On May 31, 2025, the finale of Doctor Who’s most recent season aired and stole the spotlight on social media. Sadly, this discussion wasn’t full of gushing praise for the series, as the shock exit of new Time Lord Ncuti Gatwa and a final Billie Piper reveal led to scathing reviews of the episode itself and the wider Disney era. Although there was promise of a return this Christmas, the news came earlier this year that the timey-wimey series had been put out to competitive tender by the BBC, with Whovians shocked and saddened at the uncertain state of their beloved show.

As a show with regeneration at its two-hearts, Doctor Who is already fighting for a future back on our screens. In a positive update, Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio, through his production company, Hat Trick Mercurio, is supposedly the favorite to take over the series, hoping for a return in 2028 and 2029. This positive boost for Whovians can be felt across social media, and now a groundbreaking former star has offered her hopeful prediction for the show’s future in an interview with Collider’s Taylor Gates. Speaking with Gates for the new season of The Diplomat, when asked about the current state of the series, Jodie Whittaker said, “I think that the beauty of [Doctor Who] is that it has its moments of pause. It always has. A show can’t run this long and not have its moments of pause, but what is so magical about it is every and any direction is a possibility,” speaking to the longevity that has kept the show going for over 60 years. “What a fucking great thing,” she added, continuing:
“There is limitless possibility in any direction it can ever go, and that continues to keep fans, but it will also mean that, for the next generation of Whovians, their doctor can be whoever in whatever moment. I think that’s why it’s so special and reaches people. You can go back over it, and you can enter into it at any point, but what you can’t do is predict the future of it, and that has only ever been exciting.”

Jodie Whittaker Was New to ‘Who’ Before Taking the Lead

Whittaker’s time as the titular Time Lord wasn’t void of its own issues and controversies, but it will forever be known as a positively groundbreaking move for the series as she became the first female lead in the show’s history. But Whittaker was totally new to Who before taking the role, something she mentioned in her interview with Collider. “I’m a new Whovian. I’d never watched it before — I’d only seen the odd episode before I was in it,” she admitted, adding:
“It’s such a special thing, and I’ve made friends for life. I’ve talked to Mandip like three times today. We haven’t done the show since 2021, but John texted me two days ago, you know? It’s this really beautiful, magical family, and no matter what, it will grow, and grow, and grow. I can be, like, 75 and still welcome new cousins, sisters, brothers. It’s magical in that way.”
Stay tuned to Collider for all the latest exclusive quotes and updates. And don’t miss Gates’ full conversation with Whittaker.

Release Date

2024 – 2025-00-00

Network

BBC One

Directors

Alex Pillai, Peter Hoar, Ben Chessell, Julie Anne Robinson, Jamie Donoughue, Amanda Brotchie, Dylan Holmes Williams

Writers

Steven Moffat, Pete McTighe, Kate Herron, Inua Ellams, Juno Dawson

Franchise(s)

Doctor Who / Whoniverse