When is the new Doctor Who series 11 on BBC? What you need to know as Jodie Whittaker's Time Lord era begins

It all begins this weekend
Natasha Sporn5 October 2018

Doctor Who series 11 is almost here, with a brand new titular lead, an unfamiliar timeslot and a different boss.

Actress Jodie Whittaker is the Thirteenth Doctor for the upcoming run of episodes, kicking off this weekend as per the vision of new showrunner Chris Chibnall.

And, for the first time in its history, Doctor Who is now a Sunday night fixture in an early evening slot right before the Strictly Come Dancing results show.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new series of Doctor Who…

Ready to go: Doctor Who returns to screens on Sunday 7 October
BBC / BBC Studios

What can we expect from series 11?

Actor Peter Capaldi bowed out of the popular sci-fi series on Christmas Day 2017 with the Doctor regenerating towards the end of the special, for the first time as a female.

Whittaker’s role as the iconic time-traveller marks a new era for the show and has already been very well received in trailers and official cast shots, leaving fans counting the minutes until the series begins.

This year, Doctor Who fans will mourn the loss of Daleks who have been put out to pasture for the 10-episode run but will see a new sonic screwdriver in play, already teased in trailers and at Comic Con.

Is there a trailer?

Whittaker says: “I’m The Doctor. When people need help I never refuse,” before Ryan tells somebody that “she’s in charge”.

Doctor Who Premiere

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A previous teaser trailer, shown earlier this year at San Diego Comic Con, a voiceover from Whittaker said: "All of this is new to me. New faces. New worlds. New times. So if I ask really, really nicely, would you be my new best friends?” before adding “this is going to be fun”.

What else do we know?

She joins Skins writer Ed Hime and Murdered By My Father writer Vinay Patel on the team, together with Pete McTighe and Joy Wilkinson.

The opening episode of the series will be directed by Jamie Childs, who directed Whittaker’s reveal as the Thirteenth Doctor when the actress assumed the role from Peter Capaldi.

Jennifer Perrott, Sallie Aprahamian and Mark Tonderai will also join the directing staff for this series.

When does it start?

The new series of Doctor Who kicks off with an hour-long special on Sunday 7 October at 6.45pm on BBC One.

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