This article explores the history of rumors and attempts to cast a female Doctor in the long-running British science fiction series.
Despite rumors swirling for decades about a female Doctor appearing in Doctor Who , the BBC avoided it until Jodie Whittaker's run as the Thirteenth Doctor. As the first female Doctor, Whittaker was criticized by showrunner Chris Chibnall, whose controversial 'Timeless Child' storyline drastically changed Doctor Who canon.
Still, as the first woman to play the Doctor, Whittaker herself was praised for her fun, fresh take on the Doctor, her warm, lively personality bubbling through as one of the most empowering female TV characters of the decade. So to say the first run of a female Doctor was a mixed bag would be accurate. That's not to say Doctor Who hasn't come close to a female regeneration - it has, a few times. But it never panned out, for various reasons, though arguably the real reason has never been given publicly. For a show that's as long-running as Doctor Who, it's been hard to understand the reasoning behind why it sticks to tradition in some areas and deviates wildly in others. Sadly, one of those ways Doctor Who stuck to tradition was in the Doctor's gender, which lasted far too long – though not for lack of trying from some of the people behind the scenes. Tom Baker Wanted A Female Doctor All The Way Back In 1980 The British Tabloids Ran With It Close While the British tabloid press often speculated about who would be cast as the next Doctor (usually without any evidence), rumors of a female Doctor didn't really kick into high gear until 1980. That was when Tom Baker, the Fourth Doctor actor, announced he was leaving the show and set speculation swirling. Speaking about his upcoming exit and why, he explained three seasons was enough and said, 'It's time for me to let another man - or woman for that matter - have a go. After all, there's no reason why Dr. Who should always be a man.' The British press ran with it, with Daily Express running the headline 'And Now For Miss Who?' in its October 25, 1980 edition
DOCTOR WHO FEMALE DOCTOR Jodie WHITTAKER CHRIS CHIBNALL TOM BAKER
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