Following the announcement that Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall will both be leaving Doctor Who next year, numerous related keywords trended on Twitter UK yesterday, proving that Doctor Who can still cause a stir now and then!

For many hours, trending terms included “Jodie”, “Dr Who”, “Doctor”, “Chibnall”, and “showrunner”.

When the news was revealed, “Jodie” trended with 13,000 tweets an hour, rising to an incredible 20,000 tweets.

“Dr Who”, though, reached a huge 37,000 tweets an hour.

And “Doctor” achieved a massive 186,000 tweets. Although that includes anyone telling a “doctor, doctor, I feel like a pair of curtains” joke, or looking for someone to perform surgery.

Jodie and Chris will be leaving the show next year, with a six-part Series 13 coming later in 2021, then three specials airing on New Year’s Day, then in the spring and autumn 2022.

Current Director of BBC Drama, Piers Wenger, said:

“Over the last four years Chris and Jodie have made Doctor Who history and their time on the show is indelibly marked on our memories. From Rosa Parks to Ascension of the Cybermen, Chris and Jodie have given Doctor Who some of its most life-affirming and tear-jerking moments to date and we are beyond excited to see what they have in store for us in the new series this Autumn. Jodie’s final adventure to mark the BBC’s Centenary in 2022 is set to be a Doctor Who special to remember. I’d like to thank them both for their incredible work on the show.”

It’s not been announced who else is leaving, but we’re pretty sure companions, Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill) and Dan Lewis (John Bishop) will be departing too.

No replacements have been announced yet, and we might have a while to wait yet. Or the Fourteenth Doctor could be revealed tomorrow. Who nose?