Doctor Who’s Peter Davison quits Twitter after Jodie Whittaker comments cause backlash

Former Doctor Who star Peter Davison has quit Twitter after being criticised for his comments about Jodie Whittaker being cast in the show.

The British actor said that he couldn’t cope with the “toxicity” of the social media site after saying that a woman playing the lead role would mean a “loss of a role model for boys.”

Clarifying his comments, Davison insisted that he wasn’t criticising the casting decision and was actually urging fans to be more “supportive”.

“For the record I didn't say I had doubts about Jodie. I said "she's a terrific actress and will do a wonderful job and we need to open it up,” he wrote on Twitter on Monday.

“I also urged uncertain fans to be supportive about change. It was a caveat about role models in an otherwise positive answer.”

The actor went on to say that the backlash he had received over his initial comments had made him decide to leave the social media site all together.

“All this toxicity about a sci-fi show has been sobering, so I'm calling it a day. @PeterDavison5 used to be fun. Now it's not. Must Dash. Xx,” he wrote.

Since being announced as Peter Capaldi’s replacement, Whittaker has called on fans not to judge her on her gender.

"This is a really exciting time, and Doctor Who represents everything that’s exciting about change. The fans have lived through so many changes, and this is only a new, different one, not a fearful one,” she said.

Whittaker will take over the role from Capaldi following the Christmas special later this year.