Doctor Who may be gearing up for another regeneration with the first female incarnation to be introduced, but many are wondering why it took such a long time for a woman to spearhead the show. Outgoing showrunner Steven Moffat tries to explain why and some are definitely not happy with his answer.

Earlier this year, current Time Lord, Whittaker landed the Doctor Who role.

Related: Why the Doctor Wants to Become A Woman

Previewing his final outing as the series' showrunner via Christmas Special 2017, which will also be Capaldi's last hurrah as the Time Lord, Moffat explained why it took the show so long to finally get a female lead. However, the TV exec might have been a little too candid about his answer during his interview with Radio Times:

"We could have replaced Matt Smith with a woman, given that his Doctor was more sexless and less of a lad, but then I got obsessed with seeing Peter in the Tardis

This isn’t a show exclusively for progressive liberals; this is also for people who voted Brexit. That’s not me politically at all - but we have to keep everyone on board.”  

Doctor Who - Steven Moffat with TARDIS

Moffat, who was very involved in casting both Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor and then Capaldi, is leaving his post in the series after eight years. And despite not being able to accomplish such a huge milestone like what incoming showrunner Chris Chibnall has, he has nothing but good wishes for the show and the team, led by the Broadchurch writer. He even its that it's time for a female Doctor saying, “All credit to him. It’s going to work, I know it is. More and more of the audience were asking for it. It’s is absolutely the right choice. Now is the time.”  

As we continue to wait to see how Whittaker will fair as the newest incarnation of the Doctor, there are also a number of changes that Chibnall is looking to execute beyond casting the titular role. Season 11 of the series will debut a brand Tour de-force."

More: Doctor Who Christmas Special Scene 'Left Everyone in Tears'

Doctor Who will return to BBC America and BBC 1 at Christmas. Season 11 will arrive in 2018.

Source: Radio Times