Series 11 (Doctor Who)

Series 11 of Doctor Who will premiere Sunday, 7 October 2018 at 6.45pm, helmed by new showrunner Chris Chibnall. It will also star Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor, the first woman to take the role, following Peter Capaldi's regeneration in series 10. Chibnall revealed, "I always knew I wanted the 13th Doctor to be a woman, and we're thrilled to have secured our number one choice." Prior to Jodie's reveal, bets on who would be the next Doctor were hype, with names like Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Kris Marshall among fan favourites.

Whittaker, herself, stated, "I'm beyond excited to begin this epic journey … It's more than an honour to play the Doctor [...] It feels completely overwhelming, as a feminist, as a woman, as an actor, as a human, as someone who wants to continually push themselves and challenge themselves, and not be boxed in by what you're told you can and can't be."

Peter Capaldi, Whittaker's predecessor, has full confidence that "she's going to be a fantastic Doctor". "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." Capaldi had previously expressed that he wants the next actor to take the role to finally be a woman.

In an interview with Doctor Who Magazine, Whittaker stated that the new incarnation will not fundamentally change the character of the Doctor, saying: "It's a brand new body, and the body happens to be female."

In an interview with Rolling Stone on 5 September 2017, Whittaker said that: "As a young girl, I did not think that 'Time Lord' would ever be on my CV." She continued: "I’m playing an alien and gender is not a part of that. A moment like this of being the first woman cast as something, it makes you really think about your sex, whereas actually what you want to do is play a part where your gender is irrelevant. I am a woman, so I don't need to play that. And so for me, this was the most freeing experience because there's no right or wrong way to do it. The rules went out the window."

On 22 October 2017, it was revealed that Whittaker would be joined by Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole in the TARDIS, as well as Sharon D Clarke joining the show as a "returning role". The BBC said in a statement: "New head writer and executive producer Chris Chibnall, who made the decision to cast the first ever woman in the iconic role, is also shaking up who will travel with the Doctor in [the TARDIS], with a team of new characters", at the same time also confirming that the new series will run through 10 weeks, with 50 minutes each episode and kicking off with a feature-length opener.

Series 11 will also mark the end of the Milk VFX team's run on Doctor Who for visual effects. Following Twice Upon a Time, their duties are being handed over to Double Negative, whose previous work can be found on Blade Runner 2049, Interstellar, Inception, and more. On the 20 July, the company themselves, rebranded as DNEG, announced that they were taking over VFX duties.

A teaser was released on 21 February 2018. The new logo was designed by the LittleHawk agency following Chris Chibnall and Matt Strevens' directions, while the music and sound effects were the work of Matthew Herbert.

In early 2018, Murray Gold announced his departure from Doctor Who at the Gallifrey One convention, confirming that the 2017 Christmas Special, Twice Upon a Time, was his last episode. On 26 June it was announced that The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, led by Segun Akinola, would be composing the music for the new era, including a fresh new take on the legendary theme tune, which Akinola said he was "thrilled" about.

On 13 July, the BBC released a 12-second soundless teaser showing off the new insignia cut into rock, followed by a black screen which reads, "The Universe is Calling".

On 15 July, the BBC released a new teaser during the half-time of the football World Cup, which showed a brief introduction of the new companions, Ryan, Yasmin and Graham, and lastly the Doctor herself. The music of the trailer was composed by Jamie Salisbury.

On 19 July, the official trailer for series 11 was revealed in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con, along with the new sonic screwdriver.

During an interview at the Comic-Con on 19 July, Chibnall stated that series 11 would be all standalone episodes.

Chibnall further confirmed that for the first time in New Who, the Daleks won't return for the entire series.

Sharmill Films has announced a cinema event for series 11 that will see The Woman Who Fell to Earth shown in select cinemas in Australia and New Zealand. BTS stuff will also be shown. The AMC Theatres chain will be showing said episode on 10 October in the U.S., also including bonus content, it will be done in collaboration with Fathom Events.

Series 11 would set a record for the most CGI/VFX effects ever used in the franchise.

Matt Strevens told Empire magazine that Series 11 would be "a box of chocolates", giving viewers something new in each episode.

On the 7 September, a second teaser trailer was released showing the Doctor standing in the middle of a great hall, while a glass ceiling crashes down around her, with "Glorious" by Macklemore and Skylar Grey playing in the background.

After the UK broadcast, ABC iView will premiere the episodes. Following that, ABC Comedy will run the fan show Whovians, hosted by Rove McManus.

Whittaker and Chibnall said, during an interview with The Times, that this Doctor would have "no tears" (a far cry from recent incarnations) and would be more outward-looking compared to Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor, and that there would be no River Song, Missy, Paternoster Gang, Daleks or Cybermen.

In a video recorded by the BBC America, Jodie teased huge character arcs for the Doctor and her companions.

Jodie Whittaker further told Times Magazine that there will be no romance between the TARDIS crew.

A press launch screening of The Woman Who Fell to Earth has been announced as happening on 24 September in Sheffield. Fans would be able to attend the Red Carpet and meet the cast up close, but the actual screening is invite-only. The press launch screening would happen in the Light Cinema.

In an interview, Chibnall told that the new series will have something for everyone, hoping that while bringing in new viewers the long-term fans can expect everything they love about the show, saying "The show has a history of renewal, while also staying faithful to what it is." Whittaker further told that this would be a very inclusive series, saying "Doctor Who is for everyone and anyone…".

Chris Chibnall has revealed in Doctor Who Magazine that we won't see the new title sequence "in situ" until episode 2, saying that "Episode one starts a little differently."

Speaking to Digital Spy, Chibnall and Jodie revealed that the new series will not be focused on the Doctor, saying it will have "an ensemble feel".

Jodie Whittaker has revealed that this series will "go back to basics", being as simplistic and easily understandable as possible, given recent series' decline in viewing numbers and criticisms for being too convoluted.

On the 20 September, a second trailer for the series was released, giving a better look at some of the locations and revealing a few of the new enemies. The music playing is Glorious.

On the 22 September Chibnall told to Radio Times that he was fed up with people thinking he was being coy about the Daleks returning, saying: "I don’t know how many times I need to say it. There are no old monsters this series".

Speaking exclusively to The Big Issue, Whittaker said she hoped her role as the Doctor would help people to start seeing women as more than just a genre.

Speaking to Doctor Who Magazine, Jodie revealed that her Doctor will be "high energy" and that "…every episode requires a different side to her".

The opening episode, The Woman Who Fell to Earth would be screened at New York Comic Con in the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden at 1.45pm simultaniously to its premiere on BBC America. The screening would be followed by a Q&A panel with Jodie, Chibnall and Matt Strevens.

Composer Segun Akinola has revealed that his version of the new title sequence will feature original recordings of the very first sequence from 1963. Excluding the reuse of that intro for the 50th Anniversary special The Day of the Doctor in 2013, this marks the first time any bit of the original track from 1963 has been used

Cast

 * The Doctor - Jodie Whittaker
 * Graham O'Brien - Bradley Walsh
 * Yasmin Khan - Mandip Gill
 * Ryan Sinclair - Tosin Cole

Recurring

 * Grace O'Brien - Sharon D Clarke

Guest

 * Sonia - Asha Kingsley
 * Tim Shaw - Samuel Oatley
 * Karl - Johnny Dixon
 * Rahul - Amir Shah
 * Janey - Janine Mellor
 * Ramesh Sunder - Asif Khan
 * Andy - James Thackeray
 * Dean - Philip Abiodun
 * Dennis - Stephen MacKenna
 * Gabriel - Everal A Walsh
 * Raymond Parkes - David Rubin
 * Fred Gray - Aki Omoshaybi
 * TBA - Art Malik
 * TBA - Susan Lynch
 * TBA - Ray Sesay
 * Mr Steele - Richard Lothian
 * Mud Witch - Marina Stoimenova
 * King James I - Alan Cumming
 * TBA - Lee Mack
 * TBA - Shaun Dooley
 * Trine - Lisa Stokke

Producers
Chris Chibnall and Matt Strevens will co-executive produce. They were later joined by Sam Hoyle. Nikki Wilson will return as a producer, now joined by Alex Mercer.

Filming
Jodie Whittaker used the codename "The Clooney", a reference to George Clooney, when discussing her role.

On the 3 August 2018, it was announced that filming of Series 11 had officially wrapped.

Directing
Jamie Childs directed the trailer that revealed Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor. He will also be directing the opening block for this series consisting of episodes 1 and 7, as well as episodes 9 and 10. Sallie Aprahamian will direct the third filming block consisting of episode 4 and 6. Mark Tonderai will direct episodes 2 and 3. Jennifer Perrott will direct episodes 5 and 8. Wayne Yip will go to direct the Christmas Special.

Writing
Alongside Chris Chibnall, a variety of new names have been confirmed to pen the series. These are Malorie Blackman, who previously wrote an official Seventh Doctor tie-in novella, Ed Hime, Vinay Patel, Pete McTighe and Joy Wilkinson. Chibnall is writing episode 1 and 2.

When interviewed for the latest issue of SFX Magazine, Chibnall revealed that the writers had no idea that they were writing stories for a female Doctor, saying "a lot of drafts of scripts have got 'he' in".

Acting
At the premiere of The Woman Who Fell to Earth in Sheffield on the 24 September, Jodie revealed that for episode 1 only, she did all of her own stunts. Tosin Cole additionally added that he acted being bad at riding a bike. For the remainder of the series, Whittaker's stunt woman Belinda took over.

At the same event, Bradley Walsh revealed that he's wearing a wig for the entire series, due to his character's requirement to look older, and him not being that old, and because he's hosting The Chase too.

Aliens and enemies

 * "Electricity creature"
 * "Laser-gun men"
 * Ribbons
 * "Giant spider creature"

Series Mysteries

 * Epzo
 * A life-changing bike ride
 * Robertson
 * The Ux
 * Umbreen
 * Rosa
 * Desolation
 * Kandoka's moon

Rumours

 * Anton Lesser may have been cast in series 11.
 * Series 11 could be released all in one go on BBC iPlayer.
 * Chris Chibnall will be bringing the show back to its original intention of being an educational show. Three episodes will be set in past, three episodes will be set in future and the rest will be set in present day.
 * One episode may focus around the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycotts.
 * Episode 1 will feature a cat.
 * The cat appearing in series 11 will be called Percy.

DVD / Blu-ray
In the summer of 2018 — before and during the San Diego Comic-Con press junket — logged-in US Amazon Prime customers were given at least two release dates for both the DVD and Blu-ray versions of The Complete Eleventh Series. On at least 27 June, the US release date was said to be 27 August. By at least 20 July, that date was said to be 18 September.

Novels

 * The Good Doctor
 * Molten Heart
 * Combat Magicks

Audiobooks

 * to be added