The rumour mill has started rolling again, but this time, there seems some weight behind speculation that Jodie Whittaker will be leaving Doctor Who during 2021.

Whittaker has played the Thirteenth Doctor since 2017’s Twice Upon A Time, throughout Series 11 and 12, and will return for Series 13 alongside Mandip Gill as Yaz Khan and John Bishop, who plays new companion, Dan.

But The Mirror is now reporting that Jodie will leave Doctor Who at the end of this next run of episodes, so a Fourteenth Doctor will be waiting in the wings.

This is just speculation right now – except The Mirror normally gets these things right; seemingly, the tabloid newspaper has a good source at the BBC. The Mirror correctly predicted Peter Capaldi’s regeneration too. It’s interesting to see the Radio Times is reporting on this, as well…

The BBC has refused to comment on Whittaker’s future on the show.

It’s especially interesting because we’ve previously heard that she was fixed in with the show until showrunner, Chris Chibnall leaves. The current rumour doesn’t include Chibnall.

That’s not particularly unusual: previous showrunners, Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat, wrote for numerous Doctors. Nonetheless, many will find this a shock, given Whittaker and Chibnall are close friends who worked together on Broadchurch.

Speculation about the identity of the Fourteenth Doctor has begun, of course, and the list of names is extensive. Michael Sheen seems a popular choice, as is Chiwetel Ejiofor (unlikely, considering his involvement with the Marvel Cinematic Universe), Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Kris Marshall.

Of course, Chibnall might have already introduced the next incarnation: Jo Martin, introduced in Fugitive of the Judoon.

Filming for Doctor Who Series 13 is ongoing, and is expected to conclude in the summer, meaning it will probably air in Autumn or Winter.