Doctor Who's 13th Time Lord Announced: Actress Jodie Whittaker (bbc.co.uk)

Peter Capaldi, the 12th Doctor Who, had said that he wanted to see a woman replace him in the Tardis, and so did former Doctor Who stars Billie Piper and Karen Gillan. And today it's official: "the 13th incarnation of Doctor Who will be portrayed by an actress," writes Slashdot reader Coisiche -- specifically Jodie Whittaker, who American viewers may remember from her performance as CIA officer Sandra Grimes in the 2014 mini-series "The Assets." The BBC reports: She was revealed in a trailer that was broadcast on BBC One at the end of the Wimbledon men's singles final... She will make her debut on the sci-fi show when the Doctor regenerates in the Christmas Day show... Whittaker said: "I'm beyond excited to begin this epic journey...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... Doctor Who represents everything that's exciting about change."
Doctor Who's new showrunner said the 13th Doctor was always going to be a woman -- and that Whittaker was their first choice. "Jodie is an in-demand, funny, inspiring, super-smart force of nature and will bring loads of wit, strength and warmth to the role." Doctor Who #12 added that Whittaker "has above all the huge heart to play this most special part. She's going to be a fantastic Doctor." And Will Howells, who writes for the Doctor Who magazine, said "I don't think it's a risky choice at all but if a show that can go anywhere and do anything can't take risks, what can?"

Comments

Re:We didn't need a female Doctor

[serviscope_minor]

I'm tired of people trying to reimagine heroes as someone new (a woman, black, Muslim, etc). I know Hollywood is pretty much brain dead for new ideas

Clearly a fresh new idea would be to cast a white man in a leading role then.

Re:Jodie Whittaker

[PopeRatzo]

I just hope Dr. Who treats her as an actual Doctor, not just use her to virtue-signal for SJW cred. Dr. Who's increasing politicization is really getting annoying.

If you can't see that Dr Who has always been "politicized", then you're probably too thick to have ever really appreciated the show.

Re:Jodie Whittaker

[AmiMoJo]

Your memory is faulty. Captain Jack did make a big thing of being gay, especially in he spin off Torchwood, but in their main series as well. Davies, the show runner at the time, was terrible for it.

By comparison, Bill has been very subtle and matter of fact. If anything they avoided bringing it up by refraining from her having a love interest in any situations where it might be an issue, like the past (where her being black at a time when black people were property was something they couldn't avoid).