Olly Alexander Replacing Jodie Whittaker In Doctor Who? The Musician Answers The Rumors
Olly Alexander is a frontrunner for the new Doctor Who.
This article is more than 2 years old
Fans of the long-running British series Doctor Who are still not sure if Jodie Whittaker will leave the show after the upcoming 13th season. Insiders say the actress intends to stick to the traditional rule of leaving after three seasons in the TARDIS, like most of her predecessors.
If the rumors are true Whittaker, who is eager to take on new roles, will exit the series later this year along with co-stars Bradley Walsh and Tosin Cole. Although the BBC told Digital Spy that they won’t be commenting on any rumors around Jodie’s future on the show, that hasn’t stopped the internet from speculating about possible replacements.
Musician and actor Olly Alexander seems to be a firm favorite to replace Whittaker if she does leave the show. The singer, whose acting credits include Skins, Penny Dreadful, and The Riot Club, found himself at the center of the Doctor Who rumor mill when The Sun reported that he will be taking over as the new Time Lord on Sunday morning.
According to the publication, the Years and Years singer’s work as Ritchie Tozer in It’s A Sin impressed BBC bosses, making him the network’s first choice for the coveted role as Doctor Who. The tabloid also said that It’s A Sin creator Russell T. Davies had championed Olly for the part.
The news sent social media into a frenzy, but the singer’s management has since confirmed that he will not be signing on as Doctor Who just yet. In a post shared via Instagram stories, Olly’s manager Martha Kinn squashed the rumors stating that it just isn’t true. She added that the singer will be focusing on his music for the time being.
Whittaker’s imminent departure is reportedly being kept under wraps amid production on season 13. But the news of her exit hit the digital space after fans noticed the actress wouldn’t be appearing on the cover of the 2022 Doctor Who Annual.
Broadcast by BBC One since 1963, Doctor Who follows the adventures of a Time Lord called “the Doctor”, who is an extraterrestrial being that appears to be human. The Doctor explores the universe in the TARDIS, a time-traveling space ship whose exterior looks like a blue British police box from the 1960s. With various companions, the Doctor defeats bad guys, works to save civilizations, and helps people in need.
In 2017, Jodie Whittaker became the series’ 13th Doctor and the first woman to play the role. The change was seamless because the transition from one actor to another is written into the plot of the show with the concept of regeneration. A Time Lord “transforms” into a new body when the current one is too badly harmed to heal normally. Each actor’s portrayal is unique, but all represent stages in the life of the same character, and together, they form a single lifetime with a single narrative.
Doctor Who Season 13 is currently scheduled to premiere in 2021, but the exact air date remains unknown.
