Jodie Whittaker broke the hearts of Doctor Who fans when she announced in July that she’d be retiring her sonic screwdriver after the upcoming series. However, the sci-fi star has since revealed that she was tempted to renege on her exit plan whilst filming the new episodes.
Speaking exclusively to Radio Times magazine, Whittaker said: “Chris [Chibnall] and I always said we were going to do three series together, but then when you get to it, it’s a very different thing.
“Sometimes it was like… ‘Are we sticking to this decision?’ There’s part of me that could absolutely say, ‘No, let’s keep going! Let’s go back on it!’ But to give the fans the level that they deserve, there has to be some sacrifice. You have to know when you’ve done it.”
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She added: “When it’s my last day of shooting, that will certainly feel as if a huge part of my life is over. But as far as being the Doctor, I get to drag it out for as long as they put the episodes on for.”
Earlier this year, both showrunner Chibnall and Whittaker announced that they’d be leaving Doctor Who in 2022 following a final six-part series, which premieres on BBC One on Halloween, and a trio of subsequent specials.
It’s A Sin creator Russell T Davies is set to return as showrunner for Doctor Who’s 2023 series, in time for the long-running show’s 60th anniversary, with BBC Drama head Piers Wenger describing him as a “man with a vision“.
Additional reporting by Huw Fullerton.