The BBC today announced to the world that Jodie Whittaker will be the new Doctor Who. The identity of the new Doctor was revealed exclusively on BBC One and on social media around the world after the Men's Wimbledon Final on Sunday July 16. She will be the Thirteenth Time Lord and take over from Peter Capaldi, who leaves the global hit show at Christmas. New head writer and executive producer Chris Chibnall, who takes over from Steven Moffat on the next series, made the decision to cast the first ever woman in the iconic role. Here's what Jodie Whittaker had to say about taking the role, making her debut this Christmas.

"I'm beyond excited to begin this epic journey with Chris and with every Whovian on this planet. It's more than an honour to play the Doctor. It means remembering everyone I used to be, while stepping forward to embrace everything the Doctor stands for: hope. I can't wait."

We reported in January that Peter Capaldi was leaving Doctor Who after Season 10, which just wrapped up earlier this month. We also reported in May that actress Hayley Atwell turned down the Time Lord role, while it was also rumored that Spectre star Ben Whishaw was the favorite for the role, but now we know that Jodie Whittaker is in fact the new Time Lord. Here's what Chris Chibnall, New Head Writer and Executive Producer, had to say in his statement.

"After months of lists, conversations, auditions, recalls, and a lot of secret-keeping, we're excited to welcome Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor. I always knew I wanted the Thirteenth Doctor to be a woman and we're thrilled to have secured our number one choice. Her audition for The Doctor simply blew us all away. Jodie is an in-demand, funny, inspiring, super-smart force of nature and will bring loads of wit, strength and warmth to the role. The Thirteenth Doctor is on her way."

Jodie Whittaker graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2005 with a gold medal in Acting. Since then she has worked continually in Film, Television and Theatre. Her TV credits include the critically acclaimed ITV drama Broadchurch (for which she was nominated for Best Actress for the RTS Television Awards), Emmy award-winning Black Mirror, Sky 1's The Smoke, BBC's Cranford, in which she starred opposite Judi Dench and Imelda Staunton, The Night Watch (BBC), The Accused (BBC), and Tess of the D'Urbervilles (BBC). Peter Capaldi revealed that he was leaving Doctor Who because it was kind of like a "television factory," and he didn't think he could continue to do his best work with a 12-episode season. Here's what the current Doctor, Peter Capaldi, had to say in his statement.

"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."

Jodie made her professional theatrical debut at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in The Storm. Other theatre credits include playing the title role in Antigone at the Royal National Theatre, Bash at the Trafalgar Studios, Awake And Sing and Enemies at the Almeida, both directed by the then Artistic Director Michael Attenborough. Here's what Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of BBC Content, had to say in her statement.

"Making history is what Doctor Who is all about and Chris Chibnall's bold new take on the next Time Lord is exactly that. The nation is going to fall in love with Jodie Whittaker, and have lots of fun too!"

Jodie has recently finished shooting Journeyman, written and directed by Paddy Considine, as is the lead in the new BBC drama series Trust Me. Her other film credits include Venus, (which earned her nominations for Best Newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards; Best British Newcomer at the Critics' Circle Awards and Best Actress In A Motion Picture at the Satellite Awards); Attack The Block, One Day, Black Sea, Good Vibrations, St.Trinian's, Get Santa and most recently Adult Life Skills, which she Executive Produced as well as starred in which received a number of BIFA nominations. Doctor Who Season 11 is said to feature an entirely new cast, so it seems there could be more casting announcements on the horizon. Take a look at the trailer that debuted on BBC, which announced the new Doctor Who to the world.

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