The first teaser trailer for the latest season of Doctor Who has been released

The brand new season of Doctor Who, starring the first ever female incarnation of the infamous Time Lord will play on TVNZ, the broadcaster confirmed tonight.

It follows the unveiling of a new teaser trailer which debuted in the UK during the World Cup Final between France and Croatia.

Previously, Doctor Who played on Prime, with the network screening episodes of the show when Christopher Eccleston took the mantle of the Doctor back in 2005.

BBC YOUTUBE Jodie Whittaker's debut Doctor Who series is expected to air sometime in October this year.

Doctor Who last screened on TVNZ back in 1996. The announcement came with TVNZ saying : "We're excited to announce #DoctorWho is returning to TVNZ after 22 years - and with the first female Doctor no less! Season 11 broadcast details will be confirmed soon..."

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The air date of the first episode, either here or in the UK, is yet to be revealed.

DOCTOR WHO / FACEBOOK Jodie Whittaker is the first woman to play Doctor Who in the near 55-year history of the show.

A TVNZ spokeswoman said it was likely other seasons will be available to stream on TVNZ On Demand.

TVNZ Director of Content, Cate Slater said "Doctor Who has a special place in popular culture. It's a global juggernaut with a faithful following. This upcoming season marks the beginning of a new era for the extraordinary Time Lord, with the first ever female Doctor at the helm of the TARDIS"

"The time felt right to bring the series back to TVNZ. We can't wait to share all the action, adventure and humour the show is known and loved for with our viewers, as well as the exciting new twists and turns that are coming their way."

BBC YOUTUBE The Chase host Bradley Walsh will play Graham in the new series of Doctor Who.

TVNZ will stream episodes on TVNZ OnDemand immediately following the UK broadcast (at the same time episodes appear on BBC iPlayer), allowing New Zealand fans to engage in worldwide discussions on the show without the fear of spoilers.

Episodes will also play on broadcast TV the same week as the UK.

Further details confirming the channel, day and date will be released closer to the season's premiere. It's widely expected the show will debut in the UK sometime in October.

ITN The Broadchurch star talks Olivia Colman, Broadchurch and her film, Adult Life Skills, on the red carpet of the British Independent Film Awards.

For their part, Prime's parent company Sky TV said they did not make the decision lightly to let The Doctor go.

"Our programmes are personal fans of the series," said Sky's head of entertainment content Karen Bieleski. "However, our purchasing focus over the past year has shifted more towards premium international documentaries, broad-appeal factual content and telling the best of New Zealand's stories. As content licencing renewals arise, we need to prioritise budgets and evaluate what resonates the most with our viewers."

TVNZ's announcement follows global excitement for the teaser trailer, which dropped during the World Cup final's half time and centred around Jodie Whittaker's companions, showing Whittaker's 13th Doctor meeting them for the first time in various locations.

The 40 second trailer showcased more of the companions Ryan (played by Tosin Cole), Yasmin (Mandip Gill) and Graham, played by The Chase host Bradley Walsh. The trailer ends with Whittaker's Doctor smiling mysteriously.

The new season is being helmed by Broadchurch writer Chris Chibnall.

Whittaker made her debut as the Doctor in Peter Capaldi's Christmas 2017 swansong, Twice Upon A Time.

She was last seen falling from the skies after the TARDIS exploded around her post-regeneration and appeared to throw her out of the doors, before disappearing off into the skies.

The 35-year-old actress, who starred in Broadchurch as Danny Latimer's grieving mother, was unveiled as something of a surprise choice to play the 13th Doctor in the long-running British sci-fi series Doctor Who in July during the Wimbledon final.

She admitted at the time that keeping her big secret under wraps was difficult, and she had no intention of putting the information out there herself.

"I didn't want anyone knowing. I was kind of happy with my anonymity," the West Yorkshire actress said.

More of the new season of Doctor Who, the 11th since the show returned in 2005, is expected to be revealed at this year's Comic Con in San Diego, with Whittaker and the cast (sans Walsh) appearing at the American event which starts on July 19.