Former Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall reflects on his tenure helming the show, revealing how he prepared for a backlash following Jodie Whittaker's casting as the Time Lord. After serving as a writer on both the series' revival and spin-off series Torchwood, Chibnall took on showrunner duties from Steven Moffat in 2017, running the series for three seasons and a selection of specials. Whittaker took on the role of the Thirteenth Doctor from season 11 to a special centenary special in 2022, becoming the first female incarnation of the Time Lord.
As Ncuti Gatwa is set to lead Doctor Who in season 14, former showrunner Chibnall opened up to BBC News about his experiences working on the series, including early backlash at the start of his era. The former showrunner firmly stated that he was proud of what he, Whittaker, and the cast and crew accomplished and that early discussions surrounding the pivotal move in her casting didn't faze him.
