Someone needs to update Wikipedia…

Because Doctor Who has been described there as: “An eccentric yet compassionate extraterrestrial Time Lord zips through time and space to solve problems and battle injustice across the universe, traveling via the TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimensions in Space), which is his old and occasionally unreliable spaceship that resembles a blue police phone box (but changes its appearance depending on its surroundings) and is much, much larger inside than outside.”

However, the 13th Doctor will not be a he: as Jodie Whittaker becomes the first-ever female incarnation of the character. The 35-year-old Broadchurch star was revealed in a trailer broadcast at the end of the Wimbledon men’s singles final.

“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,” the Huddersfield-born actor said, telling fans not to be “scared” by her gender.

“Because this is a really exciting time, and Doctor Who represents everything that’s exciting about change,” she said, adding, “the fans have lived through so many changes, and this is only a new, different one, not a fearful one.”

“I’m beyond excited to begin this epic journey – with Chris [Chibnall, Broadchurch creator and Doctor Who showrunner] and with every Whovian on this planet. It’s more than an honour to play the Doctor. It means remembering everyone I used to be, while stepping forward to embrace everything the Doctor stands for: hope. I can’t wait.”

Whittaker said she had used the codename “Clooney” when discussing the part with her husband and agent – as actor George is “an iconic guy”.

She will make her debut on the sci-fi show in the forthcoming Christmas special, when she succeeds Peter Capaldi, who took over the role in 2013.

Whitaker was the hot favourite at 5/4 in the final days before the announcement, ahead of Death In Paradise‘s Kris Marshall, Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Plebs‘ Tom Rosenthal, Supergirl‘s David Harewood, Grantchester‘s James Norton, Chewing Gum‘s Michaela Coel and Tilda Swinton