Doctor Who Almost Had a Female Doctor 31 Years Before Jodie Whittaker

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In the year 2017, Jodie Whittaker made history by becoming the first woman to portray the main character, known as the Time Lord, in Doctor Who. However, it wasn’t always certain that she would be the first, as multiple actresses were considered for the role of the Doctor a full 31 years earlier. Whittaker was unveiled as the successor to Peter Capaldi, who was set to leave the popular BBC series along with its showrunner Steven Moffat in 2017. With her debut, Jodie Whittaker’s character, the Thirteenth Doctor, marked the first female portrayal of the shape-shifting time traveler on screen. Yet, several prominent actresses had previously been considered for the role before her.

It’s quite remarkable that it took the character of Doctor Who more than 50 years to be portrayed by a woman, but the show has been compensating for this delay by introducing multiple female versions of the Doctor lately. Interestingly, the concept of the Timeless Child suggests that the Doctor might have taken on a female form many times in the past, but Jodie Whittaker was the first to play her on screen. However, it’s worth noting that a woman could have played the Doctor as early as 1986 and again following the series’ revival in 2005, which might have significantly altered the course of the show.

A Woman Was Almost Cast as the Seventh Doctor Back in 1986

Following Colin Baker’s stormy tenure as the Sixth Doctor from 1984 to 1986, BBC Controller Michael Grade sought advice from ‘Doctor Who’ co-creator Sydney Newman on reviving the series. Newman proposed that Patrick Troughton, who played the Second Doctor, should take over from Baker for a season before being succeeded by a female actor as the Doctor. Potential candidates suggested by Newman included Joanna Lumley, Dawn French, and Frances de la Tour to replace Troughton. However, Head of Drama Jonathan Powell disapproved of these ideas.

The selection for the Seventh Doctor boiled down to three candidates: Ken Campbell, Chris Jury, and Sylvester McCoy, with the latter landing the role. Contenders such as Joanna Lumley from “Absolutely Fabulous”, Dawn French from “The Vicar of Dibley”, and Frances de la Tour from “Rising Damp” would have been excellent picks for Doctor Who, bringing a comedic and lively touch to the character. However, the producers and viewers preferred a more serious direction. Initially, McCoy’s Doctor was humorous, but he later transformed into a darker, more serious, and manipulative character. This shift might have played a role in “Doctor Who” experiencing a brief decline in 1989.

Doctor Who’s Revival Also Almost Introduced a Female Doctor in 2005

After the termination of “Doctor Who” in 1989 and an unsuccessful attempt to resurrect it in 1996, Russell T. Davies managed to reintroduce the series in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston portraying the Ninth Doctor. Eccleston wasn’t the initial choice for this role; actors such as Hugh Grant and Martin Clunes were also considered. Interestingly, “Doctor Who” producer Jane Tranter advocated for a female actor to take on the role, even proposing Dame Judi Dench, but unfortunately, this idea didn’t come to fruition. Dench would have undeniably added significant stardom to the series “Doctor Who”.

In the selection process for the Eleventh Doctor after David Tennant’s widely-loved tenure ended, renowned Welsh actress Catherine Zeta-Jones was among those considered, but Matt Smith eventually took on the role. Likewise, Phoebe Waller-Bridge from Fleabag and iconic actress Tilda Swinton were potential choices for the Thirteenth Doctor, a part that eventually went to Jodie Whittaker. It appears that there were several instances where a female Doctor could have appeared on our screens prior to 2017, but Doctor Who often missed out – a trend that no longer holds true.

Jodie Whittaker Isn’t the Only Female Doctor Now

Over the last three decades, at least seven other women had been considered for the part of the Doctor, but it was Jodie Whittaker who ultimately played the first female incarnation of the Time Lord. However, she isn’t the only one now, as a new female Doctor emerged during her tenure on the series. In 2020’s “Fugitive of the Judoon,” Jo Martin appeared as Ruth Clayton, who turned out to be the enigmatic Fugitive Doctor in disguise as a human. This marked the beginning of the Timeless Child storyline, as Martin’s Doctor was an incarnation that predates William Hartnell’s debut as the First Doctor in 1963.

The concept of a female Doctor is gaining momentum following Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor transforming into Billie Piper at the end of “The Reality War” in 2025. Billie Piper played Rose Tyler, companion to the Ninth and Tenth Doctors from 2005 to 2006, with brief appearances in 2008 and 2010. Interestingly, Billie Piper was also a contender for the role of the Eleventh Doctor alongside Zeta-Jones, and it now appears that this possibility has become a reality. The show hasn’t yet revealed details about Piper’s unexpected comeback, as no future seasons have been announced yet.

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2025-07-14 01:41