10 Ways Modern Doctor Who Changed The Show Forever

Though the idea of a female Doctor was actually first suggested during the classic series (and female Time Lords like Romana and the Rani always proved that it was possible), one of the biggest and most important changes to Doctor Who of the past 20 years is that it established that the lead character can be played by absolutely anyone.

It's kind of a ridiculous question if you think about it. If an alien time-traveller can completely change their physical body, why would they always choose that of a British character actor? Steven Moffat spent a lot of time laying the groundwork for such a transformation when he cast Michelle Gomez as Missy and gender-flipped the General, both dress rehearsals for the bigger change coming up the track.

Chris Chibnall's decision to give us the first canonical female Doctor (sorry Joanna Lumley), was met with support and controversy in equal measure, but all it did was open up the pool of exciting, talented actors and actresses who can now fill the role.

Doctor Who was always headed in this direction, marking yet another huge way the 2005 revival has impacted the very fabric of the show.