News RUMOR: Whittaker potentially leaving

[Butters]

I see that the BBC has declined to comment on the story. That's as good as an admission to me.

Papers are now running stories predicting who will replace Jodie. Unless we start seeing some coherent stories and charismatic dialogue, I don't think that it particularly matters who they cast.

 

[Jayson1]

Of course she is going to leave. They usually don't last longer than 3 years before moving on with their careers. You got to be especially beloved like Tenant was to get something like those movies at the end. Still doesn't matter as long as Chibnall is in charge. He is the problem and maybe the BBC itself because maybe they don't want the show be a quirky and eccentric type of show anymore. I mean it's the same issue that everything from Star Trek to Star Wars has faced in that you got people in charge who want the show to be "modern" to the point where they don't understand why these things are liked in the first place. Maybe the next person who replaces Chibnall will be someone like Star Wars has found in Faverau and Filoni who know how to be be both modern and familiar.

Which IMO is the next big wave in entertainment. We had the edgy and experimental phase of 2000 to 2012 or so where people were exploring the creative freedom of cable and not having to bow to network censors then we got the Marvel and comic book phase and then Trump and Brexit happened so since 2016 till now we got the very political phase and it makes since that the retro feeling but modern progressive culture changes will merge into yet a new thing. The Mandalorian and Stranger Things are just a few shows that have already tapped into it.

Jason

 

[DigificWriter]

To further that point in an interview just before the New Year special Jodie denying even thing about leaving the show.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/entertain...ing-holiday-special/ar-BB1ci5aJ?ocid=msedgdhp

That interview casts further doubt on The Mirror's claim because it's so much more recent than the one from The Telegraph that I talked about before.

 

[cultcross]

It's the same vague answer about not thinking about anything else after Doctor Who. If anything, the lack of a straight answer is notable.

Compare what she said this time last year:

, will Whittaker return for a third run of shows? “Yes, I’m doing another season,” she confirms. “That might be a massive exclusive that I’m not supposed to say, but it’s unhelpful for me to say [I don’t know] because it would be a massive lie! [Laughs] I absolutely adore it. At some point, these shoes are going to be handed
on, but it’s not yet. I’m clinging on tight!”

To now. Straight, to the point, I'm staying for another season, has become, this Christmas, vague statements about not planning another role and being sad about the eventual end.

We'll see, anyway. As I said, I'm hopeful she'll get a year without Chibnall; she deserves it.

 

[DigificWriter]

^ You keep claiming that Jodie's on-the-record comments from both 5 weeks ago and 6 days ago are vague, but I don't see any vagueness there whatsoever.

We'll see who ends up being right, but since Jodie is a more credible source of information than The Mirror, I'll keep pushing her comments as valid and legit over The Mirror's anonymously-sourced 'rumors' until or unless something else on-the-record from her or from the BBC itself comes up.

 

[marillion]

Yeah, I'll believe it when she confirms it. Though I don't see her going another three years up to the 60th. Just IMHO...

On the subject of some of the other posters' thoughts...

I'm almost of a mind that they do a big blow out 60th anniversary, bringing back a few Doctors/companions. Maybe make it a three part mini series... And then just shut down for a while. Let the series rest for a bit and then reboot after a decade or so.

The problem, I see, is this... There ARE fresh ideas and directions to go in. Season 11 showed that with nostalgic references few and far between. But the writing.. For the love of God, it was poor. The heady days of the Matt Smith international cash cow product tie ins are over. Maybe let it be for a while and see what happens.

 

[DigificWriter]

I know Jodie's tenure is going to end at some point; I just don't think that there's any credible reason to believe that it's ending after Series 13.

 

[dahj]

^ You keep claiming that Jodie's on-the-record comments from both 5 weeks ago and 6 days ago are vague, but I don't see any vagueness there whatsoever.

She literally only said she's currently playing the Doctor, as in the series they're filming right now, and flat out refused to answer anything about the future.

If I ask you "What are you having for supper?" and you answer "I'm currently eating stake for lunch, not thinking about supper." that does not answer the original question and it most certainly does not "confirm" you'll be eating stake for supper.

 

[cultcross]

^ You keep claiming that Jodie's on-the-record comments from both 5 weeks ago and 6 days ago are vague, but I don't see any vagueness there whatsoever

Then you're reading what you want to read. A non vague statement is "I'm going to be here for series 14" or whatever one we're on next. A vague one is "as an actor I'm just totally in the doctor who zone right now". Last year, she made the former, this year the latter. As this thread demonstrates you can read her comments in any way you like depending on what you want her to be saying - the definition of vague. And also very remarkably similar in wording between the two interviews. It's a politician answer from a self described very direct person.

 

[Jayson1]

I'm curious why anyone would think she would be coming back for season 4 even if all you were getting is vague comments. It's such a tradition and expectation for them to leave after season 3, is the bigger story and shock is if she did stay.

Jason

 

[DigificWriter]

The Mirror is claiming two things in its rumor reporting:
1) That Jodie is leaving
2) That she's told producers she's leaving because she's "keen to pursue other roles"

The issue I take with The Mirror's reporting is that Jodie's most recent public comments directly contradict the second claim, and because she has far more credibility than The Mirror does, I fail to see why their claim on the second point (specifically) should be given credence over what she has said publicly.

 

[kirk55555]

Jodie is fine, but she got completely screwed over by having the worst showrunner in franchise history. With Chibnall not leaving, nothing is going to change quality wise. When he leaves then it will be real news, but right now it doesn't matter who is playing The Doctor when the person in charge sucks and the writing is the worst its ever been.

In my opinion Jodie will probably go down in history as the first Doctor without a single good story in her entire run (she had a few tolerably mediocre episodes, but nothing better then that), and its 100% not her fault. I wish the first female Doctor had been given a showrunner who had any writing ability and actually liked Doctor Who, it feels like shitty BBC people can use her terrible run to justify not hiring anyone outside of generic white men to play The Doctor, even though the poor quality of her run has nothing to do with her.

 

[arch101]

In my opinion Jodie will probably go down in history as the first Doctor without a single good story in her entire run (she had a few tolerably mediocre episodes, but nothing better then that), and its 100% not her fault. I wish the first female Doctor had been given a showrunner who had any writing ability and actually liked Doctor Who, it feels like shitty BBC people can use her terrible run to justify not hiring anyone outside of generic white men to play The Doctor, even though the poor quality of her run has nothing to do with her.

Meh- I felt that Capaldi was mostly wasted as well. This has been going on for awhile. Capaldi's best show was his last one. What does that say?

 

[JD]

I posted a longer post in the Season 13 thread, so I'll just say the evidence is pointing towards her leaving.

 

[CuriousCaitian]

Still very much in the 'doubtful' camp on this; long experience has taught me to be extremely cautious of anything the tabloids, and the British media in general, tout, and Jodie's recent, if less-than-exact comments only make me more so.

I'll admit this is also in part fuelled by my belief that, as @cultcross said, Jodie deserves a year without Chibnall. I've detailed my thoughts on him here, and suffice to say they weren't very positive. A new Doctor isn't going to mean a great deal without a new showrunner, in my opinion. Also, can't imagine Jodie's departure would help his reported five-series arc very much.

 

[Saul]

3 to 4 series is not a bad run and I wouldn't expect her to go past 4 series at the most. She's an actress who has other parts to play. When it's all said and done she would have been the Doctor for 4 to 5 years depending on when the next series starts and ends, Xmas special etc.

 

[The Wormhole]

Also, can't imagine Jodie's departure would help his reported five-series arc very much.

Considering Whittaker would have signed up with a three year contract, Chibnall's five year plan likely took into account a replacement Doctor along the way.

 

[CuriousCaitian]

Considering Whittaker would have signed up with a three year contract, Chibnall's five year plan likely took into account a replacement Doctor along the way.

Fair point, but I still think a regeneration mid-way through a long arc, with all the attendant establishment of the new personality and any new companions, would be a sizeable challenge for any writer, and require some storytelling skill to deal with, and given this is Chibnall we're talking about...

Regarding the BBC's refusal to comment, considering how anything they might say would likely be wilfully misinterpreted or twisted, and not just by the tabloids, maybe silence was the least worst option in the circumstances. For comparison, how did they respond to other claims of the imminent departure of Whitaker and/or Chibnall?

 

[The Wormhole]

For comparison, how did they respond to other claims of the imminent departure of Whitaker and/or Chibnall?

With outright denials. Which is why the lack of denials this time is considered a deafening silence.

 

[CuriousCaitian]

With outright denials. Which is why the lack of denials this time is considered a deafening silence.

Ah, OK. That does alter the complexion of things. The value of context.