When
。 Doctor Who 。returns on Oct. 7, Jodie Whittaker will make her debut as the eponymous Time Lord. It's the first time a woman will have that role, and -- as we now know -- that's entirely by design.。

"We knew in our gut it was about time, and it felt like the right decision, and the character is non-gender specific in any way, really," executive producer Matt Strevens told Digital Spy in a recent interview.。

SEE ALSO:2 'Doctor Who' actors hugged IRL and fans were like woah 。

"If ever there was a character that was never defined by gender, it's the Doctor. The Doctor is gender fluid in that sense."。

Mashable Top StoriesStay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news.Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter。By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.。By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 。

Thanks for signing up! 。 There have been many Doctors over the years, a fact that's explained away in the show's fiction. As an extra-terrestrial Time Lord, the Doctor only 。looks。

human; in fact, Time Lords are practically ageless, and when their bodies expire they enter into a state of regeneration. When they re-emerge, gender is their choice to make. 。

Despite that, Whittaker is the first female Doctor in the show's 55-year history. As Strevens said, that decision was motivated in part by a demand from the newest showrunner, Chris Chibnall. 。

---

"That's what Chris wanted, that was part of his conditions of doing the job."。

---

---

"That's what Chris wanted, that was part of his conditions of doing the job." 。

Featured Video For You 。TopicsDoctor Who。