Doctor Who’s Jodie Whittaker turns into James Bond in new series’ thrilling opener
SHE’S turned the Time Lord into a woman, now Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker is giving her character a James Bond twist. The latest ten-part series of the BBC1 sci-fi kicks off on New Year’s Day with Spyfall — a play on the Daniel Craig epic Skyfall. The makers say it will essentially be a […]
SHE’S turned the Time Lord into a woman, now Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker is giving her character a James Bond twist.
The latest ten-part series of the BBC1 sci-fi kicks off on New Year’s Day with Spyfall — a play on the Daniel Craig epic Skyfall.
The makers say it will essentially be a 007 film aired over two nights.
Adapting Bond’s famous introduction she says: “The name’s Doctor . . . THE Doctor” and gets a selection of his famous gadgets after being enlisted by MI6 for a key mission.
And just like the superspy, she’ll be seen travelling the globe battling a power-hungry baddie, tech tycoon Daniel Barton (Sir Lenny Henry).
Show boss Chris Chibnall said the two-part opener is “a huge global spy thriller and action adventure movie.
“It’s got global locations, big stunts, big villains, monsters, laughs, car chases, the lot.”
In the first episode, Jodie decks herself and her companions out in 007’s trademark dinner jackets and takes to the roulette wheel at a party at the baddie’s luxury lair.
They then take to motorbikes to chase Burton as he tries to shoot them from the back of his car.
Spymaster M, played in the Bond films by Dame Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes, appears in Doctor Who as C. Played by Stephen Fry, C tells the time traveller that Earth is in danger, with intelligence officers being attacked by aliens.
But as this is Doctor Who not everything is quite as it seems . . .
It’s not the first time Jodie has appeared with Stephen. They were both in the 2007 St Trinian’s movie. She was school secretary Beverly while he played a TV quiz host.
Yet it didn’t stop her being “in awe” of him. Jodie said: “I really fangirled over him. I was beyond excited to work with him.”
Even Stephen is eclipsed by The Doctor, Jodie.
Lenny cuts to chase
BOND movies are always big on chase scenes – but the Doctor Who version went one better, with The Chase behind the scenes.
Bradley Walsh, who hosts ITV game show The Chase, plays the doctor’s companion Graham O’Brien.
And as Sir Lenny Henry is a big fan of the quiz show, the cast did their own version of it between takes.
Sir Lenny said: “You don’t know how important The Chase is to me. I watch it every single day.
“We got to re-enact it, all of us. I remember a runner came in and we were doing the whole thing.
It was really weird because it was the wrong show.
“Bradley was brilliant. He even made a video for my phone of him doing the beginning bit of The Chase.”
Just one of the perks of being Sir Lenny.
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BRADLEY Walsh loves entertaining the guest stars on Doctor Who’s – but Jodie revealed they aren’t all enthralled by him. She said: “The best thing is when someone DOESN’T find him funny. That is ace – and it happens a lot.”
Foe fun in store for fans
EXPECT to see the Time Lord crossing paths with some familiar foes in the upcoming season.
Show boss Chris Chibnall had banned old monsters in the previous series as he wanted viewers to get to know leading lady Jodie, and her three new companions.
But now he’s keen to reintroduce some old baddies.
Chris said: “It was really about introducing the Thirteenth Doctor, and her new friends and getting people to fall in love with those characters.
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“Phase two of the plan, which is this series, is taking the audience that have joined with Jodie and taking those who have been on that journey with Doctor Who for a number of years, and going deeper into the wonders of the Doctor Who universe.
“We knew we wanted to bring back old monsters this year.”
We know that includes the Rhino-headed space police, the Judoon, and the Cybermen. Fans are keen to see what other enemies will reappear. . .
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THE second instalment of Spyfall will be shown on January 5 with all subsequent episodes airing every Sunday night. But this won’t be the only two-part adventure as there’s another to come later in the series.THE second instalment of Spyfall will be shown on January 5 with all subsequent episodes airing every Sunday night. But this won’t be the only two-part adventure as there’s another to come later in the series.