Jodie Whittaker's Doctor Who will not become a mother in the upcoming series.

The 'Broadchurch' actress is the first female to ever portray the titular character, but the show's 55-year-old writer, Steven Moffat - who is about to hand over the reins to Chris Chibnall - has revealed the star will not be giving birth to mini Time Lords in the festive special because he wanted the character to have more "manly qualities", although he has not been able to depict the masculine traits in this figure.

Speaking to the Daily Star newspaper about the future of the sci-fi series, the creative mastermind said: "I knew The Doctor would regenerate into a woman while writing the cast series, so I thought, 'I shall bring out all of his manly qualities.'

"But he has not got any. He hasn't a single masculine quality that I could find.

"He is an alien that has taken the form of a human male. He will not notice the change to a woman - and he is not about to get pregnant."

The 35-year-old actress has already started filming for her "regeneration scene", and has impressed the cast with her acting ability.

Speaking about the West Yorkshire-born star, Steven said: "Jodie has filmed the regeneration scene. She was great."

And the news Jodie's character will not fall pregnant when she appears in the programme comes shortly after Michelle Gomez, who plays Missy in the sci-fi hit, let slip the newcomer is set to enjoy an on-screen relationship with another female.

Speaking previously, she said: "Now we have a got a female Doctor so there is going to be girl on girl."

But it won't be the first time that a lesbian love story has featured in the BBC series because the doctor's assistant Bill Potts - played by Pearl Mackie - shared a kiss with a gay alien in the last series.

And when asked whether a gay Doctor would fit in with the drama, she said: "It might work. Obviously it might be awful."

And Pearl agreed: "It could work."