During an online press Q&A, Chris Chibnall and Jodie Whittaker have made a few more parting remarks.

There are no major revelations, though Jodie's language appears to have changed slightly. Previously all statements about she and Chris had indicated a firm 3 year and out plan for them both.

While they're still both going - with Russell T Davies already announced to replace Chris - here Jodie speaks of their 3 year plan in softer certain terms:

We’ve been very present in it – but you have to honour the show, and honour everything. Me and Chris [Chibnall, showrunner]… 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 [about how long to stay]. It was always fluid.

But when you commit to that decision… you know, I can’t imagine it being written— like, this Doctor is Chris’s Doctor. For me, it’s right [to leave now], but if everyone comes up to you forever, going, ‘I’m a Doctor Who fan’ – then that’s an absolute joy because it’s been such a pleasure.

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 I don’t know who, but whoever that is, what a thing to be able to go, ‘You’re going to have a right time!’.

Chibnall had this to say:

It’s taken longer than expected if we’re being honest. I’ve been throwing batons at people for about a year now. And finally, someone’s picked it up.

We had that conversation right at the start, and I hope you can see that the atmosphere is so team-oriented and so positive, it is a proper family atmosphere. This cast and this crew are so close – you wouldn’t want to do it with other people, because it’s just been its own little, discrete show. And then the next version will be its own discrete show, just as Peter [Capaldi]’s era was, and Matt [Smith]’s era was, and David [Tennant]’s was.

Main Image: [ Demons of the Punjab behind the scenes. Credit: BBC. ]

References

Green, Alex (October 20, 2021). Jodie Whittaker on her Doctor Who exit: I will be filled with a lot of grief. Chronicle Live.

Julians, Joe (October 20, 2021). Chris Chibnall says it took “longer than expected” for him to leave Doctor Who. Radio Times.

Julians, Joe (October 20, 2021). Doctor Who’s Jodie Whittaker on the next Doctor: “The joy of this job is you hand on your boots”. Radio Times.