Who for Doctor Who?

Posted by Dan Curley

The ink hasn’t even dried on David Tennant’s letter of resignation as TV’s Doctor Who, but bookies are already making odds on who’s going to step into the Time Lord’s boots.

Gutted Who fans heard of Tennant’s decision to call time at the Tardis during his acceptance speech after bagging the Outstanding Drama Performance gong at the National Television Awards.

The current front-runner to become the next Dalek-basher is 44-year-old David Morrissey. He’s appearing in this year’s Dr Who Christmas special – playing a character known only as The Doctor. The Liverpool-born thespian hit the big time playing alongside Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct 2, yet despite being the bookies’ favourite he’s not on the BBC’s shortlist.

Whoever lands the role will be chosen by incoming Producer Steven Moffatt. Three candidates are currently humming around inside the 47-year-old’s skull.

Paterson Joseph: The 44-year-old has already been in Dr Who, in episodes Bad Wolf and The Parting of the Waves. He played Johnson in Peep Show, and also appeared in Dead Ringers, William and Mary and Casualty (so he knows his doctors). If he gets the role he’ll be the first black Dr Who.

Benedict Cumberbatch: Put in performances in doomed TV show Fortysomething, and has turned up a couple of times in Heartbeat. His big-screen appearances include Atonement and Fields of Gold, and the 31-year-old’s stage work has seen him nominated for an Olivier Award.

Julian Rhind-Tutt: Known for his starring roles in Green Wing and more recently Merlin, he’s also got Lara Croft: Tomb Raider on his CV. However, the 40-year-old is probably best known for the Barclaycard adverts he trots out with fellow Green Winger Stephen Mangan.

So who do you think should get the role? Russell Brand? Maybe Wossy could play one of the Cybermen? Tell us here.

SEE ALSO:
Tennant quits Dr Who >>
National TV Awards >>

Comments

[Peter Elson]

I like the idea of Christopher Eccleston doing it again, but my favourite would be Kris Marshall, whose name has not been mentioned at all yet. Jennifer Saunders could probably do a good job, or how about Matthew McFaddyen (Mr Darcy to Keira Knightley's Elizabeth Bennett and currently in Russell T Davies' father Andrew(!)'s TV adaptation of Little Dorrit).

[Paul Newman]

i think Paterson Joseph would be a great Doctor. or how about a Female Dr Who ????

[Robert]

I think an unusual storyline should be written that allows David Tennant to regenerate backwards into either Paul McGann or Christopher Eccleston if either of these two actors were interested in taking on the role again.