“Ninety per cent of that last day I was basically in bits,” she explains. “It’s the best job I’ve ever done and I’ve loved every second of it, but it was the right time. It was like giving yourself stitches – you know you need to do it, but it felt like s**t.

“I’m always on the brink of tears. And I’ve had to contain that playing this character more than I do most characters I’ve ever played. Usually being on the brink is like my winning ticket. With the Doctor I’m much happier [she says it with jazz hands] than I normally am.”

As well as paying tribute to incoming Doctor Ncuti Gatwa, Jodie explained that she would forever be keen to return – and she has a message for returning showrunner Russell T Davies!

“I said to Russell T Davies, ‘Don’t ever think of it as being too soon’. If I’m not asked back, I will be devastated. I know it might need to be a few years, but Russell knows – I’m going to be like a little terrier at his heels.”

Read more: 

• Doctor Who’s Ace and Tegan:’It was extraordinary to come back’
• Mandip Gill on Doctor Who representation: “It brings people to tears”
• Doctor Who star says “epic” special is celebration of Jodie Whittaker

Doctor Who: The Power of the Doctor will air at 7:30pm on Sunday, 23rd October on BBC One. The series is available to stream on BBC iPlayer with episodes of the classic series also available on BritBox – you can sign up for a 7-day free trial here.

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