James R | On 29, Jul 2021

Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall will be stepping away from Doctor Who in 2022, bowing up in a trio specials.

Having been in charge of the TARDIS since filming for the Thirteenth Doctor began in 2017, the showrunner and Whittaker have confirmed they will be moving on from the most famous police box on Earth and handing back the keys.

After taking the helm of the show, Chibnall made the groundbreaking decision to cast Whittaker as the first female Doctor, also bringing in new friends Tosin Cole (Ryan), Mandip Gill (Yaz) and Bradley Walsh (Graham), not to mention Sacha Dhawan as the latest incarnation of The Master, plus Jo Martin as the mysterious Fugitive Doctor. In 2020, Jodie was voted Second Most Popular Doctor of all time, coming within a whisker of David Tennant, in a poll of more than 50,000 fans.

The pair, though, made a three-and-done pact when they first signed up for the show, reveals Chris Chibnall: “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,” he adds. “She’s been the gold standard leading actor, shouldering the responsibility of being the first female Doctor with style, strength, warmth, generosity and humour. She captured the public imagination and continues to inspire adoration around the world, as well as from everyone on the production. I can’t imagine working with a more inspiring Doctor – so I’m not going to!”

Whittaker adds: “In 2017 I opened my glorious gift box of size 13 shoes. I could not have guessed the brilliant adventures, worlds and wonders I was to see in them… I will carry the Doctor and the lessons I’ve learnt forever.

“I know change can be scary and none of us know what’s out there,” she continues. “That’s why we keep looking. Travel Hopefully. The Universe will surprise you. Constantly.”

Chris is currently writing and producing the 13th season of Doctor Who, comprising six episodes that will air later this year. It will be followed by three specials – the first of which will transmit on New Year’s Day 2022 – with another in spring 2022. Jodie’s final feature-length special, where the Thirteenth Doctor will regenerate, will transmit in autumn 2022 as part of the BBC’s Centenary celebrations.

See the trailer for Doctor Who season 13 here.

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