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Jodie Whittaker's Final Doctor Speech Could Have Been Entirely Different

Jodie Whittaker's Final Doctor Speech Could Have Been Entirely Different
Image credit: Legion-Media

It's official: Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor has regenerated, and the actress is bowing out of the series, making way for Ncuti Gatwa's new time lord.

Stricken by a blast of sentient energy, the Doctor was fatally wounded. But, as we know it, the Doctor can't die, only regenerate into an all-new alter-ego. Whittaker's Doctor decided to bid adieu by "taking in one last sunrise" as she entered TARDIS and materialized on a clifftop.

Her final words were: "That's the only sad thing... I wanna know what happens next. Right then, Doctor whoever I'm about to be – tag, you're it!"

However, according to showrunner Chris Chibnall, the final little monologue was different in the script. On the set, the creative team decided to change it last minute.

"We changed [her final words] round in the edit, because seeing the performance and what Jodie had done… actually, I have to give credit to Becky Trotman, who's one of the two editors on this episode [...] Becky said, 'I just want to play you this scene with the two last lines flipped.' So it was originally, 'I want to know what happens next, I bet it's going to be brilliant.' – those were going to be the final words, and then Becky played me the version where she flipped the lines and I was like, 'Oh, that's loads better!'" Chibnall revealed to RadioTimes.

The showrunner also said that the final Thirteenth Doctor scene was being filmed with a crowd of people flocking in to pay the tribute. Chibnall said that Whittaker had to perform "in front of about 200 people in the studio" because "everybody came down to worship".

Whittaker is not the only one who departs Doctor Who, taking Chibnall with her. The duo bows out, making way for Ncuti Gatwa 's next time lord and the returning showrunner Russel T. Davies. The series is heading for its 60th anniversary and 14th season, with fans excited to see the iconic showrunner back in charge.

However, Whittaker has indicated that she will happily return for a guest appearance in the future. So after all, her Doctor's final words in the 13th season might have not necessary been her last ones.