'My anxiety has skyrocketed in Covid-19 pandemic', says Doctor Who actor Jodie Whittaker

The Huddersfield-born actor and 13th Doctor in the series said the pandemic has caused her anxiety to "skyrocket" and that, at times, she has felt on the verge of an "apocalyptic panic attack".

Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph's magazine Stella, Ms Whittaker said she had become more paranoid during recent filming for the BBC series and the Revolution Of The Daleks Christmas special, fuelled by worries about the virus.

She said: “I’m pretty anxious anyway, so it (the pandemic) has skyrocketed my paranoia.

“That worst-case scenario, that I cause someone ill health, I cause them long Covid… I’m a follower of a rule and I need things to be really clear, otherwise it sends me into an apocalyptic panic attack.”

The actor went on to say that she would usually spend Christmas with her parents, who she is close with, or have a “massive” celebration with her husband’s family in America, but added “obviously, we can’t do that this year”.

Earlier this month, The Yorkshire Post reported how Dr Rosena Allin-Khan has warned of a looming mental health crisis due to rising demand for services, with increasing numbers of people being sectioned and needing urgent assessments.

Half of British teenagers have been unable to stop worrying at times during the coronavirus pandemic, and most of them have felt alone, according to a study of 2,375 adolescents by the Mental Health Foundation and Swansea University, conducted from August to September.

Similarly, more than a third of older people have become more anxious or less motivated, according to an Age UK survey of 1,364 adults over 60 – particularly older women.

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