Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor Who will be back – but not until 2020

Doctor Who will be returning for another series – but Jodie Whittaker’s Tardis will not land again until 2020.

Series 11 came to an end on Sunday evening, with the Doctor answering distress calls from a battle-scarred planet.

But there will be no new series of the sci-fi show, which has notched up praise for Whittaker’s performance but also some complaints about “politically correct” storylines, in 2019.

Whittaker, and her trio of companions, Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gil and Tosin Cole, will instead reprise their roles on BBC One in 2020.

Doctor Who boss and head writer Chris Chibnall said work has already begun on the 12th series.

“We’re off again! Well we never actually stopped,” the Broadchurch creator said.

“As Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor and friends have been winning the hearts of families across the nation this autumn, we’ve been busy with a whole new set of action packed adventures for the 13th Doctor.

“We adore making this show and have been blown away by the response from audiences, so we can’t wait to bring more scares, more monsters and more Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole to BBC One. Brilliant!”

Though a new series will not hit screens until 2020, there will be a one-off special on New Year’s Day.

The official Twitter account of Doctor Who posted a 30-second preview clip which showed the Timelord talking about the discovery of the DNA “of the most dangerous creature in the universe”.

Doctor Who Official tweeted: “Resolution. New Year’s Day at 7pm on @BBCOne. #DoctorWho”

The first episode of the new series of the sci-fi show, starring Whittaker as the first female Doctor, drew the programme’s biggest launch viewing figures in 10 years.

Its stars recently hit back at suggestions that the programme has become too politically correct, with episodes covering the US Civil Rights movement and the 1947 partition of India.

Whittaker is the latest Doctor following the likes of Peter Capaldi, Matt Smith and David Tennant.

Before Chibnall signed up, the show had been criticised in recent years for featuring storylines which were too convoluted.

BBC director of content Charlotte Moore said: “We’re delighted that the Doctor and her friends will be returning to thrill audiences in 2020.

“I know Chris and the whole team are already working on a whole new set of exciting adventures. In the meantime we’ve got a very special episode on New Year’s Day for everyone to enjoy.”

Whittaker recently told The Hollywood Reporter: “I really can’t wait to step back in and get to work again…. I’m not quite ready to hand it over yet.”

Doctor Who will make it briefly to screens in 2019, with a New Year’s Day special airing instead of the usual Christmas Day episode.