Jodie: Other Doctors can’t cure debut jitters
Whittaker NEW Doctor Who Jodie Whittaker has said nothing can prepare her for the reaction to taking over the role on Christmas Day – even advice from former Time Lords.
Outgoing star Peter Capaldi, 59, and predecessors David Tennant, 46, and Matt Smith, 35, rang the Broadchurch actress to congratulate her on landing the part. But Jodie, 35, said: “There is no advice you can give because no person plays this part the same.
“I have spoken to a few. The overwhelming sense is, ‘This is such an exciting journey you are about to go on, and it is to be enjoyed’.”
Jodie, the first female Doctor, Paul and Andre
The telly veteran and ballet dancer Andre Portasio have been together for 11 years, but only tied the knot in August.
Although they still live in separate houses, they will celebrate the festivities tomorrow with his daughter Sharon and her two children at Paul’s house.
The Lily Savage star, 62, said: “This is our first Christmas married. I’m looking forward to it. Getting married has been good. So much has happened this year.
“Normally I can take or leave Christmas but this year, because the grandkids are coming, it will be great.
“I put up all the lights on the tree and I put all the decorations on and the dogs go, ‘oh fabulous, you’ve brought an indoor toilet in’. Eddie the chihuahua-cross came straight in and peed up the tree.”
He added: “On Christmas Day I will get up and see the animals – the sheep, the owls, the dogs. The dogs will get a bit of turkey. They are always there waiting for the food to come out.
“I do all the cooking. I’m like the cook in Alice in Wonderland. I’m like a maniac, chucking pepper everywhere. We all have a drink. It’s lots of fun.” Paul revealed he was seeing Andre, 37, in his 2012 biography Still Standing. He wrote: “Our relationship just crept up on us. It took us by surprise when we were least expecting it.” Guests at their London wedding included actor Ian Mckellen, comedian Julian Clary and former Eastender – now Lord – Michael Cashman. And Paul’s work with animals around the world continues. Paul O’grady: For the Love of Dogs at Christmas will go out on Christmas Day. Viewers will see Paul take dogs from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home to visit young patients at Great Ormond Street Hospital. He said to get the tissues ready: “The show is one of these that will make people cry happy. We took the dogs into the children’s hospital, the kids are the business, they are so brave, the little kids. It will break your heart.” He also tries to find homes for assorted strays – and wants to advise people not to buy pets as gifts this year. He said: “The worst time of the year to buy an animal is at Christmas – people, lights, wires... it’s very confusing for the animals. “I always say never buy a cat or dog or any animal at Christmas. “You get a lot of puppies coming into Battersea after Christmas.” halina.watts@trinitymirror.com revealed she had to earn the part, despite already having worked with new show boss Chris Chibnall, 47, on Broadchurch.
She added: “It was certainly not handed to me on a plate. They needed to make sure I was right.”
Jodie makes her debut in BBC1’S Doctor Who special on Christmas Day at 5.30pm. Meanwhile,
SURPRISE
Capaldi revealed he got psyched up for his finale as the Time Lord by listening to rock music.
He said: “I have always used music as an actor to get myself in a certain state. There is a lot of pieces of music I use for the Doctor. Sometimes I play Human by The Killers. There is something otherworldly about that.”