New Doctor Who Jodie Whittaker knows she can inspire all

The first woman to play Doctor Who hopes that young girls will identify with, and be inspired by, a strong heroic female character.

Actress Jodie Whittaker has been named as the new Doctor Who. Source: BBC

Jodie Whittaker, the first woman to play the time-travelling protagonist in Doctor Who, hopes young girls will identify with, and be inspired by, a strong heroic character helming the iconic science fiction television series.

In an exclusive interview before the premiere of the new season of Doctor Who on October 8, Whittaker said she hoped to bring “new light and energy” to the show that burst on to television screens in 1963.

“It is not outlandish to think that a woman could be a hero to a young boy, and what is wonderful is that maybe for the first time for some young girls, the person doing all the stuff can actually look like them,” she said.

“What will be exciting … is the positive influence it will have on an industry where female heroes are such an anomaly.”

When Whittaker was announced as the next regeneration of the mercurial Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey fighting for good against evil in the universe, fans were divided. Her casting was criticised by some as pandering to political correctness and pushing a feminist agenda.

Jodie Whittaker in costume as the Doctor for series 11 of the show.

“I’m not the first Doctor to have a negative or a positive reaction,” Whittaker said. “The thing that is wonderful is having an entire series to reassure fans and show them that the show is not lost in casting a woman because it doesn’t break any of the rules.

“I’m playing an alien and nobody is qualified for that, actually. Being a woman doesn’t make me less qualified to play an alien.”

Whittaker is the 14th person to portray the Doctor in the cult ­series — including John Hurt’s “War Doctor” — and has discussed the role with her immediate predecessors Peter Capaldi, Matt Smith and David Tennant.

“The main thing from them was just to say this is going to be the ride of your life, it’s like no other job and welcome to the family,” she said.

Although Doctor Who is etched into British popular culture and has legions of fans around the world, Whittaker confessed at her audition that she had not watched the show as a child and only sporadically as an adult.

“As a new Whovian, I am so excited,” she said. “At the end of this, I am going to start from the beginning and watch every episode in order.”

Whittaker, who has had many roles in TV, film and on stage over the past decade, said the long-running BBC series would take a new direction but faithfully honour its history. She remained tight-lipped on details, however.

“It’s a new era with new monsters, new worlds, obviously new friends, and it absolutely honours what’s gone before,” she said.

“I feel really excited and proud of what we have done.”