Summary

  • Jodie Whittaker learns the Doctor's real name on stage during Fan Expo Dallas.
  • Doctor Who fans have been kept in the dark about the Doctor's name for decades, despite some possible names having been presented in the show.
  • Whittaker has a big reaction to the reveal when River Song actor Alex Kingston whispers the name in her ear.

Jodie Whittaker learns the Doctor's real name on stage during a Doctor Who season 14, the audience themselves have never been let in on the secret.

Now, a video from @whatawaytofall shows Whittaker, who portrayed the Thirteenth Doctor on Doctor Who, learning the name of the character on stage while we were there in attendance.

During the event which Screen Rant was the media partner for, Alex Kingston, who portrayed River Song, whispers the name into Whittaker's ear. She has a big reaction to it, putting her face in her hands before sitting down.

What Could The Doctor’s Real Name Be?

Doctor Who Must Be Keeping It Secret For A Reason

Hints about the Doctor’s real name have been given throughout the series, with some of the Doctor Who cast knowing what it is. The name could be anything from his often-used alias John Smith, to Theta Sigma, a nickname he was given at the Time Lord Academy. It’s also possible the name is something that hasn’t been shared onscreen before, perhaps because of just how secretive it is, or because it’s incomprehensible to people. However, it’s clearly an important part of the character, and possibly a secret the stars of the show are aware of.

It's unclear what greater purpose the Doctor's name holds for the franchise, but it appears to be kept secretive for a reason. One possible explanation for why the audience doesn't know the name yet is because the show's title, Doctor Who, is in reference to nobody watching the series knowing the answer. If the protagonist's name were to be revealed, then it would defeat the purpose of the title, making the long-running secret feel more disappointing because it was unveiled. The fact it's a secret is one of many classic elements of the show that can't be infringed upon.

However, it's still possible one of the Doctors will reveal their real name at some point in the future, perhaps during the climax of the entire series. Since season 15 has already been confirmed, though, Doctor Who will probably be continuing for quite some time. This means it will be a long time until the lead character's name gets revealed, possibly in an important context that sets the stage for a major event in the series.

New episodes of Doctor Who arrive Saturdays on the BBC, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+.

Source: @whatawaytofall/Twitter

Doctor Who Season 14 Poster

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Doctor Who
Adventure
Mystery
Sci-Fi
5/10
290
7.2/10
Release Date
December 25, 2023
Network
BBC
Directors
Douglas Camfield, David Maloney, Christopher Barry, Michael E. Briant, Barry Letts, Michael Ferguson, Richard Martin, Peter Moffatt, Pennant Roberts, Lennie Mayne, Chris Clough, Ron Jones, Paddy Russell, Paul Bernard, Michael Hayes, Timothy Combe, Morris Barry, Gerald Blake, Graeme Harper, Waris Hussein, Rodney Bennett, Mervyn Pinfield, Hugh David, John Gorrie

Cast

See All

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

The latest Doctor Who series introduces the Fifteenth Doctor, ed by new companion Ruby Sunday.

Writers
Russell T. Davies, Dave Gibbons, Kate Herron, Steven Moffat
Franchise(s)
Doctor Who / Whoniverse
Seasons
2
Streaming Service(s)
Apple, Britbox, M, Dis