Jodie Whittaker, who portrays the 13th Doctor in the long-running sci-fi series Doctor Who, has an uplifting take on her final episode as The Doctor.
Doctor Who actor Jodie Whittaker shares the bright side to her departure as the Thirteenth Doctor. Whittaker joined the iconic sci-fi show in 2017, becoming the first woman to play the role of The Doctor after 12 male versions of the fabled Time Lord. Though some voiced anger over a woman taking over the role, Whittaker earned praise from audiences as well as previous stars such as Christopher Eccleston and Sylvester McCoy for her witty and charming turn as The Doctor. She joined Doctor Who alongside showrunner Chris Chibnall, who now prepares to exit the series with Whittaker ahead of her final episode.
Whittaker's departure from Doctor Who was announced in July 2021, with Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa confirmed as the Fourteenth Doctor in May 2022. The 90-minute episode featuring Whittaker's departure as the Thirteenth Doctor, titled "The Power of the Doctor," will also celebrate the BBC's centenary, promising a special farewell. With Whittaker's era serving as a fresh start for the long-running sci-fi show, her unique energy as the Doctor over the past five years will be mourned by both old and new fans. However, with Tenth Doctor David Tennant and Catherine Tate as Donna Noble slated to return for the show's 60th anniversary special, the series has made it clear that the return of beloved characters - however brief - is possible.
In a conversation with Empire, Whittaker references Tennant's return as she talks about the bright side of bidding her version of The Doctor farewell. Though she has previously mentioned the emotional nature of filming her final scenes, her comments point to the upside of her exit from the series: She can now enjoy the show as a fan with a new appreciation. Check out what she had to say below:
"I would love to pop back up as the Doctor. This is what I love about the show so much. It's so unpredictable and exciting. Now I can just watch it with the love and understanding that I never had before. I was brand-new to it. I didn't understand it. I hadn't grown up with it. But now I get to embrace it as a Whovian, just like everyone else."
