Spoilers

British actor Jody Whittaker has made her first appearance in long running sci-fi series Doctor Who.

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Whittaker, who takes over the lead role in the series, made her first appearance in the final moments of the show’s Christmas special which aired on the ABC last night.

The actor, best known for starring in three seasons of crime drama Broadchurch, replaces Peter Capaldi as the time travelling alien. It’s the first time the part has been played by a woman.

The decision to cast a woman in the role for the first time has been welcomed by British Prime Minister Theresa May.

“I do like watching Doctor Who at Christmas and I think this is a great move forward for girl power that there is going to be female Doctor Who, and one day there should be a female James Bond,” the British Prime Minister said earlier this week.

Whittaker will next been seen in the show when it’s new series is launched later in 2018.

Watch the moment Peter Capaldi transforms into Jody Whittaker.

The many faces of The Doctor

he show first aired in 1963 and when original actor William Hartnell was unable to continue in the role a few years later the show’s writers came up with an ingenious way to extend the show’s longevity. The Doctor was revealed to have the ability to regenerate, replacing his body with a completely new physique and personality.

Over the show’s history many actors have taken on the iconic role. In 1966 Hartnell was replaced by Patrick Troughton, in 1970 Jon Pertwee stepped into the role, Tom Baker was the longest serving Doctor playing the part from 1974 through to 1981. He was replaced by Peter Davison who in turn relinquished the part to Colin Baker in 1984. Sylvester McCoy played the part for two years from 1987 with the show being taken off air in 1989.

In 1996 the program was revived via a one-off US produced tele-movie with McCoy appearing for just a few short scenes before regenerating into Paul McGann. A planned series failed to materialise and fans had to wait until 2005 for the BBC to revive the show.

Christopher Eccleston was the first actor to play the part in the current version of the show. He stepped down after just one season and David Tennant began a very popular run playing the part for five years.

Matt Smith played the eleventh version of the doctor, but during the show’s 50th anniversary celebrations it was revealed that audiences had been unaware of a previous Doctor, with John Hurt appearing as a long forgotten incarnation of the Time Lord.

The most recent actor to inhabit the role is Peter Capaldi, the Christmas special marked his 40th episode in the role. The Christmas special featured his doctor meeting the original doctor for a joint adventure.

The original actor William Hartnell passed away in 1975, and the role was reprised by Game of Thrones star David Bradley. Bradley has previously portrayed Hartnell in the TV movie An Adventure in Time and Space which dramatised the early days of the show’s production.

The Christmas special can be viewed on the ABC’s iView platform.

OIP Staff