Jodie Whittaker reportedly to leave Doctor Who

Jodie Whittaker will leave Doctor Who at the end of the next series, according to reports.

The 38-year-old became the first woman to take on the role when she replaced Peter Capaldi in 2017. Her departure will once again open up the role of the Doctor and prompt questions about a successor.

My Family and Death In Paradise star Kris Marshall has been linked with the role of the Doctor for a number of years and is favourite to replace her, according to Coral.

The bookmaker is also offering odds on Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Homeland actor David Harewood and Friday Night Dinner's Tom Rosenthal as potential successors.

Despite the shake-up, showrunner Chris Chibnall is reportedly set to stay with the production.

Whittaker’s co-stars Bradley Walsh and Tosin Cole departed the long-running BBC One sci-fi drama at the end of the New Year special, Revolution Of The Daleks.

Comedian John Bishop has been announced as a new character on the show.

He will play Dan, who “becomes embroiled in the Doctor's adventures” and will star alongside Whittaker and Mandip Gill, who returns as Yaz.

Filming on the current series of Doctor Who is due to finish this summer and it will air in autumn. The BBC have said it will be shorter, with only eight episodes due to Covid-19 restrictions affecting production.

Other Doctors to leave after three runs include William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Peter Davison and Sylvester McCoy.

A spokeswoman for the BBC said: “We won’t be commenting on any speculation around Jodie’s future on the show.”