Jodie Whittaker reprises her role as the Time Lord for a second series when Doctor Who returns today.
The Broadchurch star became the first woman to take on the role when she replaced Peter Capaldi in 2017.
Whittaker has said the conversation has shifted away from the fact she is the first female Doctor with the arrival of the second series, telling the PA news agency: “It was absolutely going to be a part of the dialogue of the lead-up to the first, but then it’s naturally transitioned into, ‘Right, OK, so what do we learn about these guys more in this season?
Saving the universe has never looked so good. #DoctorWho returns with Spyfall on New Year's Day! pic.twitter.com/mCbRFiPM0g
— Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) December 17, 2019
“‘What is in store for the Doctor, rather than how are you going to represent all women ever in this role?’”
The first episode of Doctor Who’s twelfth series will see the return of fan-favourite monsters, including the Judoon and Cybermen, while Stephen Fry and Sir Lenny Henry are among the guest stars.
Whittaker said she was particularly excited to work with Fry again after they first met when they worked together on 2007 comedy St Trinian’s.
She said: “My previous moment with him was half a scene in St Trinian’s, which I was like, ‘He’s probably not going to remember that’.
“I was a bit like, ‘I have to try and be cooler this time’. But I was absolutely in awe of him the entire time he was on set, and I loved it, and it was wonderful.
“But then we were really lucky because with Lenny we were shooting in South Africa and it was like a big holiday.”
The new series of Doctor Who will include the return of companions Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole and Mandip Gill.
Doctor Who: Spyfall airs on BBC One at 6.55pm.