Brace yourself for the fashionable new Doctor Who
First female Time Lord borrows from her male predecessors for her quirky, colourful outfit
AS THE first female Doctor Who, she has broken the mould and will be carving her own distinct path.
But Jodie Whittaker’s signature look for the new series appears to give a subtle nod to many of her male predecessors.
In the first official photograph of Whittaker as the 13th Time Lord, she appears to reference previous incarnations of the much-loved Doctor.
Whittaker’s colourful outfit is markedly different to the sober navy and black worn by Peter Capaldi.
Typically eccentric, it features cropped teal culottes with yellow braces, a striped jumper and long trench coat with a rainbow trim.
She will also be donning brown boots, blue and turquoise striped socks and some unusual earrings, at the top and bottom of her left ear.
Fans noted that she is not the first Doctor to wear braces, following in the footsteps of the 11th Doctor, Matt Smith.
The braces and baggy trousers were deemed a potential tribute to Patrick Troughton, and, to a lesser degree, Sylvester Mccoy.
The stripes on the jumper were considered a nod to the striped scarf worn by Tom Baker’s Doctor, while David Tennant wore an oversized coat.
The boots were deemed a possible reference to Christopher Eccleston, Colin Baker and Smith’s Doctors, and potentially, to Jon Pertwee.
Steve Whiting, a Doctor Who fan, said: “It’s very different to what we’ve seen before and has great elements from previous Doctors.”
Whittaker, who starred in Broadchurch, takes over from Peter Capaldi and will make her debut on screen when the Doctor regenerates in the Christmas special on BBC One. The new series will air next autumn.
When she was announced as the next Time Lord, the actress urged fans not be “scared” of her gender.
Asked how it felt to be the first female Doctor, she said: “It feels completely overwhelming, as a feminist, as a woman, as an actor, as a human, as someone who wants to continually push themselves and challenge themselves, and not be boxed in by what you’re told you can and can’t be. It feels incredible.
“I want to tell the fans not to be scared by my gender. Because this is a really exciting time, and Doctor Who represents everything that’s exciting about change. The fans have lived through so many changes, and this is only a new, different one, not a fearful one.”
In a trailer that was released at the time, Whittaker was seen in a dark hood and long grey coat – but said that would not form part of her official Doctor Who outfit.
‘It’s very different to what we’ve seen before and has great elements from previous Doctors’
Whittaker, 35, has been welcomed by several former Time Lords. “She’s a brilliant actress, she’s a great person, and I think she’s going to be a rocket,” said Matt Smith.
Christopher Eccleston said that “the BBC have gone as far as they can with skinny white men, I think,” while Colin Baker tweeted: “As a father of daughters – result!”
Peter Capaldi praised his successor, saying: “Anyone who has seen Jodie Whittaker’s work will know that she is a wonderful actress of great individuality and charm.
“She has, above all, the huge heart to play this most special part. She’s going to be a fantastic Doctor.”
Only Peter Davison, the fifth Doctor, sounded a negative note when he lamented “the loss of a role model for boys”, a comment that sparked a backlash on social media.
Whittaker will have three companions in the new series, played by Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole and Mandip Gill.