Doctor Who: Whoopi Goldberg wants to be first American Time Lord amid Jodie Whittaker exit rumours

BBC producers have turned her down in the past

Whoopi Goldberg has revealed that she wants to join Doctor Who as the first American Doctor, but the show’s producers previously turned her down.

The Sister Act star’s statements come amid rumours that Jodie Whittaker, who currently plays The Doctor, is set to step down from the hit BBC sci-fi after its forthcoming 13th series.

Speaking to SFX magazine, Goldberg said that she had discussed her Doctor Who aspirations with former Who star Tom Baker, who played The Doctor from 1974 to 1981.

“I wanted to be the first female Doctor, but they have one,” she said. “I said to him, 'I love the idea of an American Doctor Who'... I'm still trying to do it.”

Goldberg has hinted at her desire to play the time-travelling alien before, when she made a guest appearance on David Tennant’s podcast.

“We don't have a Doctor Who,” she told Tennant. “We don't have that character who is travelling through dimension and time, and being an observer -­ ­sometimes a hindrance, sometimes a help. The idea of that just so made me happy.”

Goldberg said that BBC producers turned her away from the role.

“They were like, ‘Um, no,’” she added. “So I was like, 'OK, I'm cool. I ­understand.'"

The latest episode of Doctor Who, which aired on BBC One on New Year’s Day, revealed that comedian John Bishop would be joining the forthcoming series as The Doctor’s new assistant.