About time for a Time Lady

Congratulations to Jodie Whittaker, of TV crime drama Broadchurch, on becoming the 13th incarnation of the Doctor – the first woman to land the BBC show’s central role.

The decision to cast a woman in the role recently vacated by Peter Capaldi has divided fans. Some were quick to dub it as “political correctness gone mad”. But most reaction has been overwhelmingly favourable, with one fan excited at the prospect of “a generation of little girls running around with sonic screwdrivers”.

Aficionados of the popular TV series pointed out that the Doctor’s spaceship, the Tardis, is actually female (as was revealed in an episode with 11th Doctor Matt Smith) and The Corsair (a fellow Time Lord) had male and female incarnations. And of course The Master has become The Mistress, commonly known as Missy.

Is this all too much for Planet Alpha Male? It may prove but a small step towards a gender fluid Doctor Who – or, given the onward march of robotics, an android.

With that thought, let’s enjoy Jodie Whittaker, the 13th Doctor, while we can.