David Tennant has spoken of his delight at the casting of Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor.
Appearing on US chat show The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Tennant explained that he couldn’t see any issue with the Doctor’s gender change because the Doctor has never been of any gender to begin with; placing no specific relevance or preference on gender.
Speaking about Whittaker, who Tennant worked with on incoming Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall’s hit series Broadchurch, he couldn’t hide his delight at his friend landing the part.
He said:
“She’s a mate of mine. A couple of days before it [the casting] was announced I get this phone call from her, and she’s in sort of a tunnel of excitement and panic.”
He added that her casting was ‘brilliant’ and that he can’t think of anyone better ‘to join the gang’.

Addressing the controversy from some sections of fandom surrounding her casting, Tennant added that he was similarly berated by fandom when he was cast as the Tenth Doctor, because he was ‘a weasel-y looking guy’.
He added:
“Whenever the Doctor changes, there’s a backlash.
“Sure, Jodie is from a different gender – but that will be irrelevant almost immediately when she takes the part.
“It’s about finding the right performer at the right time, and that’s Jodie without a doubt.”
Doctor Who will return on Christmas Day with Twice Upon a Time on BBC One.