Jodie Whittaker Teases Doctor Who Comeback And Says She’d Return In A Heartbeat

Doctor Who is in one of those weird limbo periods where everything feels fuzzy, but at least one thing is rock solid: Jodie Whittaker still absolutely loves being the Doctor.

Jodie popped back in the TARDIS, and yes, the coat still fits

Whittaker recently slipped back into Thirteen for a brief cameo tied to Ncuti Gatwa's regeneration and the end of the latest season. Her takeaway was peak Jodie: she was just happy the costume still fit. And the minute she landed in Cardiff, she felt like she was home, even though the production has moved to a different studio with a new TARDIS set.

She also has zero interest in playing coy about coming back down the line. Speaking to The Times, she said she would jump at the chance to return years from now if the story called for Thirteen again. Consider this your official open invitation to future showrunners.

'If someone said to me in 20 years, I have written an episode and the Thirteenth comes back, I just would not hesitate. It is absolute joy.'

In the near term, Whittaker is busy outside the Whoniverse too: she is set to star with Suranne Jones in an upcoming drama called 'Frauds'.

So what is actually happening with the show?

Short answer: still murky, but there are some clear signposts. Producer Jane Tranter recently said Disney - which co-produces the series with the BBC - does not have to make a call on more seasons until after a spin-off called 'The War Between the Land and the Sea' airs next year. Inside baseball alert: that is a pretty specific trigger for a renewal decision, and it is tied to a spin-off, not the mothership.

On the flip side, the BBC is not exactly sweating it. Chief Content Officer Kate Phillips told the crowd at the Edinburgh TV Festival that Doctor Who is 'going nowhere' and will stay on the BBC 'with or without Disney'. Translation: however the co-production shakes out, the BBC plans to keep the TARDIS keys.

• Disney will decide on further seasons after the spin-off 'The War Between the Land and the Sea' lands next year.
• The BBC says Doctor Who is going nowhere and will remain on the BBC whether Disney stays in or not.
• Jodie Whittaker is open to returning as Thirteen any time, even decades from now, and recently cameoed alongside Ncuti Gatwa's regeneration.

If you want a refresher ride while the future gets sorted, Doctor Who is streaming on BBC iPlayer.