Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker says she will be ‘filled with grief’ after leaving the show
Jodie Whittaker said she was “crying her eyes out” during her final days on the Doctor Who set.
The actor, who has played the Time Lord since 2017, announced in the summer that she will be leaving the sci-fi drama after the upcoming series and a trio of specials in 2022.
Showrunner Chris Chibnall is also set to leave the programme and will be replaced by Russell T Davies, who was behind the show’s revival in 2005.
Whittaker will do one more series before leaving the show. Pic: BBC Studios/James Pardon
Speaking during a Q&A, the 39-year-old actress said: “You have to honour the show and to honour everything. Me and Chris, there was this thing of like ‘We want to do three seasons’.
“But no one holds you to that so there was always a conversation, it was always fluid. But when you commit to that decision.
“This Doctor is Chris’s Doctor so for me it is right, but if everyone comes up to you forever going ‘I’m a Doctor Who fan’ then that is an absolute joy because it has been such a pleasure.
“But it is also letting go of it. I feel like I will be filled with a lot of grief for it because I kind of… Even thinking about it, it makes me upset. But this show needs new energy.
“The Doctor, the joy of this part is you hand on your boots – and you hand them on. And I don’t know who, but whoever that is, what a thing to go, ‘You are going to have a right time’.”
The 39-year-old British actress became the first woman to take on the title role in 2017, taking over from Peter Capaldi
Whittaker, who previously starred as Beth Latimer in Broadchurch, recalled crying during her final days on set.
“You know what I’m like – I’m a crier. I had to do my final (backstage interview) today. We haven’t finished filming so I can avoid the thoughts a bit more,” she said.
“But obviously with the behind-the-scenes stuff, it was in that slightly concluding way and, ‘Can you tell us how you feel about the crew?’ and then I just lost it.
“I was just crying my eyes out, absolutely gone. I always knew this is the best time I will ever have on a job. I have felt like that from the start of it.”
Rochenda Sandall, who played Lisa McQueen in Line Of Duty and Sam Spruell from The North Water will be joining the cast as guest stars, while Ripper Street star Craige Els, Steve Oram from The End Of The F****** World, The One actress Nadia Albina and Jonathan Watson of Two Doors Down will also feature.
It was previously announced Robert Bathurst, Thaddea Graham and Blake Harrison would be appearing in the upcoming series.
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The first Doctor Who special will air on 1 January, a second will be released in spring and a third special episode, when the Doctor will regenerate, will air next autumn.
The new series of Doctor Who begins on 31 October.
Entertainment
MasterChef presenter John Torode says allegation he used racist language upheld in report
Entertainment
Gregg Wallace: Over half of allegations against MasterChef presenter substantiated, including one of unwanted physical contact
An investigation into Gregg Wallace’s “inappropriate behaviour” on MasterChef has found that more than half of the allegations against him have been substantiated, including one of “unwanted physical contact”.
MasterChef’s production company Banijay UK shared a summary of its report into historical allegations of misconduct against the 60-year-old presenter, carried out by independent law firm Lewis Silkin over seven months.
The report also said the number of sustained allegations made Wallace’s return to MasterChef “untenable”.
The investigation heard evidence from 78 witnesses, including 41 complainants.
There were 83 allegations against Wallace, and 45 of them were substantiated. All were related to MasterChef.
While the majority of the substantiated allegations related to inappropriate sexual language and humour, a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated.
One allegation of unwanted physical contact was substantiated.
Nearly all the allegations against Wallace were related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018, with just one substantiated allegation taking place post-2018.
Wallace and Anne-Marie Sterpini in 2014
Ahead of the publication of the summary, Wallace had said he had been “cleared of the most serious and sensational accusations” made against him.
Additionally, the report summary found that there were also 10 standalone allegations about other people between 2012 and 2018/2019, two of which were substantiated. Those people were not named in the summary.
The investigation found that complaints had previously been raised with the production company between 2005 and 2024.
Gregg Wallace on MasterChef. Pic: BBC/ Shine TV 2024
While the report flagged inadequate reporting procedures prior to 2016, when Endemol merged with Shine ahead of Banijay acquiring Endemol Shine in 2020, it said there were significant improvements to HR processes and training after 2016.
While the investigation said some formal action was taken by the BBC in 2017, it also noted the corporation held no information regarding concerns raised over Wallace centrally, resulting in issues being addressed as a first offence.
Sky News has tried to contact Gregg Wallace for contact today.
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