It won't be long now before Whovians witness history being made as Jodie Whittaker takes over the role of everyone's favorite Time Lord for the eleventh season of the BBC's long-running sci-fi television series, DOCTOR WHO. Earlier today, BBC America announced that the premiere episode of Whittaker's first season will be broadcast at 1:45pm ET, Oct. 7, to coincide with the program's UK premiere. Additionally, attendees of this year's New York Comic Con will also be treated to a screening of the premiere, following a panel set to host Whittaker, showrunner Chris Chibnall, and executive producer Matt Strevens at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater. If that premiere window is a bit too wibbly-wobbly for you, BBC will air an encore presentation of the history-changing episode at 8pm ET. Once the first episode becomes a fixed point in our timelines, DOCTOR WHO will share new episodes of the sci-fi adventure series on Sundays at 8 pm ET.
“We are thrilled to put together a remarkable moment around the world — for fans and new viewers alike — to celebrate this new era of Doctor Who with Jodie Whittaker,” said Sarah Barnett, President of BBC America, in a statement. “Jodie is breaking the mold for pop culture heroes everywhere, and Chris has created an inclusive series for all fans of great television.”
DOCTOR WHO will kick off Whittaker's turn as the tenacious Time Lord with an episode titled "The Woman Who Fell to Earth," which takes place in South Yorkshire city, and co-stars Ryan Sinclair (Tosin Cole), Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill) and Graham O’Brien (Bradley Wash). The episode will center on the Doctor hoping to regain her memory, after her latest and greatest transformation has left her searching for answers to her new identity. Although Whittaker appeared in a previous episode, when former Doctor Peter Capaldi regenerated into Whittaker's trench-coated form, "The Woman Who Fell to Earth" is considered to be her proper introduction.
As a long-time DOCTOR WHO fan, I am so ready for this. Whittaker strikes me as a winning choice for the role of Doctor Who, and I can't wait to see what she brings to the table.
DOCTOR WHO will make series history beginning at 1:45pm ET, Oct. 7th. Geronimo!