{"id":33594,"date":"2021-10-25T02:14:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-25T01:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/?p=33594"},"modified":"2021-10-24T12:15:35","modified_gmt":"2021-10-24T11:15:35","slug":"jodie-whittaker-self-discovery-is-the-biggest-journey-the-doctor-goes-on-this-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/2021\/10\/25\/jodie-whittaker-self-discovery-is-the-biggest-journey-the-doctor-goes-on-this-series\/","title":{"rendered":"Jodie Whittaker: “Self-Discovery Is the Biggest Journey the Doctor Goes on This Series”"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

With Jodie Whittaker’s final full series as the Thirteenth Doctor just around the corner, the actor sat down to talk about the challenges of filming under Covid restrictions, the serialised Flux<\/em>, and what we can expect from Series 13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And it looks like more secrets of the Doctor’s past are going to be revealed…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did it feel filming your last series, during COVID?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We started filming late because of COVID so starting was a tentative time because none of us had shot during the pandemic. So knowing it was my last I knew it would be very different because we weren\u2019t able to travel, we couldn\u2019t be tactile in that way we were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what was immediately reassuring is as soon as you got on set, no matter if the logistics or the face of the show seemed different because of masks and all of that, all of the heart and all the love was still there and it was still great fun. We were able to be safe as we could be and as caring as we could be and not lose the atmosphere on the set. It was such a pleasure to be around people, so I was delighted! It was emotional to start with because you hadn\u2019t seen anyone and everyone has gone through so much to get to the first day, and you want to make sure you\u2019re not the person to make a mistake as the domino effect can be so catastrophic on the set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, it was the longest time I hadn\u2019t seen Mandip!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you approach anything differently coming to a serialised story?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t think so. As an actor you\u2019re so used to things changing so the change between serialisation \u00a0and episode arcs doesn\u2019t change your approach in any way – I could not quote what happened in what episode as I can see the whole story in its entirety. I just know we all start on a journey, where we go and how it pans out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The thing that\u2019s most different is that it\u2019s been almost 12 months (of \u00a0filming) and it requires a different type of stamina than I\u2019ve ever had to find before. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you excited for how it will be for audiences to see the story portrayed that way?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Definitely. Obviously for Whovians (the story) has played out in many different ways over the years, \u00a0and I think it for us it was great to have had the experience of both. It was definitely the right decision for us to start Series 11, my first series, in a way that was a jumping off point for anyone\u00a0that hadn\u2019t watched it before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And this series certainly doesn\u2019t exclude people that haven\u2019t seen it but it gives reason to go back and rediscover, it also has those brilliant cliffhanger moments and that, as actors and for the characters, it gives lots of different layers you can bring to it. You don\u2019t want to play the endnote in the first episode because you know you\u2019ve got this journey to go with a \u00a0particular beat or particular emotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even with the serialisation, it\u2019s still very episodic and each episode has its world that is different from the rest. There may be characters you see again but you certainly feel like you are taken\u00a0through many different worlds and times like you would in our previous seasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Were there any special moments that stood out for you filming Series 13?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For us, getting to know John (Bishop) has been wonderful. He came in at one hundred and ten (percent) with his energy and enthusiasm. He\u2019s been so much fun to be around he\u2019s been a massive team player. For us, we were still grieving Brad (Walsh) and Tosin (Cole) and for him to come in and \u00a0not to fill anybody\u2019s shoes and be his own person\u2026we found a new dynamic which felt brilliant and it felt so comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think the way you meet Dan and that whole introduction; those are really fun \u00a0scenes. I think all the early scenes with him and Karvanista has been really fun to shoot. I\u2019ve been lucky to enough to work with new people but I\u2019ve been lucky enough to work with people I\u2019ve\u00a0worked with before. This is the third time I\u2019ve worked with Jacob, I\u2019ve worked with Annabel, we\u2019ve played sisters before, and this was so lovely just to spend time with her. Thaddea Graham, I\u2019ve never \u00a0worked with Thaddea and she blew me away from the read-through \u2013 just from Zoom I was like, \u201cThat girl is phenomenal.\u201d And that\u2019s the thing, it can be your first interaction with people or it can be an old friend stepping on set but what you always get at the end is that it\u2019s like you\u2019ve all known each other for years. Like I was in Kevin McNally\u2019s company for about 10 minutes and I felt like I\u2019d known him for 20 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve had to put certain safety precautions in place, but it hasn\u2019t in any way dampened that kind of camaraderie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other highlights are we\u2019ve so many ensemble scenes, we\u2019ve had some brilliant scenes with the likes of Craige Els, Craig Parkinson – we can feel so many people in a scene and it can feel really epic, it\u2019s been great.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you gotten used to being spotted everywhere by the fans, three series on?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m really lucky, as whenever I have a reaction it\u2019s always really joyous and everyone is really warm and welcoming. The fans are the show – there\u2019s no way a show can last this many years without loyalty and a fan base and you don\u2019t have the show without them. To have those interactions when you have them is wonderful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What journey does the Doctor have this series?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

From where we\u2019ve left her, I think self-discovery is the biggest journey the Doctor goes on this series. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you tell us about any stunts you have this series?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve done a lot of wires this year, particularly for certain scenes in episode one, it was mine and \u00a0Mandip\u2019s first few days (on set). We started at energy of a hundred and then after two days I was bruised and hurt and realised that this is why there are stunt doubles, as I am pathetic!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You do a lot of flips as if you\u2019re falling through space and have to spin yourself backwards in a rotation and make \u00a0sure you don\u2019t get tangled. It\u2019s all wonderful as you don\u2019t think at the time that you\u2019ll be able to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also do sword fighting in this, or maybe it is best described as avoiding being got by a sword – I \u00a0really loved that. Stunts wise there is lots of action but rather than jumping through cranes it feels \u00a0like a lot of falling through space!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are lots of exciting monsters this series — can you tell us about any that stand out for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The thing that\u2019s fun about working with monsters that have been in it before but are new for me is that it makes you feel like you are getting your moment of history\u2026 like Sontarans, for me it\u2019s my first (as the Doctor) so that was great.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The prosthetics are amazing \u2013 do you get used to working with actors that you can\u2019t recognise?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You forget that the make-up is on them after 10 minutes as you\u2019re so used to seeing them having a \u00a0cup of tea and talking to people.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should people tune into Series 13?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s bigger and better than ever, it\u2019s my final (full) series, there\u2019ll be questions asked, there\u2019ll be answers, there\u2019ll be exclamation marks, and huge exclamation marks, and I think that in itself will pique your interest and pique your curiosity. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How would you describe the series in three words?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A self-discovery rollercoaster!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flux: The Halloween Apocalypse<\/em>\u00a0airs on BBC One at 6:25pm on Sunday October 31st 2021.<\/strong> <\/p>\n

<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“It\u2019s bigger and better than ever.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33596,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_publicize_message":"Jodie Whittaker: \"Self-Discovery Is the Biggest Journey the Doctor Goes on This Series\" of #DoctorWho","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[205],"tags":[411,6542,5163,6639,2848,6166,3183,2654,1559,6643,2264,4010],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Flux-13th-Thirteenth-Jodie-Whittaker-Yaz-Mandip-Gill-Dan-John-Bishop-TARDIS.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":33659,"url":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/2021\/11\/09\/jodie-whittaker-doctor-who-is-a-wonderful-thing-to-treasure-forever\/","url_meta":{"origin":33594,"position":0},"title":"Jodie Whittaker: “Doctor Who Is a Wonderful Thing to Treasure Forever”","author":"Jonathan Appleton","date":"9 November 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"\"This job has been, and continues to be, just extraordinary. And the thing is, I know it doesn\u2019t end at the end anyway.\"","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Series-13th-Jodie-Whittaker-Yaz-Dan-John-Bishop-Mandip-Gill.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Series-13th-Jodie-Whittaker-Yaz-Dan-John-Bishop-Mandip-Gill.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Series-13th-Jodie-Whittaker-Yaz-Dan-John-Bishop-Mandip-Gill.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Series-13th-Jodie-Whittaker-Yaz-Dan-John-Bishop-Mandip-Gill.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":37857,"url":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/2023\/03\/15\/doctor-who-flux-was-almost-cancelled-entirely\/","url_meta":{"origin":33594,"position":1},"title":"Doctor Who Flux Was Almost Cancelled Entirely","author":"Jordan Shortman","date":"15 March 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Covid-19 pandemic nearly meant the Thirteenth Doctor era ended prematurely...","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Doctor-Who-Flux.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Doctor-Who-Flux.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Doctor-Who-Flux.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Doctor-Who-Flux.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29341,"url":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/2020\/09\/11\/doctor-who-series-13-begins-filming-in-the-next-few-weeks-but-will-transmission-be-delayed-until-2022\/","url_meta":{"origin":33594,"position":2},"title":"Doctor Who Series 13 Begins Filming “in the Next Few Weeks” But Will Transmission Be Delayed Until 2022?","author":"Philip Bates","date":"11 September 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\"We\u2019re still hoping for a 2021 airdate, but this may depend on other circumstances.\"","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/The-Timeless-Children-Jodie-Whittaker-13th-Thirteenth.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/The-Timeless-Children-Jodie-Whittaker-13th-Thirteenth.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/The-Timeless-Children-Jodie-Whittaker-13th-Thirteenth.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/The-Timeless-Children-Jodie-Whittaker-13th-Thirteenth.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14513,"url":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/2018\/02\/16\/jodie-whittaker-meets-fans-while-filming-in-sheffield\/","url_meta":{"origin":33594,"position":3},"title":"Jodie Whittaker Meets Fans While Filming In Sheffield","author":"Andrew Reynolds","date":"16 February 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The Thirteenth Doctor and the TARDIS crew have landed in Sheffield and, between filming scenes for series 11 in front of Park Hill Flats, Jodie Whittaker has been out and about meeting up with some local admirers. Very much continuing to the fine tradition of posing with fans and well\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/u97iqs64580\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":39804,"url":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/2024\/01\/31\/would-craig-parkinson-return-to-doctor-who-as-the-grand-serpent\/","url_meta":{"origin":33594,"position":4},"title":"Would Craig Parkinson Return to Doctor Who as the Grand Serpent?","author":"Jonathan Appleton","date":"31 January 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"He recalls his time filming Flux \"with so much love and fondness\".","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Craig-Parkinson-Flux-Once-Upon-Time.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Craig-Parkinson-Flux-Once-Upon-Time.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Craig-Parkinson-Flux-Once-Upon-Time.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Craig-Parkinson-Flux-Once-Upon-Time.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Craig-Parkinson-Flux-Once-Upon-Time.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23038,"url":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/2019\/10\/07\/jodie-whittaker-confirms-that-filming-on-doctor-who-series-12-is-nearly-finished\/","url_meta":{"origin":33594,"position":5},"title":"Jodie Whittaker Confirms that Filming on Doctor Who Series 12 is Nearly Finished","author":"Philip Bates","date":"7 October 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Jodie Whittaker has confirmed that they're in the final stages of filming Doctor Who Series 12, a shoot which has taken 9 months and is expected to consist of 10 episodes. Talking on the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show on Radio 2 on Friday 4th October 2019, Whittaker, who plays the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7lD76-8JQ","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33594"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33594"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33594\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33601,"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33594\/revisions\/33601"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33596"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedoctorwhocompanion.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}