Jodie Whittaker's Doctor Who: Watch the Doctor's first female regeneration

After 54 years and 826 episodes, the Doctor has regenerated as a woman.

The Doctor Who Christmas special said goodbye to Peter Capaldi's protagonist and hello to Jodie Whittaker's on Monday evening (watch above).

*Spoilers ahead*

​Capaldi's Doctor delivered a monologue of a message to his successor, reminding them to always be kind and never reveal their name.

Energy bursting from his head and arms, he then swiftly regenerated, his ring slipping from his finger as hands took on a slightly smaller form.

Whittaker's Doctor didn't get a gentle start to her era, being flung from the Tardis out over the city of London.

Whittaker said she was "beyond excited" to take up the iconic and that the offer had been "overwhelming, as a feminist".

"It's more than an honour to play the Doctor," she added. "It means remembering everyone I used to be, while stepping forward to embrace everything the Doctor stands for: hope. I can't wait."

With showrunner Steven Moffat departing, Doctor Who will be in the hands of Chris Chibnall going forward, whom Whittaker worked with on Broadchurch.