Eight in ten fans like a woman in the Tardis, says boss

Jodie Whittaker, who hails from Skelmanthorpe, between Huddersfield and Barnsley, and who is best known for the ITV crime drama, Broadchurch, was reported to have received opprobrium from some quarters when her name was unveiled by the BBC as the 13th Doctor.

Mr Moffat used the stage of the Comic-Con convention in California to attack those who claimed there had been a “backlash” at her casting.

“The story of the moment is that the notionally conservative Doctor Who fandom has utterly embraced that change,” he said.

He claimed there was an 80 per cent approval rating for Ms Whittaker on social media, adding: “Not that I check these things obsessively.”

Her name received mass applause from fans at the convention, as did her predecessor, Peter Capaldi, who appeared in person.

But another former Doctor, Peter Davison, was going down less well with the audience yesterday, and hinted that he may leave Twitter, after the reaction to his suggestion that a female Time Lord would deny boys a role model.

He attempted to clarify his remarks in a series of posts, in which he wrote: “I didn’t say I had doubts about Jodie. I said she’s a terrific actress.

“I also urged uncertain fans to be supportive about change. It was a caveat about role models in an otherwise positive answer.”

He added: “All this toxicity about a sci-fi show has been sobering, so I’m calling it a day.”

Chris Chibnall, the writer of Broadchurch, will take over as Doctor Who’s producer next year.