A BBC news article about Jodie Whittaker’s upcoming final episode of Doctor Who has hinted that the next actor to take on the iconic sci-fi role could be revealed sooner than expected. It was announced last year that both Whittaker and current Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall would be exiting the series after three specials airing in 2022 to mark the BBC’s centenary. The second of these specials, “Legend of the Sea Devils,” aired on Easter Sunday. It saw the Thirteenth Doctor anxious about her time coming to an end, as was cryptically hinted at by Time itself at the end of Doctor Who: Flux.
“Legend of the Sea Devils” ended with a teaser trailer for Whittaker’s final episode, which is expected to air this October. The trailer gives a glimpse at the return of two of the Doctor’s most formidable enemies, the Daleks and the Cybermen, now united under the leadership of The Master (Sacha Dhawan). It also reveals that Classic Who companions Ace (Sophie Aldred) and Teagan (Janet Fielding) will be returning to the series to give Whittaker a special send-off.
An article from the BBC that gives an exclusive first look at the upcoming Doctor Who Centenary Special has also hinted that the highly anticipated casting announcement for the Fourteenth Doctor is on the horizon. Though the article doesn’t reveal who’s in the running for the role or exactly when the news will break, it states that Whittaker’s replacement as the Doctor “is expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.”
This indicates that the casting choice for the next Doctor has finally been made - or at least, the casting process is in its final stages - and will definitely be revealed in advance of Thirteen’s regeneration scene when it happens in October. Russell T. Davies, who was the original instigator of Doctor Who’s revival and its showrunner from 2005 to 2009, will be taking up the reins again after Whittaker regenerates. His first episode back will be the eagerly awaited 60th Anniversary Special in November 2023. Davies previously revealed that auditions for the Fourteenth Doctor had started back in December; the decision of who to cast is now more monumental than ever as the future of Doctor Who hangs in the balance.
Revealing the next Doctor is always a life-changing moment for that particular actor as fans start to speculate on what their take on the role will be like. This BBC article implies that it will only be weeks, not months before fans learn who the new Doctor will be, thankfully giving both the chosen actor and the Doctor Who fandom plenty of time to prepare before the Centenary Special airs. Online speculation about the Fourteenth Doctor's casting will likely reach a fever pitch over the next few weeks as this announcement nears. With the new Doctor Who trailer promising an action-packed finale for the Chibnall era, all fans can do now is slowly build up the hype.
Source: BBC