Eagle-eyed Doctor Who fans spot a plethora of connections between BBC sci-fi show and gritty ITV drama as Jodie Whittaker is cast as the 13th Time Lord

'It's a Broadchurch explosion!' Eagle-eyed Doctor Who fans spot a plethora of connections between BBC sci-fi show and gritty ITV drama as Jodie Whittaker is cast as the 13th Time Lord

By Andrew Bullock For Mailonline

PUBLISHED: 22:47, 16 July 2017 | UPDATED: 01:10, 17 July 2017

Sunday's announcement about who will play the 13th generation of Doctor Who took fans of the show by surprise as they learnt it will be a woman - Jodie Whittaker.

But as the news registered with the masses, it slowly dawned on a few that the BBC sci-fi series has a multitude of links with ITV's gritty drama Broadchurch.

Aside from the obvious fact that Whittaker, 35, was one of the leading stars of the seaside whodunnit series - which aired its third and final chapter earlier this year - it appears there are several other obvious - and not so obvious - connections to both shows.

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'It's a Broadchurch explosion!' Eagle-eyed Doctor Who fans spot a plethora of connections between BBC sci-fi show and gritty ITV drama as Jodie Whittaker is cast as the 13th Time Lord

The most glaring is the fact that David Tennant - who was the 10th incarnation of Doctor Who between 2005 and 2010 - starred alongside Whittaker in all three seasons of Broadchurch.

Tennant played the lead role DI Alec Hardy, alongside Whittaker's Beth Latimer from 2013 to 2017.

The pair featured heavily together in the show, with seasons one and two following the hunt for Beth's son's murderer - led by DI Hardy - and his subsequent trial. By season three, Beth was a counselor for abuse victims, and worked with Hardy on a rape case.

State the obvious: The most glaring link is the fact that David Tennant - who was the 10th incarnation of Doctor Who between 2005 and 2010 - starred alongside Whittaker in all three seasons of Broadchurch

Connections: Chris Chibnall, who helmed Broachurch, is now in charge of Doctor Who; and seems to have brought Whittaker along with him

A second tie between the two programs is the fact that Chris Chibnall, who helmed Broachurch, is now in charge of Doctor Who; and seems to have brought Whittaker along with him.

As the casting news was announced on Sunday, Chibnall said of the actress: 'After months of lists, conversations, auditions, recalls, and a lot of secret-keeping, we’re excited to welcome Jodie Whittaker as the 13th Doctor.

'I always knew I wanted a woman and we’re thrilled to have secured our number one choice. Her audition for The Doctor simply blew us all away.

New role: As the casting news was announced on Sunday, Chibnall said of the actress - 'After months of lists, conversations, auditions, recalls, and a lot of secret-keeping, we’re excited to welcome Jodie Whittaker as the 13th Doctor

Joining the dots: As the casting news registered with the masses, it slowly dawned on a few that the BBC sci-fi series has a multitude of links with ITV's gritty drama Broadchurch

'Jodie is an in-demand, funny, inspiring, super-smart force of nature and will bring loads of wit, strength and warmth to the role.'

In addition, another fellow Broadchurch lead, Olivia Colman, was at one point thought to be taking on the role.

But despite Tennant giving his blessing, stating that Colman would be 'a magnificent choice' he also shot down the rumours, saying at one point: 'Olivia is busier than any other actor on Earth. I don’t think she’d be able to suddenly take four years to go to Cardiff. I don’t think her schedule would really allow it whether she wanted it or not.'

She shot the rumours down herself too, saying: 'My brother sent me a text saying "Congratulations, they’ve released odds on you being the new Doctor Who". How funny, I wouldn’t put any money on it!'

Not this time: In addition, another fellow Broadchurch lead, Olivia Colman, was at one point thought to be taking on the role

She was at one point 10-1 to step into exiting Doctor Peter Capaldi’s shoes. Other actress' names being floated included Tilda Swinton, Haley Atwell and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

The Broadchurch links don't stop there; Arthur Darvill, who played Rory Williams, one of the 11th Doctor's companions between 2010 and 2012, went on to portray Rev. Paul Coates in Broadchurch throughout its full run.

Actress Eve Myles cropped up in the 2005 Doctor Who episode The Unquiet Dead and went on to take a lead role in spin-off series Torchwood, playing Gwen Cooper between 2006 and 2011.

She was then cast in 2014 in the second season of Broadchurch portraying  Claire Ripley - one of the focal points of the show's side-plot, again featuring Tennant's DI Hardy heavily.

The Broadchurch links don't stop there: Arthur Darvill, who played Rory Williams, one of the 11th Doctor's companions between 2010 and 2012, went on to portray Rev. Paul Coates in Broadchurch throughout its full run

Start to finish: The local vicar was an integral character throughout seasons one to three

Cross-pollination: Actress Eve Myles cropped up in the 2005 Doctor Who episode The Unquiet Dead and went on to take a lead role in spin-off series Torchwood, playing Gwen Cooper between 2006 and 2011

Co-stars: She was then cast in 2014 in the second season of Broadchurch portraying Claire Ripley - one of the focal points of the show's side-plot, again featuring Tennant's DI Hardy heavily

Yet another link comes in the form of David Bradley whose connections are multi-layered within the Doctor Who canon.

He portrayed Solomon in the episode Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, before playing the part of William Hartnell [the actor that played the very first incarnation of The Doctor] in the docudrama An Adventure In Space And Time.

He returned to Doctor Who in The Doctor Falls, portraying Hartnell's First Doctor once again and will feature this Christmas in the special episode titled The Doctors - which will see the first and most recent Doctor Who [Capaldi] in the same instalment, and debut Whittaker in her new role.

This will see Bradley reunited with Whittaker once again, having both been in Broadchurch together.

Crossover: Yet another link comes in the form of David Bradley whose connections are multi-layered within the Doctor Who canon

Old meets new: Bradley will feature this Christmas in the special episode titled The Doctors - which will see the first and most recent Doctor Who [Capaldi, pictured] in the same instalment, and debut Whittaker in her new role

Bradley played the role of Jack Marshall, the local shopkeeper in the coastal town, in the first season only.

The character was at one point a suspect in the murder of Whittaker's character's son having been found in possession of his mobile phone.

Although proven innocent, he committed suicide by jumping from the edge of the infamous Broadchurch cliff, unable to deal with his public humiliation.  

Eagle-eyed fans of the series noticed the links between the two shows after Whittaker was announced on Sunday, taking to Twitter to show off their sleuthing skills.

One person wrote: 'It just clicked that Jodie Whittaker was with David Tennant and Chris Chibnall in Broadchurch. It's like a Broadchurch explosion!'

Old school: Bradley is no stranger to the franchise, playing the part of William Hartnell [the actor that played the very first incarnation of The Doctor] in the docudrama An Adventure In Space And Time

Newest star: The revelation was made on live television after the Wimbledon men's tennis final

Another was even more savvy, posting: 'Chris Chibnall. Jodie Whittaker. David Tennant. David Bradley. Eve Myles. Arthur Darvil. Broadchurch/Doctor Who connections BOI.'

A third mused: 'David Tennant was great in Broadchurch so, therefore, Jodie Whittaker should be good on Doctor Who, right?'

'So Olivia Coleman, David Tennant, Arthur Darvill and Jodie Whittaker are all in Broadchurch and Doctor Who,' a fourth person posted, stating the obvious.

Someone else made a much more imaginative observation writing 'If Jodie Whittaker is #DoctorWho13 and David Tennant was Doctor Who 10, does that make Broadchurch Gallifrey?' referring to the Doctor's home planet.

Grant unveiling: A film clip showed a mysterious hooded figure - revealed to be Whittaker - walking through the woods 

Multi-talented: Whittaker has appeared in the likes of Attack The Block [2011] and Good [2008]

'The new Doctor is Jodie Whittaker, first female Doctor Who, previously on Broadchurch with ex-Doctor Who David Tennant. I'm pumped,' an excited fan wrote, joining the dots.

'I just realized that Jodie Whittaker is following the exact reverse order of #doctorwho and #Broadchurch as David Tennant,' someone else typed, followed by another who wrote: 'So the new #13th #DoctorWho Jodie Whittaker stars on #Broadchurch alongside David Tennant #10th. How cool is that connection?'

'Broadchurch is the Southampton to Doctor Who’s Liverpool,' joked someone else. 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-4701870/Fans-realise-Broadchurch-Doctor-connected.html#ixzz4n8IEqcil
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