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    Reaction to a New Doctor
    Monday, 17 July, 2017 - Reported by Marcus


    http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2017/07...ew-doctor.html



    Now the dust has settled on the announcement of the casting of Jodie Whittaker as the thirteenth Doctor, we can access reaction from around the world which has been pouring in.

    Sixth Doctor Colin Baker was one of the first to express his delight, tweeting "Well I never the BBC really did do the right thing and let the Doctor be in touch with her feminine side. As a father of daughters - result!".

    Seventh Doctor Sylvester McCoy also congratulated the actress "Congratulations Jodie Whittaker!!!!! One small step for Women, one Giant leap for Womenkind!!"

    However the fifth Doctor Peter Davison called for an understanding of those resistant to change. "It might be more helpful to be encouraging, and not simply scornful, of fans who are uncertain about change.!!"

    Past companions welcomed the change. Janet Fielding, who played Tegan in the 1980's, tweeting "I was zooming round in the #Tardis the yr #jodiewhittaker was born. Never thought then I'd ever see a female #Dr. V excited. Yipppeeeee" while Louise Jameson who played Leela in .the 1970's added "Congratulations to the brilliantly talented #jodiewhittaker Fabulous that we have a female doctor. Squeeeeeeee"

    Alex Kingston, who plays River Song in the series, was being interviewed at a convention when the news was announced, and gave her reaction to the crowd. "Jodie Whittaker? Oh my goodness!. God, I’m always the damn cradlesnatcher!"

    Press reaction is also overwhelmingly positive with the Telegraph saying the casting could be a boost for the show which has seen its audience decline in recent years. "Forget naysayers insisting that the 54-year-old show’s hero must be a man. Wave away cynics whining that this is “political correctness gone mad”. The casting of a woman will breathe new life into the sci-fi franchise, which has recently struggled in the ratings. Making Who history is a headline-grabbing way to begin arresting that decline. "

    Variety also thinks it's about time a woman took on .the role. "Coming from one of the biggest media franchises on the planet, the news that the new “Doctor Who” is female is huge — and almost completely delightful. the fact that Jodie Whittaker has been named the Thirteenth Doctor is cause for celebration. Not only is Whittaker a fine actor — she was fantastic in “Broadchurch” and “Attack the Block” — her casting sends a message."

    Time magazine thought it was about timey wimey we had a female Doctor "For many fans, it’s an exciting change that will make the show even more relatable. However, there will undoubtedly be some complaints from fans who can only envision the Doctor as a white male with a British accent. Just call it a miracle that the Doctor can still regenerate at all. In other words, as the Doctor said way back in the beginning, This is who I am, right here, right now, all right? All that counts is here and now, and this is me!”

    Opinion is more split amongst fans with many taking to social media to express their disappointment with what they feel is an overly PC decision. However, the reaction of one young fan to the news, reported here on the Huffington Post, summed up the importance of the casting too many.

    Finally, The British Prime Minister Theresa May, the second woman to hold that position, is said to be "pleased" that the next Doctor will be a woman, according to her official spokesman.

    THE TARDIS DATA CORE - Encyclopaedia and reference site covering DOCTOR WHO, K-9 AND COMPANY, TORCHWOOD,THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES,
    K-9, CLASS and much more...

    Comment


      I'm excited for this.

      Way back in 1986 Sydney Newman creator of Doctor Who said this should happen. Why it's taken so long I have no idea.
      Go home aliens, go home!!!!

      Comment


        Georgia Moffett to lead a series of Doctor Who audio adventures as the Doctor's daughter
        Following on from the announcement that Jodie Whittaker is set to play the Thirteenth Doctor, another woman is set to lead the cast of a time and space drama...



        By Ben Dowell
        Tuesday 18 July 2017 at 8:00AM


        http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-...ctors-daughter

        Doctor Who star Georgia Moffett, who played the Doctor’s daughter Jenny in 2008 for the BBC1 sci-fi show, is set to return to the part for a series of audio adventures.

        The actress – the daughter of Doctor Who star Peter Davison and wife of former Doctor David Tennant – is recording the stories this summer for production house Big Finish, with a release expected towards the end of the year.

        It marks an interesting week for Doctor Who’s women after the sensational casting of Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor.

        RadioTimes.com can also reveal that the Doctor’s daughter will have a male companion for her audio adventures: Sean Biggerstaff, the actor best know for playing Oliver Wood in the Harry Potter films, will star alongside her.

        One of the new audio adventures is being written by Christian Brassington – the actor will be well known to Poldark fans for playing the loathsome Osborne Whitworth in the current series.

        His episode is called Neon Reign and will be the first major production of his work, he told RadioTimes.com.

        THE TARDIS DATA CORE - Encyclopaedia and reference site covering DOCTOR WHO, K-9 AND COMPANY, TORCHWOOD,THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES,
        K-9, CLASS and much more...

        Comment


          The Changing Genders In (and of) Doctor Who
          By Cameron K McEwan on Tuesday 18 July 2017 http://www.doctorwho.tv/whats-new/ar...-of-doctor-who


          With Jodie Whittaker taking on the mantle of the Thirteenth Doctor, some fans may be wondering how a Time Lord can regenerate into a Time Lady.

          We’ll address the onscreen mentions of Gallifreyans changing sex later but, first, it’s worth looking at the history of a female Doctor Who behind the scenes.

          Back in 1980, when Tom Baker had announced he was leaving the role of the Fourth Doctor, the actor told assembled journalists:

          "I wish my successor, whoever he or she might be, the best of luck."


          Though Baker was indeed jesting at this point, then producer John Nathan-Turner ran with this in the media to provoke press interest.

          However, on a more serious note, Sydney Newman (a man hugely responsibly for bringing Doctor Who to the screen in 1963) recommended a female Doctor to the then BBC Chairman Michael Grade in 1986.
          Newman wrote:
          "At a later stage, Doctor Who should be metamorphosed into a woman.”

          The Canadian producer also stated he wanted to “avoid a flashy, Hollywood Wonder Woman because this kind of heroine with no flaws is a bore.” So, over thirty years ago, even Doctor Who’s co-creator wanted a gender change for the lead role.


          In recent years, the notion of a female Doctor Who gathered pace with the likes of Billie Piper (who played Rose Tyler), John Barrowman (Captain Jack) and even Helen Mirren on record as wishing for a change in sex for the Time Lord. And now, Jodie Whittaker is the first female to play the part.

          In the show itself, it has been established on more than one occasion that Time Lords can swap gender.

          The End Of Time


          At the very start of the Eleventh Doctor era, post-regeneration in the closing minutes of The End Of Time, the Time Lord questions out loud if he’s a “girl”, thus confirming this is a possibility.

          (After feeling his Adam’s Apple, he realises he’s not.)

          The Doctor’s Wife


          The following year, we were introduced to The Corsair, a Time Lord known to the Doctor some years previous:

          “Fantastic bloke. He had that snake as a tattoo in every regeneration. Didn't feel like himself unless he had the tattoo. Or herself, a couple of times. Ooo, she was a bad girl.”

          Sadly, as we discover in The Doctor’s Wife, the Corsair came to a grisly end.

          The Night of the Doctor


          This 50th Anniversary treat starring Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor saw a return for the Sisterhood of Karn. Ohila, who would return again in the opening and closing episodes of Series 9 to face the Twelfth Doctor, gave the Time Lord a choice:
          “… our elixir can trigger your regeneration, bring you back. Time Lord science is elevated here on Karn. The change doesn't have to be random. Fat or thin, young or old, man or woman?”

          Missy


          In 2014, we were introduced to the mysterious character Missy, played by Michelle Gomez. Of course, in the series finale, Dark Water / Death In Heaven, she was revealed as a new regeneration of renegade Time Lord, The Master – formerly male.

          Hell Bent

          The Series 9 finale threw shocks galore, including the regeneration of The General (last seen in The Day of the Doctor) – actor Ken Bones changed into actress T'Nia Miller.

          World Enough And Time / The Doctor Falls

          These electric episodes from Series 10 gave fans some new tidbits regarding Time Lords and gender. When chatting with Bill about the Master, the Twelfth Doctor said:
          “I think she was a man back then. I'm fairly sure that I was, too. It was a long time ago, though.”

          When queried by his companion on the fluidity of gender within the Time Lord community, he replied:

          “We're the most civilised civilisation in the universe. We're billions of years beyond your petty human obsession with gender and its associated stereotypes.”

          And who can forget, when asked by the Master, “Is the future going to be all girl?”, the Doctor’s wonderful riposte: “We can only hope. ” It’s like he knew!

          And Finally…

          And, of course, let’s not forget the 1999 Comic Relief Special, The Curse of Fatal Death. Written by Steven Moffat, this story sees the Doctor regenerate a number of times, and finally settles on being female (in this instance, actress Joanna Lumley). Sadly, this outing is not considered as part of the official Doctor Who canon.

          THE TARDIS DATA CORE - Encyclopaedia and reference site covering DOCTOR WHO, K-9 AND COMPANY, TORCHWOOD,THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES,
          K-9, CLASS and much more...

          Comment


            But didn't Michael Grade also try to bury the show?
            Go home aliens, go home!!!!

            Comment


              Doctor Who Reveal Has Record Viewings
              Tuesday, 18 July, 2017 - Reported by Marcus


              http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2017/07...downloads.html



              The BBC have revealed that the video announcing Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor received over sixteen million views online


              The minute-long specially shot scene debuted on BBC One after the Men’s Wimbledon final on Sunday, where just over 5 million viewers saw it. It was also released on BBC social media channels around the world.

              The reveal has been watched 9.8 million times on the BBC One Facebook channel so far, with over 2.5 million views on the Doctor Who Twitter account - making it the most successful tweet of all time for Doctor Who.

              Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, says:

              To see the overwhelmingly positive response to the news that Jodie Whittaker will star as the Thirteenth Doctor, and know that the reveal has had over sixteen million views online so far, is just phenomenal. It’s exhilarating to see Doctor Who engaging with people on so many different levels and I cannot wait for the audience to see her in action on BBC ONE this Christmas.

              The teaser trailer, which debuted on Friday evening before the BBC One 6 O’Clock News, has been watched a further 4.8 million times online.

              Jodie Whittaker will make her debut as the Doctor in this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special, when the current Doctor – played by Peter Capaldi - will regenerate.

              THE TARDIS DATA CORE - Encyclopaedia and reference site covering DOCTOR WHO, K-9 AND COMPANY, TORCHWOOD,THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES,
              K-9, CLASS and much more...

              Comment


                July 19th, 2017
                Penguin Random House Confirm 13th Doctor Books


                http://merchandise.thedoctorwhosite....-doctor-books/

                Following the announcement of the new Thirteenth Doctor, BBC Books and Penguin Random House Children’s UK are delighted to announce a major new publishing acquisition. Rebecca Smart, Managing Director for Ebury Publishing and Francesca Dow, Managing Director for Penguin Random Children’s UK have acquired world publishing rights all languages, for Doctor Who series 11 from BBC Worldwide.

                This is an exclusive deal for all formats including non-fiction, fiction, activity, novelty, audio and the annual. Books will be a combination of titles that introduce the show and the Doctor to a new audience as well as more in-depth books for die-hard fans. Penguin Random House UK has long been the home of Doctor Who, with BBC Books publishing the series since the 1990’s and Penguin Random House Children’s UK publishing Doctor Who titles for over a decade.

                News of the deal follows the BBC’s announcement on Sunday 16th July that Jodie Whittaker will be the new Doctor. She will be the thirteenth Time Lord and takes over from Peter Capaldi who leaves the global hit show at Christmas.

                Rebecca Smart, Managing Director, Ebury Publishing, says: “We are really delighted to have completed a two series publishing deal with BBC Worldwide. At BBC Books we have a long history of publishing alongside Doctor Who and are so pleased to be able to continue, particularly as the series enters this exciting new phase!”

                Francesca Dow, Managing Director, Penguin Random House Children’s UK, adds: “What an exciting time to be renewing our partnership with BBC Worldwide as Doctor Who moves into a new era with its first female Doctor. Doctor Who stands for transformational magical storytelling and we can’t wait to take the new Doctor on new adventures in our books as we continue to expand the Doctor Who universe. We’ll be publishing for brand new fans meeting the Doctor for the very first time, as well as the existing fans who already know and love the show as much as we do.”

                Jan Paterson, Head of Book and Audio Publishing, BBC Worldwide comments: “The Penguin Random House publishing agreement is one of the most important and successful partnerships for the Doctor Who brand, and so we are really pleased that we have renewed terms with them for Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor. Both in their publishing for the Children’s and Adult audiences, they have created an imaginative, diverse, extensive range of quality books that have reflected the content and values of the series and brand. We have worked with them on Doctor Who publishing for many years, and are excited about the plans for the future.”

                Jodie Whittaker said on her appointment as the Thirteenth Doctor: “To be asked to play the ultimate character, to get to play pretend in the truest form: this is why I wanted to be an actor in the first place. To be able to play someone who is literally reinvented on screen, with all the freedoms that brings: what an unbelievable opportunity. And added to that, to be the first woman in that role.”

                THE TARDIS DATA CORE - Encyclopaedia and reference site covering DOCTOR WHO, K-9 AND COMPANY, TORCHWOOD,THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES,
                K-9, CLASS and much more...

                Comment


                  The Time Ladies of Doctor Who
                  By Cameron K McEwan on Wednesday 19 July 2017

                  http://www.doctorwho.tv/whats-new/ar...-of-doctor-who


                  With Jodie Whittaker now announced as the Thirteenth Doctor, you might be using the expression “Time Lady” a lot more now.

                  Over the years. there have been a number of Time Ladies gracing our television screens, both in the ‘classic’ and ‘new’ eras.

                  Fact fans will be delighted to learn that it wasn’t until 1979’s City of Death that the expression “Time Lady” was first used. On that occasion it was by the Fourth Doctor, Tom Baker, in reference to his TARDIS traveling chum, Romana.

                  Here’s our guide to the Ladies of Time…

                  Susan

                  The original Time Lady, you might say. For those who don’t know, Susan was the Doctor’s granddaughter and traveled with him from the very first episode, An Unearthly Child. The Doctor would end up leaving her on Earth in the 22nd Century at the denouement of The Dalek Invasion of Earth (1964).

                  The youngster returned in 1983’s The Five Doctors, played again by Carole Ann Ford, and then some 30 years later in The Name of the Doctor (sort of). In Series 10’s The Pilot, Whovians were delighted to see that the Twelfth Doctor had a picture of Susan on his desk at St. Luke’s University.

                  Nice to know she was still on his mind, over 1,000 years later.

                  Read more about Susan here.

                  Rodan


                  It wasn’t until 1978’s Gallifrey-based The Invasion of Time when we would meet another Time Lady. The Fourth Doctor, Leela and K-9 were up against an invasion of the Vardans and then Sontarans when technician Rodan assisted with her useful knowledge of Quasitronics.

                  She was also a fan of the phrase “transduction barrier”, not heard much in Doctor Who these days.

                  Romana

                  Much to his disgust, the Fourth Doctor, played by Tom Baker, was given an “assistant” by the White Guardian in a quest for The Key To Time. Romanadvoratrelundar to give her her full name (or Fred), was originally played by Mary Tamm for the whole of the season arc (a whopping 26 episodes!).

                  Read more about Romana I here.

                  But, just like the Doctor, Romana could regenerate; and did so in the following season opener, Destiny of the Daleks. The Time Lady went through a number of “bodies” before her final choice – that of Princess Astra, who appeared in the Key To Time finale, The Armageddon Factor. At the denouement of Warrior’s Gate (1981), Romana chose to leave with K-9 in E-Space, a universe outside our own. Behind the scenes, “Romana II” actress Lalla Ward was briefly married to Tom Baker.

                  Read more about Romana II here.

                  Thalia


                  “In theory, movement between dimensions is possible. In practice, less so. But the same was said about time travel, and that has long been a reality.” Classic stuff from Thalia here, who was present on Gallifrey for Omega’s revenge in 1983’s Arc of Infinity.

                  Sadly, she didn’t return for the 20th Anniversary special and was replaced by the similar-sounding…

                  Flavia


                  Being the generous type, the Fifth Doctor appointed her Acting President of the High Council on Gallifrey in The Five Doctors.

                  Mainly because he didn’t want the job, the cad!

                  The Rani


                  Eighties sensation the Rani was a female version of the Master – another Gallifreyan renegade. Played by the superb Kate O’Mara, now, regrettably, no longer with us, the Rani could still be out there somewhere.

                  Read more about The Rani here.

                  The Inquisitor

                  Back to the 80s with some deliciously camp fun in The Trial of a Time Lord. The sadly-departed Lynda Bellingham was the woman who presided over the Sixth Doctor’s season-long titular trial.

                  Did a neat line in scathing looks.

                  Jenny

                  Hmm, a lightly contentious entry here. Jenny was made from the Tenth Doctor’s DNA, and thusly named his ‘daughter’. The poor thing died at the end of her episode, The Doctor’s Daughter, but managed to use some regenerative powers to come back to life - though not regenerate. In real life, Georgia Moffett, who played Jenny, is the daughter of Fifth Doctor, Peter Davison, and the wife of Tenth Doctor, David Tennant.

                  What a timey-wimey, family-wamily!

                  DoctorDonna


                  Half-human, half-Time Lord, Catherine Tate became the most important person in the universe in 2008’s Journey’s End. Does that make her a Time Lady?

                  Let’s move on…

                  Read more about Donna here.

                  The Woman


                  David Tennant’s finale, The End of Time, saw a mysterious lady, credited as ‘The Woman’, follow Rassilon around with her head in her hands. She also appeared to Wilf a few times before finally revealing herself to the Tenth Doctor, hinting at a solution which would send the Time Lords back into the never-ending Time War.

                  The Woman was played by screen legend, Claire Bloom.

                  The Visionary


                  Speaking of Rassilon, during The End of Time in the final days of the Time War, The Visionary foresaw that Gallifrey would fall.

                  Also keen on finger and face tattoos.

                  The Partisan

                  This poor Time Lady faced the might of Rassilon when the two differed in opinion during the opening minutes of The End of Time Part II. Just after she informed the council that the Doctor possessed The Moment (which we would see in person during 2013’s The Day of the Doctor), Rassilon thanked The Partisan for her opinion, and then blasted her with his gauntlet.

                  River Song

                  Tough one. Born of Earthlings, Amy and Rory, River Song should really be human. Yet, when she was young she managed to regenerate (at the end of 2011’s Day of the Moon) and then again in 2011’s Let’s Kill Hitler. Played by Alex Kingston, River gave her regenerative powers to the Eleventh Doctor to save him.

                  Her Time Lady-ness was caused by being conceived in the TARDIS.

                  Read more about River Song here.

                  The Corsair

                  As mentioned in 2011’s The Doctor’s Wife, Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor revealed that this Time Lord had actually changed sex during one of his/hers regenerations.

                  Not the last Time Person to do this, as we will discover.

                  The Day of the Doctor

                  The 50th Anniversary special gives us three Time Ladies, although only one actually speaks. Sophie Morgan-Price (picture above, central), curiously listed as ‘Time Lord’ in the credits, gets a line or two but her fellow Gallifreyan ladies aren’t as lucky.

                  Fact fans will note that actress Rosie Jane – who played Bill Pott’s mum in Series 10 – is one the three actresses (see pic above on right from her Instagram).

                  Missy

                  The Master was such a renegade that he changed sex. Or was a he lady first? Hard to know with the Doctor’s memory. The character first appeared alongside the Third Doctor in 1971’s Terror of the Autons. First portrayed by Roger Delgado, men would play The Master up until Series 8, when Michelle Gomez came along in the guise of Missy.

                  Read more about Missy here.

                  The General

                  The General first appeared as a man in the 50th Anniversary episode, The Day of the Doctor, and returned for 2015’s Hell Bent. Due to being shot by the Doctor, the General regenerated into a woman, upon which she commented, “Oh, back to normal, am I? The only time I've been a man, that last body.”

                  Gallifreyan High Council

                  Sticking with Hell Bent, the Series 9 finale gave us a classic showdown between the High Council and the Twelfth Doctor and, as you can see, there’s a couple of Time Ladies in there too.

                  The Thirteenth Doctor

                  And here we are, bang up to date! As revealed just days ago, Jodie Whittaker will be playing the Doctor. Following in the footsteps of The Corsair, The Master, and The General, this is a new gender for the Time Lord. Or Lady, rather.

                  Read an interview with Jodie Whittaker here.

                  We will meet the new Doctor properly in this year’s 2017 Doctor Who Christmas Special.

                  THE TARDIS DATA CORE - Encyclopaedia and reference site covering DOCTOR WHO, K-9 AND COMPANY, TORCHWOOD,THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES,
                  K-9, CLASS and much more...

                  Comment


                    I'm not totally in favor of this change because it feels like a gimmick (Moffat's forte) to boost ratings. However, I'll continue to watch to see how she portrays The Doctor.
                    Total syffy posts: 36,690
                    (Chosen One)


                    Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
                    Matthew 5:9

                    Comment


                      Originally posted by pscard View Post
                      I'm not totally in favor of this change because it feels like a gimmick (Moffit's forte) to boost ratings. However, I'll continue to watch to see how she portrays The Doctor.
                      Moffatt is gone at the end of this year. He had no role in the casting decision.
                      "A society grows great when old men plant trees, the shade of which they know they will never sit in. Good people do things for other people. That's it, the end." -- Penelope Wilton in Ricky Gervais's After Life

                      Comment


                        Just a thought...

                        Since a majority of The Doctor's companions were female, I'm guessing that a majority of the new Doctor's companions could be male.

                        Waddya think?
                        Total syffy posts: 36,690
                        (Chosen One)


                        Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
                        Matthew 5:9

                        Comment


                          There was a rumour going round earlier that Kris Marshall would be playing the companion.

                          But it seems that he himself has totally denied it.
                          sigpic
                          Long before you and I were born, others beat these benches with their empty cups,
                          To the night and its stars, to the here and now with who we are.

                          Another sunrise with my sad captains, with who I choose to lose my mind,
                          And if it's all we only pass this way but once, what a perfect waste of time.

                          Comment


                            Doctor Who Magazine: We're saddened to report the death of the much-loved Deborah Watling, who played the Second Doctor's companion Victoria Waterfield. RIP

                            https://twitter.com/DWMtweets/status/888393972728705024
                            "A society grows great when old men plant trees, the shade of which they know they will never sit in. Good people do things for other people. That's it, the end." -- Penelope Wilton in Ricky Gervais's After Life

                            Comment


                              Sad news.
                              sigpic
                              Long before you and I were born, others beat these benches with their empty cups,
                              To the night and its stars, to the here and now with who we are.

                              Another sunrise with my sad captains, with who I choose to lose my mind,
                              And if it's all we only pass this way but once, what a perfect waste of time.

                              Comment


                                Trailer for the 2017 Xmas episode, "Twice Upon a Time" has gone live:

                                "A society grows great when old men plant trees, the shade of which they know they will never sit in. Good people do things for other people. That's it, the end." -- Penelope Wilton in Ricky Gervais's After Life

                                Comment

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