Doctor Who is concluding yet another era as Jodie Whittaker prepares to say goodbye to the franchise. She began her journey in 2018 as the first woman to play the lead role. It created an exciting and riveting atmosphere for fans who had been waiting years to see that happen.
In the three years since, Whittaker has made her mark on the franchise, and to say we’ll miss her is a huge understatement. But as she gets ready to exit Doctor Who next year, there are some exciting things to look forward to, including the introduction of John Bishop as new companion Dan Lewis!
We don’t know a ton about how Dan will integrate into the already-established dynamic between the Doctor and Yaz (Mandip Gill), but I know the Whovians simply can’t wait to find out. Bishop joins the cast after the exit of Bradley Walsh and Tosin Cole, who played the Doctor’s companions Graham and Ryan. He has a huge void to fill, but something tells me he’s the right guy for the job.
John Bishop on Jodie Whittaker’s exit from Doctor Who
Speaking with Doctor Who Magazine, Bishop admitted that it’s “weird” that his time with Whittaker is already coming to an end. Her official exit will come after six episodes and three specials in 2022. So we’ve got a while to go, but it’ll be here before you know it.
The first batch of episodes will introduce Bishop as the Doctor’s new companion. If you’re worried that things might feel awkward, I wouldn’t stress about it too much. Bishop was able to gel with the leading ladies fairly quickly. “They’ve been great to work with,” he said. “So welcoming and really supportive, particularly to someone like me who’s not done a run on a series like this before. I know everyone knows it, but as everyone says, Jodie is phenomenal.”
"The way [Jodie] carries this show – the amount of responsibility that she wears so lightly on her shoulders – is staggering. The run’s coming to an end soon and we were all talking earlier about how weird it will be not seeing each other every week."
It must be strange joining a show right as it is about to undergo a dramatic change. Switching to a new Doctor is always a huge deal, and now Bishop is right in the middle of it.
There are no updates on who will taking over the role of the Doctor from Whittaker, but fans have some suggestions, with singer/actor Olly Alexander being a popular one. Doctor Who alum Matt Smith suggested his House of the Dragon costar Rhys Ifans. We’ll have to sit tight and see who the BBC decides on, but whoever it is will have huge shoes to fill.
Until then, fans can get their fill of all things Doctor Who by attending the immersive theatrical experience Doctor Who: Time Fracture in London.
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h/t Digital Spy