat would leave the show after the tenth series and be replaced by new showrunner Chris Chibnall, Peter Capaldi confirmed in January 2017 that the tenth series would be his last.[1][2] Following his announcement, several media reports and bookmakers had speculated as to who would replace Capaldi as the Thirteenth Doctor. Bookmarkers' favourites included Ben Whishaw,[3] Phoebe Waller-Bridge,[4] Kris Marshall,[5] and Tilda Swinton.[6]

Casting a woman

The concept of a female Doctor was first mooted in 1981, when Tom Baker suggested his successor might be female, after announcing the end of his tenure as the Fourth Doctor.[7][8] Producer John Nathan-Turner later discussed the possibility of casting a woman as the Sixth Doctor to replace the departing Peter Davison's Fifth Doctor, claiming it was feasible but not something he was considering at the moment.[9] In October 1986, during the transmission of Colin Baker's final season as the Sixth Doctor, series creator Sydney Newman wrote to BBC Controller Michael Grade, with a suggestion that "at a later stage Doctor Who should be metamorphosed into a woman". Joanna Lumley later appeared as a satirical version of the Thirteenth Doctor in the 1999 Comic Relief spoof The Curse of Fatal Death. Arabella Weir also played an alternate Third Doctor in the Doctor Who Unbound Big Finish episode Exile. Neither portrayal is typically considered to be within the show's main continuity.[10] Prior to the show's return, different women had been considered for the role of the Ninth Doctor and Twelfth Doctor.[11][12]

The concept of Time Lords changing gender upon regeneration was seeded throughout Moffat's tenure as show runner. In the 2011 episode "The Doctor's Wife", the Doctor recalls a Time Lord acquaintance known as the Corsair, who had at least two female incarnations.[13] In the 2013 short "Night of the Doctor", the Sisterhood of Karn offer a dying Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann) control over his inevitable regeneration, with "man or woman" being touted as possibilities.[14] The first on-screen cross-gender regeneration was shown in the 2015 episode "Hell Bent", in which a white male Gallifreyan general (Ken Bones) regenerates into a black woman (T'Nia Miller), who states that her previous incarnation was the only time she had been a man.[15]

The most notable Time Lord to have changed gender upon regeneration is the Doctor's nemesis, the Master, portrayed from 2014 to 2017 by Scottish actress Michelle Gomez; the character was known as Missy, short for "Mistress".[16] The tenth series finale, "World Enough and Time" / "The Doctor Falls", addresses cross-gender regeneration several times; the Doctor tells his companion Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie) that Missy was "his first man-crush", and adds that he is only "fairly sure" he himself was male at the time.[17]

Casting Whittaker

When referring to whether the new Doctor would be a woman, Chibnall originally was quoted in February 2017, as saying "Nothing is ruled out but I don't want the casting to be a gimmick and that's all I can say".[18] On 14 July 2017, the BBC announced that the portrayer of the Thirteenth Doctor would be revealed after the 2017 Wimbledon Championships men's finals on 16 July 2017. Immediately after the announcement, Death in Paradise actor Kris Marshall was the bookmakers' favourite at 4/6,[19] although twenty-four hours later, Jodie Whittaker, notable for her role as Beth Latimer in Chibnall's crime drama Broadchurch, had become the favourite at 5/4.[20] Whittaker was introduced as the Thirteenth Doctor on 16 July, and will make her debut in the 2017 Christmas special "Twice Upon a Time".[21][22] Chibnall said that he always wanted a woman for the part and that Whittaker was their first choice.[23]

Reception

The world we live in has a history of male domination, of stereotyping, of resistance to change, of playing it safe. Doctor Who has never been about that. The Doctor in all his incarnations has always been a passionate defender of justice, equality, fairness and resisted those who seek to dominate or destroy.

—Colin Baker, 17 July 2017[24]

Reactions to Whittaker's casting varied among Doctor Who fans. Most fans, along with the majority of critics reacted positively to Whittaker's casting, stating that the Thirteenth Doctor will be a good role model for young girls, while some criticised the casting as an exercise in political correctness.[25] During the Doctor Who panel at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con, outgoing showrunner Steven Moffat commented that social media registered an 80% approval rate for Whittaker's selection. According to Moffat, "... so many people want to pretend there's a problem—there isn't. In fact, it strikes me that Doctor Who fans are more excited about the idea of a brilliant actress playing the part, than the fact she's a woman. It's been incredibly progressive and enlightened and that's what really happened."[26]

Guardian journalist Zoe Williams described Whittaker's casting as "the revolutionary feminist we need right now", lauding the decision as "the difference between tolerating modernity and embodying it". Williams compared the casting of a female Doctor to other examples of the show breaking "cultural taboo[s]", mentioning companions Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) and Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie) as examples of the show's diversity.[27]

Colin Baker, who portrayed the Sixth Doctor, quoting his own character in his introductory stories The Caves of Androzani and The Twin Dilemma, reacted positively to the news, tweeting "Change my dears and not a moment too soon—she IS the Doctor whether you like it or not!".[25] In an opinion piece for The Guardian, Baker stated that he had "never been able to think of any logical reason" why the Doctor could not be a woman, and described himself as "shocked" that some fans of the show were vowing not to watch again due to Whittaker's casting.[24]

Conversely, Peter Davison, who portrayed the Fifth Doctor, stated several days later, during a San Diego Comic-Con panel that the casting could mean "loss of a role model for boys". Nevertheless, he noted that Whittaker would do "a wonderful job" in the role.[28] Tom Baker, who portrayed the Fourth Doctor, reacted positively to the news. However, he warned that if the audience loses interest, then Whittaker should be replaced. Speaking with the Daily Mirror, he said "I think it might be quite nice to have a woman. But you just test it. If the audience don't like it then just kill her off. Nobody has ever failed by the way, nobody has, it's just how it is."[29]

Freema Agyeman, who played the character Martha Jones between 2007 and 2009, said she was "astounded" by the negative reception from some fans and that the show's history of change was key to its strength and longevity.[30] Similarly, Star Wars actor John Boyega, who starred alongside Whittaker in the 2011 film Attack the Block, stated he was proud of Whittaker, saying "she's going to be awesome". Former cast members David Tennant, Billie Piper, Karen Gillan and John Barrowman reacted positively to the news.[31] A spokesperson for Prime Minister Theresa May stated that May was "pleased" that Whittaker had been cast in the role.[32]

Appearances

The Thirteenth Doctor will make her debut in "Twice Upon a Time", the 2017 Christmas special.[2]

References

  1. ^ Dowell, Ben (22 January 2016). "Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat quits to be replaced by Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall". Radio Times. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  2. ^ a b Doran, Sarah (30 January 2017). "Peter Capaldi confirms he's leaving Doctor Who at the end of series 10". Radio Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  3. ^ Jack Shepherd (31 January 2017). "Next Doctor Who odds: Ben Whishaw bookies favourite to replace Peter Capaldi, followed by Richard Ayoade". The Independent. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  4. ^ "Doctor Who: Phoebe Waller-Bridge is now the joint favourite". Den of Geek. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  5. ^ Roz Laws (11 February 2017). "Aston Villa fan is new favourite to become next Doctor Who". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  6. ^ Rob Moran (17 February 2017). "Tilda Swinton is favourite to become the next Doctor Who". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  7. ^ Johnston, Rich (15 July 2017). "Doctor Who: As Jodie Whittaker Becomes The New Favourite, All Rumors Point To A Female Doctor". bleedingcool.com. Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 7 August 2017. It was Tom Baker who first publicly mooted that the actor who could replace him in the role of The Doctor would be an actress
  8. ^ Radio Times staff. "Is there going to be a female Doctor?". radiotimes.com. Radio Times. Retrieved 7 August 2017. since 1981 when the outgoing Tom Baker mischievously answered the question about his successor, "you're making the presumption it's going to be a man."
  9. ^ Riley, Alasdair (29 July 1983). "After Dr Who… Dr Her?". Daily Star. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  10. ^ Peck, Matthew Wace (3 August 2013). "Op-Ed: Is the new Doctor Who a woman?". Digital Journal. digitaljournal.com. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  11. ^ Alderman, Naomi (3 June 2013). "Doctor Who: bring on a woman". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  12. ^ "Joanna Lumley was set to be the first female Doctor Who". 10 October 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  13. ^ "'Doctor Who': 10 Things You May Not Know About 'The Doctor's Wife' | BBC America". BBC America. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  14. ^ "'Doctor Who': Making Sense of 'The Night of the Doctor' | BBC America". BBC America. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  15. ^ Martin, Dan (5 December 2015). "Doctor Who, series 35, episode 12 – Hell Bent". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  16. ^ "Doctor Who Dark Water review: Gender reassignment and life after death launch a challenging finale". RadioTimes. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  17. ^ "Doctor Who: Did we all miss clues to the first female Doctor?". RadioTimes. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  18. ^ Clarke, Andrew (27 February 2017). "Broadchurch writer Chris Chibnall creates laughs at the New Wolsey". eadt.co.uk. East Anglian Times. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  19. ^ "New Doctor Who identity 'leaked' after fans become convinced Kris Marshall will be named as Peter Capaldi's replacement". The Sun. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  20. ^ "Broadchurch star Jode Whittaker favourite to become first female Doctor Who". The Sun. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  21. ^ "Doctor Who: Jodie Whittaker is to replace Peter Capaldi in the Time Lord regeneration game". The Telegraph. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  22. ^ "BBC - The Doctors will return at Christmas - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  23. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (16 July 2017). "'Doctor Who': Jodie Whittaker Revealed As 13th Time Lord, First Female In Role". Deadline.com.
  24. ^ a b "I was the Doctor and I'm over the moon that at last we have a female lead". The Guardian. 17 July 2017. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  25. ^ a b "Doctor Who: Fans react to Jodie Whittaker casting". BBC News. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  26. ^ "Steven Moffat tells journalists to "shut the hell up" over casting of Thirteenth Doctor Jodie Whittaker". RadioTimes.
  27. ^ Williams, Zoe (17 July 2017). "A female Doctor? She's the revolutionary feminist we need right now". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  28. ^ Chester, Jason (26 July 2017). "Former Doctor Who star Peter Davison QUITS Twitter amid fan backlash after criticising Jodie Whittaker winning role as the first female Time Lord". Daily Mail. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  29. ^ "Tom Baker: Jodie Whittaker should get chop if she's a flop". The List. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  30. ^ "Two former Doctors clash over Jodie Whittaker casting". BBC News. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  31. ^ "Karen Gillan is EXTREMELY excited about Doctor Who's new star Jodie Whittaker".
  32. ^ Metro.co.uk, Rebecca Lewis for (17 July 2017). "Theresa May reveals she is 'pleased' as Jodie Whittaker takes over the TARDIS". Metro. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
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