The Whittaker Quadrille

I'm not a particular fan or regular watcher of the British series Dr. Who.  I've watched it on occasion, a few episodes here and there, though not much.  The series has changed lead actors from time to time (handled by the alien character in human form "regenerating" to a new form).  But when after 12 Doctors they brought in the first female 'Dr. Who' -- to be played by Jodie Whittaker -- I made sure to tune in to watch her first show. Though she was a well-liked actress, having been in the series Broadchurch, among others, there was a big controversy over a...a...a woman playing 'The Doctor.'  Well -- she was tremendous. She won over the fans, who in the end after five years in the role were wildly sorry to see her leave a few months ago.  And right to be sorry.  She was tremendous.  Exuberant, funny, a very good actor, and exuberant.  Plus, she was exuberant.

Anyway, a short while back she participated on a charity album for Children in Need that asked celebrities who weren't singers to chose a favorite song to sing.  She sang the Coldplay song, "Yellow."  Because she's a HUGE Coldplay fan.  Massive.  And during the session, which was recorded on video, she was surprised by two members of Coldplay, Jonny Buckland and Will Champion.  Who not only surprise her with a visit, but perform with her, as well.  And she just can't handle it.  Because...well, she's exuberant.  

But first, I want to give that video some perspective.  Actually, it requires four videos to tell this story in full properly.  And so, just to give a sense of what she's now best-known for, here's a very nice, 3-minute, "goodbye" tribute to her as she was leaving Dr. Who.
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Okay, and now on with the music portion of our evening.   

It starts with some background, how (previous to her recording session) I'd seen her as a guest on The Graham Norton Show when, as it happens, Coldplay was also a guest.  And just being on the same show with them, Jodie Whittaker was SO excited.  And when I say "SO excited," I don't mean just as a fan, but that she almost reverted almost to childhood.  She talked about her love for them growing up.  And how her continued love for the group was near the level of stalking (her words), still -- although a star herself -- a fangirl.  Totally giddy.  She even brought an album for them to sign!  So, when I say still a fangirl, I mean it.  And then later in the show, it’s time for Coldplay to come on stage to perform. 

It's at that point that host Norton makes a joke that by law they had to put her seat farthest away from the band.  And what happens next, she's just overwhelmed by it all, and you can tell it isn’t acting.  This video is a lot of fun.

And you can tell it by this freeze frame below alone.  And that's just a freeze frame.

​Okay, now you know the background, how much Jodie Whittaker REALLY LOVES Coldplay.  (By the way, the guest who tells the story about the Rolling Stones is renowned actress Dame Eileen Atkins, who has won three Olivier Awards -- the British version of the Tonys -- and currently plays Martin Clunes' aunt in Doc Martin.)  

And so, here’s the video of Jodie Whittaker's surprise during the recording session.  She's just utterly fangirl, giddy bowled over by it all, geeking out.

And you can tell it by this freeze frame below alone.  And that's just a freeze frame.

And that brings up a bonus video.

A while later, Jodie Whittaker was back on The Graham Norton Show.  Other guests that night included Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart.  And during her appearance, Norton has a surprise for her.  It's that the charity album she was on got a certified Silver Disc, and it's presented to her.

She's bowled over excited and stunned.

And you can tell it by this freeze frame below alone.  And that's just a freeze frame.
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