Showrunner Chris Chibnall And Jodie Whittaker To Leave 'Doctor Who' In A Trio Of Specials

by Outsiders
July 29, 2021
Having been in charge of the TARDIS since filming for the Thirteenth Doctor began in 2017, Showrunner Chris Chibnall and the Thirteenth Doctor, Jodie Whittaker, have confirmed they will be moving on from the most famous police box on Earth - and the universe.

With a six-part season announced for the fall, and two specials already planned for 2022, BBC One has now asked for an additional final feature length adventure for the Thirteenth Doctor, to form a trio of specials for 2022, before the Doctor regenerates once more.

After taking the helm of the show, Chris Chibnall made the ground-breaking decision to cast Jodie Whittaker as the first female Doctor. He also brought in ‘the fam’ of Tosin Cole (Ryan), Mandip Gill (Yaz) and Bradley Walsh (Graham), and cast the acclaimed Sacha Dhawan as the latest incarnation of The Master, plus Jo Martin as the mysterious Fugitive Doctor, adding new characters, layers and twists to the mythology of the show.

Episodes such as ‘Rosa’, ‘Demons of the Punjab’ and ‘Spyfall’ have thrilled audiences across the globe garnering critical acclaim and award recognition, including two BAFTA Must See Moment nominations, along with multiple National Television Award, BAFTA Cymru, TV Choice, Screen Nation, Hugo, Saturn and Critics Choice nominations. Under Chris’ tenure, the series has been awarded the Visionary Awards TV Show of the Year, the Canadian Rockie Award from the BANFF Television Festival for best sci-fi and genre series, while Mandip Gill and Vinay Patel were recognized with wins from the Eastern Eye Awards. The 2020 series won Best Science Fiction Show voted for by readers at Radio Times.com, beating out competition from The Mandalorian, Lucifer and The Boys, as well as winning both Best Moment and Most Incredible Twist from the Digital Spy Reader Awards 2020, for ‘Fugitive Of The Judoon’ and ‘Ascension Of The Cybermen’. In 2019, the entire current cast and crew were awarded Honorary Doctorates by Sheffield Hallam University for their work on the show.

As the Thirteenth Doctor, Jodie Whittaker stepped aboard the TARDIS to begin filming in 2017. As the first woman to play the iconic role, Jodie has thrilled audiences with her portrayal of the Time Lord, winning the hearts of Doctor Who fans across the globe. Jodie’s multi-layered, warm, funny and inspiring depiction of the Doctor not only created a first in Doctor Who history, but in 2020, Jodie was voted 2nd Most Popular Doctor of all time, coming within a whisker of her friend David Tennant, in a poll of more than 50,000 fans for Radio Times.

Chris Chibnall says “Jodie and I made a ‘three series and out’ pact with each other at the start of this once-in-a-lifetime blast. So now our shift is done, and we’re handing back the TARDIS keys.

“Jodie’s magnificent, iconic Doctor has exceeded all our high expectations. She’s been the gold standard leading actor, shouldering the responsibility of being the first female Doctor with style, strength, warmth, generosity and humour. She captured the public imagination and continues to inspire adoration around the world, as well as from everyone on the production. I can’t imagine working with a more inspiring Doctor – so I’m not going to!

“For me, leading this exceptional team has been unrivalled creative fun, and one of the great joys of my career. I’m so proud of the people we’ve worked with and the stories we’ve told. To finish our time on the show with an additional Special, after the pandemic changed and challenged our production plans, is a lovely bonus. It’s great that the climax of the Thirteenth Doctor’s story will be at the heart(s) of the BBC’s centenary celebrations.

“I wish our successors - whoever the BBC and BBC Studios choose - as much fun as we’ve had. They’re in for a treat!”

Jodie Whittaker adds: “In 2017 I opened my glorious gift box of size 13 shoes. I could not have guessed the brilliant adventures, worlds and wonders I was to see in them. My heart is so full of love for this show, for the team who make it, for the fans who watch it and for what it has brought to my life. And I cannot thank Chris enough for entrusting me with his incredible stories. We knew that we wanted to ride this wave side by side and pass on the baton together. So here we are, weeks away from wrapping on the best job I have ever had. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to express what this role has given me. I will carry the Doctor and the lessons I’ve learnt forever.

“I know change can be scary and none of us know what’s out there. That’s why we keep looking. Travel Hopefully. The Universe will surprise you. Constantly.”

Piers Wenger, Director of BBC Drama, said: “Over the last four years Chris and Jodie have made Doctor Who history and their time on the show is indelibly marked on our memories. From Rosa Parks to Ascension of the Cybermen, Chris and Jodie have given Doctor Who some of its most life-affirming and tear-jerking moments to date and we are beyond excited to see what they have in store for us in the new series this Autumn. Jodie's final adventure to mark the BBC's Centenary in 2022 is set to be a Doctor Who Special to remember. I’d like to thank them both for their incredible work on the show.”

Blake Callaway, GM of BBC AMERICA, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to have worked with Chris and Jodie as they ushered in a new era of the Doctor Who franchise, breaking new ground with one of TV’s most iconic heroes and bringing longstanding fans, and new viewers alike, three remarkable seasons. We’re very proud to be a part of a series that, fifty-seven years later, continues to reinvent itself, surprise and delight fans around the world.”

Doctor Who is a BBC Studios production for BBC One and a BBC AMERICA co-production. BBC Studios are the international distributors for Doctor Who.



Comments...

Last 10 comments - ( Read All Posts )
Outsiders - 2021-07-30 @ 11:33 pm

Time to bring Tom Baker back...

ghostbogey - 2021-07-30 @ 9:34 am

Gone?..Doc What?...Who??? =^)

Rayne - 2021-07-30 @ 3:44 am

I do think Jodie is am enjoyable Doctor. She has the right amount of charm, wit and weirdness to fit the bill. Hands down, Chibnall has been the problem. His writing is not interesting, his stories are boring and the direction of the show has just become stale. He even made the soundtrack uninteresting. I used to love how each Doctor had their own theme, and even the companions. It's just hollow ambient music now, that adds nothing to the show. I do feel for Jodie. I think she got a lot of hate sling her way, and she was not at fault in the slightest. She did the best she could with the material she was handed. Even Tennant or Smith couldn't have made those scripts work. I've loved Doctor Who since Peter Davidson. He was my first doctor when I was a kid, and I was beyond excited when the show returned in 2005. I hope it continues, but I truly hope it's with the right showrunner.

EvilHayato - 2021-07-30 @ 3:34 am

Well honestly for me, Doctor Who in general has really not been great for a while, at least not like it once was. Also it seems like this last few seasons have really taken alot longer to make. The newest season shouldve already happenend and I dont know if covid had anything to do with that but it has felt like theyve taken longer to get it out for a while now. But honestly I havent felt the heart of the show since probably Matt Smiths time as the doctor. Tennant and Smith will always be my favorites and I enjoyed Jodies take as she felt unique like the others. The stories just havent really fully felt that interesting imo. Not bad, just not AS good. I was kind of assuming this was going to happen since it doesnt seem like it was really being as amped as it used to be.

Satam - 2021-07-30 @ 1:54 am

I knew this was coming. I really would have hoped Jodie would have stayed and Chibnall left. I understand she has a sense of loyalty to him, but she doesn't actually owe him anything. He's held her back. That she's been able to shine at all in the face of his crap writing and mismanagement of the show is a testament to her as a performer, and I really would have liked to see what she would have been able to do with the character with somebody else at the helm.

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