News RUMOR: Whittaker potentially leaving

[Starkers]

That's so wonderfully sweet. I absolutely love Jodie Whittaker.

She's a good actress and always comes across as a lovely person. I just struggle to believe her as the Doctor sometimes, and though I'd hope it wouldn't need spelling out given that while initially many many years ago I wasn't sure a woman Doctor was a wise move, I've been very clear the last five or six years that it's not something that bothers me. Hell, most of my Doctor picks when Capaldi announced he was leaving were women, so it isn't about Whittaker's gender so much as her screen presence, or occasional lack thereof. I have no problem believing Jo Martin is the Doctor, in the same way I had no problem believing Gomez was the Master (hell, she's my favourite Master!). For me the Doctor should always own the room and I don't think Whittaker does that often enough.

Don't get me wrong, I lay a lot of this at Chibnall's feet, he cast her then swamped her with companions and guest stars, seemed to go out of his way to deny her Doctor any agency and if they pull the person shakes Graham's hand and says "Ah Doctor I see you've regenerated again" joke one more time... Though I guess it'll be Dan's hand now.

It's not too late, even with the worst case scenario she has at least 8 episodes left to shine, and heck for all we know another two series.

Chibnall's got to give her more to work with, better material and more agency, but Whittaker's got to inject more into her performances, more 2000 year old alien, less newly qualified teacher who wants all the kids to see her as their mate and insists they call her Jodie, not Ms Whittaker.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Well said (though I think you meant Gomez there, instead of Rodriguez).

It is odd, though, that Jo Martin is so much more of the Doctor in one episode (and one vision, lol) than Whittaker has been in two years. Its bizzare. And Whittaker really go all the way in her videos, so its not like she can't be the Doctor.

 

[Starkers]

Doh thanks for pointing that out @Emperor-Tiberius getting my Michelle's mixed up!

 

[The Wormhole]

if they pull the person shakes Graham's hand and says "Ah Doctor I see you've regenerated again" joke one more time...

As I've mentioned before, I got tired of that joke after they did a whole novel built around it.

 

[Australis]

Saw a headline from the Daily Express, which I thought humorous.

Jodie to regenerate into... Billie.

LOL!

 

[Ostermond]

Saw a headline from the Daily Express, which I thought humorous.

Jodie to regenerate into... Billie.

LOL!

Fantastic!

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Saw a headline from the Daily Express, which I thought humorous.

Jodie to regenerate into... Billie.

LOL!

Anything for the clicks, I suppose.

 

[captainkirk]

I just saw that. It contains this little bit of hilarity revealing just how little the writer knows about Doctor Who:

But what if the person stepping into the Dalek was a familiar face?

I’m going to assume that was supposed to say the TARDIS, unless they think that the Doctor rides around in a Dalek.

 

[Jinn]

I just saw that. It contains this little bit of hilarity revealing just how little the writer knows about Doctor Who:

I’m going to assume that was supposed to say the TARDIS, unless they think that the Doctor rides around in a Dalek.

Or the next series is just an extended cut of "Into the Dalek"!

 

[matthunter]

unless they think that the Doctor rides around in a Dalek.

Clara was a Dalek twice.

I'm just gonna throw that out for the minds that think like mine.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Clara was a Dalek twice.

I'm just gonna throw that out for the minds that think like mine.

And then became a zombie, well until she dies for good

 

[Shaka Zulu]

^I had a better idea that I expressed elsewhere on the 'Net a few years ago when Whitaker was going to be the Doc; when Capaldi's time as the Doc was over, the show should've ended and then there should've a hiatus for a year, which would have given the production staff time to write, cast and create a new Doctor Who show, and also give people time to get used to the idea of a new Doctor Who show with a female Doc-a female Doc that was the one just starting on a completely new show and that was not a continuation of the original which had older male (and female, as in the case of an acquaintance of mine who didn't like the idea of a female Doctor) fans upset over the idea.

 

[Shaka Zulu]

Well I do like Richard Ayoade and I think he would be my next choice. Still also have some hopes also for Hayley Atwell also at some point. I still want a American one though at some point. I am also kind of keen on the idea of a British actor doing a American accent as the Doctor. Especially with a Southern Accent. Therefore I say give us Doctor Andrew Lincoln. Complete with a Cowboy hat mixed together with a purple slicker and one of those old style Cowboy Bow Ties you might see in a Western. Also a gun holster only altered to hold the Sonic Screwdriver.


Jason

Just cast an American actor as this American Doctor, and it will work.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

^I had a better idea that I expressed elsewhere on the 'Net a few years ago when Whitaker was going to be the Doc; when Capaldi's time as the Doc was over, the show should've ended and then there should've a hiatus for a year, which would have given the production staff time to write, cast and create a new Doctor Who show, and also give people time to get used to the idea of a new Doctor Who show with a female Doc-a female Doc that was the one just starting on a completely new show and that was not a continuation of the original which had older male (and female, as in the case of an acquaintance of mine who didn't like the idea of a female Doctor) fans upset over the idea.

Would that have really mattered though, the people who were upset were always going to be upset regardless of what they did with the actor.

 

[Shaka Zulu]

To follow up on my idea of an American actor playing the Doctor:

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[JD]

Would that have really mattered though, the people who were upset were always going to be upset regardless of what they did with the actor.

Yeah, even if they took a break, it wouldn't have made a difference since it was still a woman playing the Doctor and that's all those people are going to care about. The only way they wouldn't have been upset is if she was playing a totally new character.

 

[Samurai8472]

Confirmed by BBC. Jodie and Chibnall are leaving

‘Doctor Who’: BBC Confirms Jodie Whittaker & Chris Chibnall Are Leaving The Iconic Sci-Fi Series

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I see the same story on TVLine, Variety and Nerdist, but like most stories, it could be one rumor making the rounds.

If true, it's definitely time. I've liked Jodie well enough as the Doc but the stories and overall feel of the show have felt too different to be called Doctor Who any more.

FYI, I didn't mind the Timeless Child idea (being derived from the Cartmel Masterplan). That might have been the most DW thing I've seen from this group.

 

[jaime]

If we can’t have Moffat back, let’s hope the BBC at least ask Gatiss. And if we could reveal the master was lying, the timeless child thing stricken from the canon, and a better explanation for Chef! Doctor (who was great) given that would be nice. And at the very least give Jo Martin some Audio Who.
I literally do not care who the next Doctor is for the first time ever in my life, and am mostly just happy Chibnall is on his way out. Not one original ingredient in his stuff. Shocking.

 

[captainkirk]

If Deadline and Variety are reporting that the BBC has officially confirmed it, it's not just a rumor.

I'm glad to see Chibnall leave, but I was hoping for at least one season of Whittaker under a new showrunner. I wonder if Chibnall's departure will have any bearing on the possibility of Jo Martin being the next Doctor. Obviously, we don't know if she'll play a role in the next season or the specials, so something in those stories might make it impossible anyway.

If we can’t have Moffat back, let’s hope the BBC at least ask Gatiss.

Eh, I was never that impressed by his scripts for DW. I thought he did a better job on Sherlock, although that went off the rails by the end. I'd rather see someone who's new to the series.