Doctor Who, Steven Moffat, Matt Smith
Steven Moffat (L) head writer and executive producer and actor Matt Smith who portrays 'The Doctor' take part in a panel discussion about their BBC America series 'Doctor Who' during the 2011 Summer Television Critics Association Cable Press Tour in Beverly Hills, California July 28, 2011. REUTERS/Fred Prouser

“Doctor Who” fans may finally see the day the Doctor regenerates into a woman. Showrunner Steven Moffat and 12th Doctor Peter Capaldi have revealed the Master’s incarnation to Missy has opened the possibility of a female Time Lord.

In the two-part season finale of the show in November, it was revealed that the Doctor’s adversary, Master, has a new female incarnation who calls herself Missy, short for Mistress (Michelle Gomez). As Moffat told Wales Online in an interview, the Doctor (Capaldi) didn’t appear to be surprised that Master regenerated into a female form.

“He doesn’t seem to register the fact that his old friend is now a woman. So obviously, he doesn’t think it’s a remarkable thing to happen. We must assume that gender is quite fluid on Gallifrey,” he said, adding that a female Doctor has always been a possibility in the show since he took over.

Capaldi, who has just landed the coveted role in the recently concluded eighth series, believes his successor should be a woman.

“There easily could be a female Doctor,” he told SFX. “I think next time might be a female Doctor. I don’t see why not. I think it’s good to do that.” The 56-year-old Scottish actor also thought that Master becoming Missy was a great idea as it suggests “all kinds of interesting stuff.”

“They have a total love/hate relationship anyway but they were both men for a long time, and still have that love-hate relationship, and we will see more of that probably. It’s interesting, being able to swap like that. I think it’s good,” Capaldi said.

SFX notes that the possibility of a female Doctor isn’t a new thing. Fourth Doctor Tom Baker has apparently implanted the idea to the fans’ heads during the ‘80s, though it was evidently just an empty concept.

If Capaldi’s successor is indeed a woman, it wouldn’t be for at least after another year. He is set to return as the Time Lord in 2015 for a new season. Before that, Capaldi will be returning for the Christmas special this year.

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