Doctor Who: 13th Doctor to be announced on Sunday

It is time: The BBC will finally announce Peter Capaldi’s Doctor Who replacement this Sunday, following the Wimbledon men’s final.

The time has come. After months of speculation, rumors, and emotional angst over Peter Capaldi’s impending departure from the series, the BBC will finally reveal the identity of Doctor Who’s 13th Doctor on Sunday, July 16. Yes, really. It’s happening at last.

Capaldi announced he would step down as the Doctor back in January. This was well before season 10 ever aired (or even finished filming).  In theory, Whovians everywhere have had months to get used to this news. (And some of us are doing better than others – in large part because Capaldi’s performance this season has been rather phenomenal.)

BBC America announced the impending 13th Doctor reveal with a Twitter video that featured nothing more than the number 13 in various places and a TARDIS key. The news will land on Sunday, following the conclusion of the Wimbledon men’s final match. (This is particularly irritating timing, if only because there’s no way to predict precisely when the match will end.)

Watch the announcement for yourselves below:

Who will play 13? That’s anybody’s guess. Rumors swirled for months about all sorts of actors – everyone from Kris Marshall to Michaela Cole to Ben Whishaw. Many fans are hoping for a more progressive casting choice after 50-plus years of the Doctor being played by a white man. (Though some of us doubt that this will be the year the Beeb decides to take risks with its flagship series. Sigh.) But, in all honesty, no one knows what the BBC – or incoming showrunner Chris Chibnall – will do. Anything is still possible.

But why the early announcement? Twelve won’t regenerate until this year’s Christmas special, after all. Seems odd to announce Capaldi’s replacement when we still have months to go before his final episode airs. (She said, in deep denial that he is even leaving at all.)

There are likely a couple of reasons for this. One, as production winds down on Capaldi’s final episode, the danger of leaks about the news increases. (They’ve got to actually film the regeneration at some point.) The BBC obviously doesn’t want 13’s identity announced in the British tabloids unexpectedly because of a paparazzi photographer, or a fan with a lucky iPhone shot. And even if filming already wrapped, someone who was present might spill the beans about the next Doctor’s identity. (This is why they announced John Simm’s return months before his appearance in the season finale. As frustrating as that was.)

Plus, San Diego Comic Con will take place next week. BBC America already announced a Doctor Who panel set for Sunday, July 23 at the annual pop culture event. Seems like the perfect opportunity to introduce the new Doctor to a horde of the series’ biggest fans, doesn’t it?

Next: 50 Actors Who Could Play the Next Doctor on Doctor Who

Who will be the 13th Doctor? We’ll have to wait until Sunday to find out. Here’s hoping Roger Federer wins in straight sets.