Thirteenth Doctor

The **Thirteenth Doctor** is an incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the BBC science fiction television series *Doctor Who*. She is portrayed by English actress Jodie Whittaker, the first woman to portray the character, starring in three series as well as five specials. Whittaker's portrayal of the Thirteenth Doctor has been met with praise, although her tenure has proven divisive.

## Thirteenth Doctor

The Doctor

**Thirteenth Doctor** ***character***

Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor

Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor

## Information

### Companions

Graham O'Brien
Ryan Sinclair
Yasmin Khan
Jack Harkness
Dan Lewis
Ace
Tegan Jovanka

## Series

### Series

Series 11 (2018)
Series 12 (2020)
Series 13 (2021)
Specials (2022)

### Next Version

Fourteenth Doctor

This incarnation's first companions were the trio of dyspraxic part-time warehouse worker Ryan Sinclair (Tosin Cole), Retired bus driver Graham O'Brien (Bradley Walsh) and police officer Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill). In Series 13 it introduced Dan Lewis (John Bishop).

## Casting

In January 2016, Steven Moffat announced that he would leave the show after the tenth series; he was set to be replaced by new showrunner, Chris Chibnall. Peter Capaldi confirmed a year later that the tenth series would be his last as well. Following this news, several media reports and bookmakers had speculated as to who would replace Capaldi as the Thirteenth Doctor. Bookmakers' favourites included Ben Whishaw, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Kris Marshall, and Tilda Swinton.

### Casting a women

   The concept of a female Doctor was first mentioned in 1981, when Tom Baker suggested his successor might be female, after announcing the end of his tenure as the Fourth Doctor.

### Casting Whittaker

When referring to whether the new Doctor would be a woman, incoming *Doctor Who* showrunner Chris 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". 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. Whittaker was introduced as the Thirteenth Doctor on 16 July and subsequently made her debut in the 2017 Christmas special "Twice Upon a Time" and starring in the eleventh series. On Whittaker's casting, Chibnall said, "I always knew I wanted the Thirteenth Doctor to be a woman and we're thrilled to have secured our number one choice. Her audition for The Doctor simply blew us all away." Later on in his statement, Chibnall called Whittaker "an in-demand, funny, inspiring, super-smart force of nature" and said that she "will bring loads of wit, strength and warmth to the role."

In November 2018, BBC confirmed that the twelfth series, Whittaker's second series, began production in November 2018. The series premiere aired on 1 January 2020. Whittaker continued on in the role for the thirteenth series.

Whittaker and Chibnall stated they will exit the show following the thirteenth series and three specials, which aired through 2022. Chibnall said "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 was succeeded by her *Broadchurch* co-star David Tennant, who previously portrayed the Tenth Doctor, as the Fourteenth Doctor.

## Appearances

### Television

The Thirteenth Doctor makes her debut in the closing moments of 2017 Christmas special "Twice Upon a Time". After regenerating, The Doctor falls out of the TARDIS and, in series premiere "The Woman Who Fell to Earth" (2018), lands in modern-day Sheffield, where she befriends retired bus driver Graham O'Brien (Bradley Walsh), warehouse worker Ryan Sinclair (Tosin Cole) and police officer Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill). In Series 13, The Doctor and Yaz are joined by new companion Dan Lewis (John Bishop).