Jodie Whittaker is Hopeful for Doctor Who Return After Regeneration

Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker hopes she’ll one day reprise her role as the Doctor well after her final episode airs later this year. After Whittaker announced she’d be stepping down as the titular character, much speculation has swirled around the actor who will take over as BBC’s longstanding, time-traveling hero. Per tradition, when the Doctor’s actor leaves the show, the character “regenerates” or transforms into a new persona, allowing a new actor to take over and continue the storyline. A total of 13 actors have starred as the Doctor in the show’s nearly 60-year tenure.

Whittaker became the Thirteenth Doctor in 2018, making show history as the first woman to play the role after previous actor Peter Capaldi made his exit. Her final adventures kicked off in 2021 with a six-part series titled Doctor Who: Flux. Most recently, Whittaker starred in the New Year’s Day special, “Eve of the Daleks,” which had the Doctor and her companions stuck in a time loop while outsmarting one of the show’s age-old villains, the Daleks. After that, Whittaker is set to appear in two more episodes before regenerating. Whittaker’s regeneration scene was filmed back in October, an experience the actress has described as “the most emotional day on set I think I’ve ever had.”

However, Whittaker is not counting her regeneration as the last time Whovians will see the Thirteenth Doctor. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, the actress expressed her excitement to see former Doctor Who executive producer Russell T. Davies returning as showrunner following the departure of Chris Chibnall, who’ll also be leaving when Whittaker finishes her run. In fact, Whittaker has Davies’ number. Read her comments below.

“I’m very lucky he allowed me to have his number. For all the people to pass the baton to, I mean it’s an absolute honor and joy. It’s certainly in the safest and most exciting hands, and what a wonderful time for the show. Once you’re in [Doctor Who] you never want to leave. I suppose it gave me a bit of hope — like, ‘Oh, when you do leave, it doesn’t necessarily mean you leave forever.'”

Whittaker’s hope of returning to the show is not a far-fetched desire. Almost 10 years ago, actor David Tennant made a comeback as the Tenth Doctor for Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor. Whittaker’s Doctor may very well see a similar fate. By nature, Doctor Who is a show that explores the bending of time, space and alternate reality — “wibbly wobbly, timey wimey stuff,” as the Tenth Doctor has once said. At this point, Whittaker’s return by way of a cameo or starring role in a special episode probably won’t even be a surprise to many fans.

Of course, those who follow Doctor Who are eager about the person to whom Whittaker will be passing the baton, or in this case, the Sonic Screwdriver. While several entertainment sites and Whittaker herself have both expressed whom they’d like to see as Fourteen, Doctor Who has generally been good about keeping its new star under wraps until the official announcement. Until then, the Thirteenth Doctor still has two more adventures before saying goodbye.

Source: Entertainment Weekly