The former school of Jodie Whittaker, the new Doctor Who, has praised their former pupil's success.

It was revealed in July 2017 that Jodie would take on the role of the 13th incarnation of the Time Lord.

Jodie, who also stars in the crime drama Broadchurch, is the first woman to play the Doctor.

You will be able to watch Jodie as the 13th incarnation of the Time Lord, on BBC1 at 6.45pm on Sunday 7 October.

Jodie, 36, was a pupil at St Aidan’s CE Academy and later Shelley College.

The actress, originally from Skelmanthorpe, studied performing arts at Kirklees College before training as an actress at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

She graduated with a gold medal for acting in 2005.

Shelley College’s principal John McNally said: “We are extremely proud of Jodie and her achievements. The staff who remember her speak very highly of her and we are all ever so proud of her success.

“Jodie is clearly an outstanding actress and we know she is hard-working, determined and somebody we can all look up to.

Jodie Whittaker as Beth Latimer in Broadchurch
Jodie Whittaker as Beth Latimer in Broadchurch

“We very much try to encourage young people to get involved with drama and the arts and it is a strong feature of our school. Jodie is a fantastic inspiration to young students and we hope we can welcome her back to the college in the near future to say well done.”

Four years ago, Diversions, a sci-fi collectibles store in Huddersfield, held a celebration of Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary.

Now, the store is selling a custom-made T-shirt celebrating the local leading lady with the slogan ‘Gallifrey via Huddersfield.’

Owner Gareth Hughes, who is appealing for Jodie to do a charity signing at the store, said: “It’s fantastic news. It’s a refreshing change to have a female in the lead.

Jodie Whittaker in Broadchurch
Jodie Whittaker in Broadchurch

“It’s one of the biggest changes in TV. In sci-fi, you can change things that you just can’t in traditional dramas.

“It’s also great to have the doctor being an actress from Huddersfield.”

Meanwhile, Mark Milnes, director of the Creative Arts Hub in Mirfield, and artist Lynsey Tomlinson turned a BT phone box into their very own TARDIS.

Jodie Whittaker as Beth Latimer in Broadchurch.
Jodie Whittaker as Beth Latimer in Broadchurch.

They added medium-density fibreboard and recycled picture frames to the phone box outside the hub in Huddersfield Road in time for last weekend’s Mirfield Arts Festival.

Mum-of-one Jodie is married to American actor Christian Contreras. Her dad Adrian is a former president of Huddersfield Cricket League.