No./7 Jodie Whittaker bids farewell to the TARDIS
The 13th star of DOCTOR WHO reflects on her impending exit
Jodie Whittaker bows out as the Doctor in a 90-minute special;
JODIE WHITTAKER IS not one to play it cool. “I cannot talk about it without crying,” she says, looking away from Empire to take a necessary pause. “I’ve got to get better at this,” she adds, with a tremble of the bottom lip, “because this is the next few weeks for me — talking about my regeneration.”
It would take a gargantuan effort for any actor to bow out from one of the most life-changing roles in all of pop culture without getting emotional, but Whittaker, in particular, is all about embracing the moment, revelling in the wild ride. And she’s clear her Doctor is getting the most spectacular of finales. Outgoing showrunner Chris Chibnall has written a 90-minute special which not only brings back two much-loved Who companions, Janet Fielding as Tegan, and Sophie Aldred as Ace, but also reunites the Doctor’s most enduring enemies — the Cybermen, the Daleks and the Master. Fan service? Absolutely. “Yeah, it’s one for Whovians,” beams Whittaker. “It’s a huge treat if you’re a proper fan. It’s got all the iconic things that you associate with Doctor Who. It’s massive.”