Jodie Whittaker Eager for ‘Doctor Who’ Comeback: “It’s Absolute Joy”

Jodie Whittaker, who played the Thirteenth Doctor in Doctor Who, expressed her eagerness to return to the iconic science fiction series whenever needed, following her appearance in the Season 15 finale.

In an interview with The Times of the U.K., Whittaker reminisced about her brief return in the episode where Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor morphs into Billie Piper’s character, Rose Tyler, who was a companion to both the Ninth (Christopher Eccleston) and Tenth Doctors (David Tennant).

Whittaker shared her joy about slipping back into her Doctor’s costume and visiting Cardiff, the primary location for the series’ production. Despite changes in the studio and the Tardis, she felt right at home. “Doctor Who brings me absolute joy,” she stated. “Even if it’s 20 years from now, if someone writes an episode for the Thirteenth Doctor, I’d jump at the chance without a second thought.”

Amid ongoing debates and dropping viewership, along with fears that Disney+ might end its co-production agreement with the BBC, the network’s new chief content officer, Kate Phillips, reassured fans that the BBC is still dedicated to Doctor Who. Russell T Davies, the showrunner, confirmed that the scripts for Season 3 (Season 16) are complete, though the future of the series remains uncertain as he mentioned to Deadline in June.

Whittaker, who broke new ground as the series’ first female Doctor in 2018, discussed the significance of her casting. “There had to be a first,” she said, acknowledging the mixed reactions it sparked. “For many, it was a truly special moment.”

Despite the uncertain future of Doctor Who on television, Whittaker currently stars in Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor Adventures, an audio drama series, alongside Mandip Gill, who plays her companion Yaz.

Reflecting on her ongoing connection to the series, Whittaker said, “You never really leave it. Doing the audio drama with Mandip, where I don’t even have to memorize lines, is the happiest I’ve been. I’m ready to be the Thirteenth Doctor into my nineties.”