Doctor Who’s Jodie Whittaker ‘considered staying on the show for longer’ ahead of 2022 exit

Jodie is set to leave the series in 2022 (Picture: PA)

Doctor Who is heading towards the end of an era, with Jodie Whittaker set to leave the show in 2022 – but things were nearly very different. 

Jodie, who’s played the 13th Doctor since 2017, and showrunner Chris Chibnall will leave together in 2022 after Doctor Who: Flux and then three specials, as part of a ‘three series pact’.

However, the actress has now revealed that she considered staying on for longer while filming the third series. 

‘There was a point where I was definitely like, “Uhh, I don’t know,”’ she told Entertainment Weekly.

 ‘We started this [season] and I was like, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be able to commit to this decision.’

She added: ‘Wonderfully, going into it, it didn’t feel like either of us were being held to our own conversation. It was still very much, between me and him, a very active conversation.’

‘But at the point when you’re filming and you go, ‘Right, what are we doing?,’ there was just something about it that was like, ‘I think it is the right time.’

The actress went on to say: ‘I know at some point there will be another Doctor, and I feel I can wholeheartedly give them this, through tears, and go, ‘Aww, mate, you lucky f**ker, you are being given an absolute pearl.’

‘I want people to know that I really did fully throw myself into it and give it all I’ve got so that I’ve not shortchanged anyone.’

Jodie and Mandip Gill recently wrapped filming on the series (Picture: BBC Studios/James Pardon)

Doctor Who’s 13th series is set to arrive on BBC One this Halloween, and it’s the beginning of the end of an era for the show.

Doctor Who star Mandip Gill recently opened up on Jodie’s exit from the show in 2022, saying they didn’t have to have an ’emotional conversation’ about it, as she already knew.

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‘It’s always been common knowledge to me that that was the deal,’ Mandip explained to Metro.co.uk. ‘They were gonna go, her and Chris, after three years and start together and end together.

Speculation is rife over who will take over the reins of the Tardis, with candidates including Olly Alexander, Michaela Coel, Richard Ayoade and Kris Marshall being discussed as possible replacements for Jodie.

Doctor Who: Flux launches on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 6:25pm on October 31.

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