Jodie Whittaker: ‘I’m immensely jealous of new Doctor Who cast’
She was the first woman to play one of British TV’s most iconic roles, but as Dr Who returns without her this weekend, Jodie Whittaker is back on our screens in new Australian drama One Night.
The series follows three female friends whose lives have been shaped by the traumatic events of one night when they were teenagers.
Now as grown women, they are reunited and the truth of what really happened is revealed throughout the show.
One Night promotional poster
With each episode told from a different character’s perspective the programme examines the complexities of friendships and memories, as well as dealing with sexual assault.
Whittaker told Sky News’ Backstage podcast that the way it was written allowed her to do something she felt hadn’t been done before.
“Sexual assault has been portrayed in many TV shows and dramas but this point of view of it for me was completely unique,” she said.
Jodie Whittaker and Kat Stewart on One Night Pic: Lisa Tomasetti
“Very often, we’re with the detectives, the people it most affects are the people being talked about, not listened to, and [with] this it was as if Emily [Ballou – the show’s writer], went into everybody’s brain that this really affected and gave them a voice.
“But also it showed the challenging thing of ownership of memory, what a thing to be the main thread throughout – that it’s about ownership of who has the right to tell a story.
“I found that fascinating because within this story that, on paper, is a narrative that we’ve seen before, it isn’t done like this.”
While it’s clear from the first episode that something terrible happened on the night in question, Whittaker’s character Tess has memory loss.
The actress says she read real impact statements to prepare for the role.
Click to subscribe to Backstage wherever you get your podcasts
“There is a lot that you can find that is particular to someone who has no memory of the assault and that was very helpful,” Whittaker said.
“But also it was really important as well for myself that I was playing someone who didn’t know, so therefore I didn’t read episode six and no one was allowed to talk about episode six around me.
“I’m not method and I don’t stay in character, but there’s certain things you can do to help yourself, and sometimes actors have knowledge of things but their characters don’t, so I tried to separate that completely and keep it there – if my character didn’t know, I didn’t know, and that really helped.”
Jodie Whittaker as Tess, Nicole da Silva as Simone and Yael Stone as Hat in One Night Pic: Joel Pratley
One Night has come out soon after the release of Time – the second series of the prison drama which saw Whittaker playing a woman serving time for not paying for her electricity.
Both shows look at real-world issues that affect many women in the UK, but Whittaker says it wasn’t necessarily a conscious choice to do something so different to the time-travelling sci-fi she had previously been working on.
“Doing Doctor Who I’ve been unavailable for however many years and it was just such a joy to have had a year off and then go do [Time],” she explained.
Read more:
Girls Aloud to reunite after Sarah Harding death
HMV relaunch on Oxford Street
Axl Rose and Jamie Foxx accused of sexual assault
“Sydney [where she filmed One Night] was a kind of beautiful gift of a place because I was there when I got sent Time, and at the time it overlapped… So then I missed the first two weeks of filming [Time] and I got back in a completely different time zone and ran into it.
“But it was very method because I was totally out of my depth, but [so was her Time character] Orla in every scene, so that’s fine.”
As for the much-anticipated return of Doctor Who – which will celebrate its 60th anniversary with three specials starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate before a full series return with Ncuti Gatwa taking on the role of the Time Lord – Whittaker says she, like the fans, can’t wait.
“I’m absolutely desperate to see it, it’s the first time since I’ve been a part of the universe of Doctor Who that I don’t know what’s about to happen,” she said.
Whittaker alongside John Bishop and Mandip Gill in Doctor Who Pic: BBC Studios/James Pardon
“So I don’t know anything, I have zero spoilers – I’m definitely not in it and there’s no way of me giving anything away, there’s no pressure, I can’t ruin it.
“I am so excited and I’m just immensely jealous.”
One Night is streaming on Paramount Plus – to hear more on the show and the return of Doctor Who listen to the latest series of Backstage, the film and TV podcast from Sky News.
Snoop Dogg says he hopes to set up a burger van at Celtic’s stadium and wants to serve fans himself.
The US rapper, 53, has described the football club’s supporters as “special” and the best fans in European football.
And Snoop, who played Glasgow‘s OVO Hydro arena in 2023, has also said he strongly identifies with the club’s mascot Hoopy the Hound.
He said a fast-food van at Celtic Park would become a foodie “Paradise” which is a nickname for the ground in the Parkhead area of the city.
Celtic Park. Pic: AP
Snoop told the Sunday Mail: “I would love to bring a pop-up burger [van] to a sports stadium to show fans that food at stadiums can be good.
“It’s got to be Celtic Park, man. The secret to a good burger is the love in the preparation. The ground beef has got to be mixed with some secret spices, then add a good quality cheese and some maple-cured bacon.
“The Celtic fans are gonna love it, and to make sure they are just right, Snoop is going to be serving them himself.”
But he said he would not be taking his culinary ventures to Rangers – Celtic’s Old Firm rivals at Ibrox.
The Drop It Like It’s Hot star told the paper: “Am I going to bring my burgers to Rangers as well? Nah, I think we will give that a miss.”
Read more from Sky News:
Raducanu says she not ‘playing for money’
Is Rachel Reeves the next Steve Jobs?
The musician has previously spoken of investing in Celtic, similar to Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds’s involvement with Wrexham FC.
Snoop has already published a cookbook and claims to have spoken to chef Gordon Ramsay about a possible venture in Glasgow together.
The keen sports fan worked as a correspondent for NBC at the Paris Olympics last year, and has launched two youth football leagues, as well as being a vocal advocate for pay equality for female athletes.
Entertainment
Sir Rod Stewart ‘devastated’ after cancelling more US concerts as he recovers from flu
Sir Rod Stewart says he is devastated to have to cancel a series of US concerts, blaming lingering flu for the decision.
It affects four shows in Nevada, along with a further two in California, which he plans to reschedule.
They were due to take place over the next eight days.
“So sorry my friends. I’m devastated and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience to my fans. I’ll be back on stage and will see you soon,” he wrote in a message on Instagram.
Sir Rod, 80, has been struggling to recover from flu and this week had already cancelled two concerts at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.
On Wednesday, he disclosed that his doctor had “ordered” him to take “a bit more rest”.
The star is in the midst of his epic One Last Time Tour.
Sir Rod, who was recently put on vocal rest, is due to play the legends slot at Glastonbury later this month.
In May, he was presented with a lifetime achievement award at the American Music Awards (AMAs).
Sir Rod performing at the 2025 American Music Awards in Las Vegas. Pic: Reuters
In a sign of how seriously the singer takes his health, last month he was also spotted in Italy attempting to avoid conversations to preserve his voice.
He wore a message attached to a lanyard which read: “Sorry. Cannot talk. Having vocal rest.”
In 2024, he promised he would not retire but confirmed his 2025 European and North American shows would bring an end to his “large-scale world tours”.
Read more from Sky News:
Beyonce starts London leg of tour
Interview: Star of John Wick spin-off
The performer, best known for songs including Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?, Every Beat Of My Heart, and Maggie May, said he plans to focus on more intimate venues instead.
Sir Rod has faced other health challenges in the past.
In May 2000, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had surgery. In 2017, he underwent successful treatment for prostate cancer.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway