Sure, Doctor Who’s future may be somewhat in limbo as the BBC put the beloved sci-fi series out to tender and cancel this Christmas’s planned special, but change is nothing new to Whovians.
In fact, Thirteen star Jodie Whittaker says “there’s always a surprise coming”.
In a new interview, Whittaker, who played the Doctor for three seasons before handing over to Ncuti Gatwa (via David Tennant) in 2022, waxed lyrical about the show and revealed she’d be thrilled to pick up her sonic screwdriver once more.
“I have never ever had to hide my absolute love for Doctor Who and I have said in every single interview that was ever asked, I would always say yes [to returning] and everyone knows that is what I will feel, I will love Doctor Who until the day I die,” she told Digital Spy.
“I think everything to do with Doctor Who is a surprise, who the next doctor is, who the companions are, there’s always a surprise coming,” she added. No arguments there.
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Following the news of his exit from the series, Russell T Davies assured fans Doctor Who has not been cancelled.
While he has departed as showrunner –along with production company Bad Wolf also leaving – Davies strongly refuted rumours and panic that the the series was no more, telling Gaydio: “It’s extraordinary to see newspapers who should know better saying the show has been cancelled.
“It’s the opposite. It’s been put out to tender, and I understand that’s an industry phrase and people might not understand what a show being put out to tender means.
“Being put out to tender means – and this will happen to every BBC show, it’s happened to Casualty, it’s happened to the weather – it means the programme is pitched to be made by an independent company, as opposed to the BBC,” he explained.
ndependent companies include BBC Studios, by the way – separate to BBC Public Service – so they’re in the running. I imagine. I don’t know, I’m not part of this process, because it’s a very legal process.”
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Authors
Minnie Wright is the Digital Growth and Acquisitions Lead of Radio Times. She has a background in TV, Film, Showbiz and Music at a major national publication and a degree in Popular Music Journalism.
