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Doctor Her: Is it time for a female to fly the TARDIS?

Dr Who star Peter Capaldi, who has announced that he will leave the show at the end of the year (Ian West/PA Wire)
Dr Who star Peter Capaldi, who has announced that he will leave the show at the end of the year (Ian West/PA Wire)

AFTER Peter Capaldi announced that he’ll be stepping down and handing back his sonic screwdriver at the end of year, speculation has gone into overdrive about who will be next to steps into Doctor Who’s shoes.

At the moment, the bookie’s favourites to take on the role are Bond actor Ben Wishaw and Travel Man host Richard Ayoade. However, many fans have been calling for the next regeneration to bring a woman into the mix.

Outgoing executive producer Steven Moffat has suggested a future regeneration of the Doctor could also be a woman, previously saying: “I think the next time might be a female Doctor. I don’t see why not.”

Michelle Gomez, who plays Missy in the show, Captain America star Hayley Atwell and Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington are all among the stars fans have said they would like to see in the role.

Here’s a run-down of the actors and actresses who could be given the keys to the TARDIS:

Ben Whishaw

The bookies favourite, who delighted fans as Q in the most recent Bond films, has previously been mentioned as a leading contender.

Olivia Colman

New Doctor Who boss Chris Chibnall works Colman on his other hit show, Broadchurch. The actress also wowed fans across the country in her role in the Night Manager.

Richard Ayoade

The comedian, actor and director earned a TV Bafta The IT Crowd and fronts hit show Travel Man.

Hayley Atwell

The Agent Carter and Captain America actress has previously said she would love the role.

Rory Kinnear
Despite once saying he had never watched Doctor Who, Kinnear was one of the actors tipped to take over after Matt Smith’s departure.

Billie Piper

Could the actress, who played fan-favourite Rose Tyler, return as the Time Lord?

Ben Daniels

The Cutting It actor once said he had been approached, adding: “I was asked, and when I eventually managed to peel myself off the ceiling, I said, ‘Yeah, of course it’d be something I’d be interested in doing’, and I was hugely excited by it.”

David Harewood

The ex-Homeland star would be the first non-white lead in the hit drama. “It would be very exciting if the phone rang. I doubt it somehow,” he has said.

Rupert Grint

Grint is said to have been shortlisted before in 2013, when Matt Smith announced he was leaving.

(Top from the left) Ben Whishaw, Olivia Colman, Richard Ayoade, (middle from the left) Hayley Atwell, Rory Kinnear, Billie Piper (bottom from the left) Ben Daniels, David Harewood and Rupert Grint, who could be in line for the top sci-fi role of Doctor Who, after Peter Capaldi decided to step down. (PA/PA Wire)
(Top from the left) Ben Whishaw, Olivia Colman, Richard Ayoade, (middle from the left) Hayley Atwell, Rory Kinnear, Billie Piper (bottom from the left) Ben Daniels, David Harewood and Rupert Grint, who could be in line for the top sci-fi role of Doctor Who, after Peter Capaldi decided to step down. (PA/PA Wire)