BBC's sci-fi cult classic "Doctor Who" has cast a woman in the title role for the first time in the show's history.
Jodie Whittaker was revealed as the next Doctor in a TV spot during the men's Wimbledon finals on Sunday, and in a tweet from BBC One that immediately blew up Twitter.
Meet the Thirteenth Doctor #DoctorWho #Doctor13 pic.twitter.com/txHGz9tJEe
@bbcdoctorwho
Whittaker will be the 13th incarnation of the Time Lord, a time-traveling being who regenerates into new forms as he/she explores the universe in a phone-booth-shaped "Tardis" with an Earth companion. She's replacing Peter Capaldi as the twelfth Doctor, who replaced Matt Smith from "The Crown" and David Tennant from "Jessica Jones" before that.
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13 Dream Choices to Play 'Doctor Who's New 13th Time Lord
View StoryUntil now, the Doctor has always regenerated into a white man, leading to growing pressure from some fans for the show to introduce more diversity. This pressure hit a peak during Steven Moffat's stint as showrunner, when his portrayal of other women characters on both "Doctor Who" and "Sherlock" created controversy. Moffat is now stepping down to work on a "Dracula" series with fellow "Doctor Who" writer Mark Gatiss, and will be replaced by Chris Chibnall of "Broadchurch" fame.
Sunday's announcement caused immediate delight from many "Doctor Who" fans - and the beginnings of a pushback from others who see the move as pandering to feminists.
Jodie Whittaker is brilliant, brilliant, bRILLIANT. I am so excited for her Doctor. I am so thrilled about all of this.
@papertimelady
Guys! Remember when you were telling women they should be able to identify with any hero, regardless of gender?
@ferretthimself
YOUR TURN. https://t.co/o5VsMNKQVS
Very disappointed Dr Who is now a woman.
@piersmorgan
Massive insult to the non-binary gender-neutral community.
HOLD US. HOLD. US. THE FUTURE IS FEMALE. #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/AbudAmD9lk
@thetimeladies_
I wish I could go back in time and tell my young nerd self that she's not going to have to pretend to be the boys forever. pic.twitter.com/YX8ti03jRe
@themackenzilee
Sorry just going to be here crying at all these reactions and looking at this picture #doctor13 #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/Mp89YJcN6p
@KeziaRose
If you think The Doctor changing gender is unrealistic I have some bad news about aliens, time travel and regeneration. #DoctorWho
@RSTStatusReport
Great actress but disappointed that @BBC put humanistic gender equality above the art of character and story telling. #doctor13 #DoctorWho13
@sholdstock
It's a woman! IT'S A WOMAN! #Doctor13 #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/QLpCM5PMua
@LauraTisdall
As a man who has been watching #doctorwho since the Tom Baker era, let me just say a woman being #DoctorWho13 is... pic.twitter.com/2tU9hQ6hxT
@scott_springer
Today, I am grateful that Steven Moffat won't be in charge of writing a female Doctor, which would probably look something like pic.twitter.com/V0Ls1YhDhC
@carolineframke
You see what women did to the Ghostbusters franchise #DoctorWho
@liars_never_win
Imagine one of your favourite shows but with someone of the opposite gender playing your favourite character(s). Hell.
@GhisPerrier
The doctor has always been a man for a reason - because it isn't a female role. They have killed the tradition of a classic show
@OriginalJamesy
there's really no fucking need. the dr is male. hate how it's fashionable to make male characters female. it's utter shit
@DX_1
Today in grown men crying over alien casting: pic.twitter.com/gqltGVLxOo
@mjrobbins
