Jodie Whittaker leaving Doctor Who along with showrunner Chris Chibnall

(Image credit: BBC)

Jodie Whittaker and showrunner Chris Chibnall are leaving Doctor Who.

Their departure will stick with a six-part Event Serial this year, and trine Specials in 2022. The third Special will be feature length – and the Thirteenth Doctor's final risky venture. Executive producer Matt Strevens will also leave the show after the finis Extra.

"In 2017 I opened my magnificent gift box of size 13 shoes. I could non stimulate guessed the brilliant adventures, worlds and wonders I was to see in them," Whittaker aforesaid. "My ticker is so full of love for this show, for the team World Health Organization make it, for the fans who lookout it and for what information technology has brought to my life. And I cannot thank Chris adequate for entrusting me with his incredible stories. We knew that we wanted to ride this flourish close, and pass on connected the baton together. So here we are, weeks away from wrapping on the best job I have got ever had. I don't think I'll ever be able to express what this use has given ME. I will transmit the Doctor and the lessons I've learnt eternally.

"I know change can be scary and none of us have it off what's stunned there. That's why we observe looking. Travel Hopefully. The Cosmos will surprise you. Constantly."

Chibnall commented: "Jodie and I made a "three series and out" pact with from each one other at the start of this once-in-a-life-time smash. So now our shift is done, and we'Re handing bet on the TARDIS keys.

"Jodie's glorious, iconic Doctor has exceeded all our high expectations. She's been the gold basic leading actor, shouldering the responsibility of being the first egg-producing Doctor with style, strength, warmth, generousness and humour. She captured the public mental imagery and continues to inspire adoration around the world, as well as from everyone on the production. I can't imagine working with a more inspiring Doctor – so I'm not exit to!

"For Maine, leading this exceptional team has been unrivalled fictive sport, and one of the great joys of my vocation. I'm so proud of the people we've worked with and the stories we've told. To land up our time on the show with an additional Special, after the pandemic exchanged and challenged our production plans, is a lovely bonus. It's great that the coming of the Thirteenth Doctor's news report will atomic number 4 at the heart(s) of the BBC's centenary celebrations.

"I regard our successors - whoever the BBC and BBC Studios take - as much fun as we've had. They're certain a treat!"

Piers Wenger, Director of BBC Dramatic play, added: "Over the last four years Chris and Jodie have made Doctor up Who history and their prison term along the show is indelibly marked on our memories. From Rosa Parks to Rise of the Cybermen, Chris and Jodie have surrendered Doctor Who some of its most life-affirming and teardrop-jerking moments to date and we are on the far side intoxicated to determine what they have in depot for us in the new series this Autumn. Jodie's final risk to mark the BBC's Centenary in 2022 is set to be a Doctor Who Specific to remember. I'd like to give thanks them both for their marvelous work the show."

While buff reception to Chibnall and Whittaker's run on the iconic sci-fi series has been sundry, their time in the TARDIS has still proven popular, netting two BAFTA Must See Moment nominations – and the 2020 series winning RadioTimes.com's Best Science Fiction Show award, beating the likes of The Mandalorian and The Boys.

Whittaker became the first female Doctor of the Church when she debuted in the 2017 Doctor World Health Organization Christmas special, and coupled the serial publication chase Peter Capaldi's take connected the character. There's No parole yet happening who Whittaker's successor could be, and with her tenure not wrapping until 2022, we might beryllium waiting a while longer til now for another update.

MD Who returns for season 13 tardive this class, with the first Special landing New Year's Sidereal day 2022, the next in spring 2022, and the final Special, which will see the Thirteenth Doctor rectify, in fall 2022.

Until then, check unsuccessful our guide to the scoop sci-fi movies of all time.

I'm a self-employed Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things film and TV for our Total Film and SFX sections. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after acquiring my BA in English.