Jodie Whittaker 'to step down from Doctor Who' after announcement she is quitting role as 13th time lord

The Huddersfield actor will leave the BBC family show at the end of the current series, according to the Daily Mirror, after paving the way as the 13th - and first ever female - time lord.

Ms Whittaker, 38, replaced previous 12th Doctor Peter Capaldi in 2017 and has been at the helm of the Tardis since, starring in three series.

Other predecessors include Matt Smith, David Tennant and Christopher Eccleston.

Co-stars Bradley Walsh and Tosin Cole departed the long-running sci-fi drama at the end of the New Year special, Revolution Of The Daleks, and comedian John Bishop has already been announced as a new casting for the next series.

The Liverpudlian will play Dan, who “becomes embroiled in the Doctor’s adventures” and will star alongside Whittaker and Mandip Gill, who returns as Yaz.

Despite the shake-up, showrunner Chris Chibnall is reportedly set to stay with the production.

The odds are already on for the next actor to take on the role, with favourites including Death in Paradise actor Kris Marshall - who has previously been linked to the role - and Fleabag writer and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge, according to bookmakers Coral.

Homeland actor David Harewood and Friday Night Dinner’s Tom Rosenthal are both also potential successors, Coral said.

Filming on the current series of Doctor Who is due to finish this summer and it will air in autumn.

The BBC have said it will be shorter, with only eight episodes due to Covid-19 restrictions affecting production.

Other Doctors to leave after three runs include William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Peter Davison and Sylvester McCoy.

A spokeswoman for the BBC said: “We won’t be commenting on any speculation around Jodie’s future on the show.”

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