Following the New Year’s Day Special ‘Revolution of the Daleks’ there has been an abundance of speculation yet again that Jodie Whittaker is set to leave the show at the end of this year’s season, set to air in the autumn of 2021 with filming still going on until at least the summer. Rumours had circulated that she would only do two series along with show runner Chris Chibnall but if reports are to be believed, Chibnall will actually stay on as show runner but Jodie will bow out this year leading to a regeneration and 14th Doctor carrying on.
So far the BBC has refused to comment on anything related to the report in British Tabloid The Mirror which is the norm until an official announcement is made. The next series will also be a reduced eight episode run due to complications with filming due to COVID 19 so if Jodie is leaving than this would be the opportune time to do so, following in the footsteps of many other actors to play the Doctor only doing three series, Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi immediately come to mind.
Of course this might not actually be a surprise to most Whovian fans as during the press run for the 2020 series, Jodie was interviewed by Entertainment Weekly who directly asked her if she was going to be staying in the role to which Jodie responded:
“Yes, I’m doing another season, that might be a massive exclusive that I’m not supposed to say, but it’s unhelpful for me to say because it would be a massive lie! 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!”
I actually liked Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor but I do feel that yet again, just like with Peter Capaldi who I feel was totally let down by Steven Moffat, her Doctor has yet to really had the opportunity to shine as Chris Chibnall not only rewrote 60 years of Whovian lore in the last season but has had to share the screen with three other characters in the TARDIS. But fans will will have to wait for the next series to see how her quite likely departure will be handled and how it will set up a show which is currently just two years away from the big 60th Anniversary special.
