This topic was created by diodesign .
This Friday we'll hold a public poll on who ought to play the next Doctor Who. We've had a ton of suggestions already (John Hurt, Bill Nighy, Sean Pertwee, Philip Glenister, Paterson Joseph etc etc) - but you've all probably got loads more.
So fire away with your nominations, please, and we'll prep a poll for the end of the week.
C.
I think Johnny Lee Miller would be good.
And since it seems appropriate that he be played by someone British, how about Kiefer Sutherland?
Richard E Grant anyone?
However, and given that he has already 'played' the role, what of David Morrissey?
Richard Ayoade aka Moss the IT Crowd.
There's something meta about it.
Also as he wrote on his facebook page
Dear BBC,
I am writing to inform you that I am available to take over immediately as the next Doctor. I'll even bring my own sonic screwdriver (mine actually works).
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Maurice Moss.
You'd have to have him basically be Sherlock though. Snapping at anyone near him and doing scathing put downs alongside the investigation. Would make a good change from the recent cheery/zany all the time. Do you think they could get Martin Freeman as an assistant as well, or is he still busy being a Hobbit?
Freddie Highmore (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory/Arthur and the Invisibles)
Given the apparent reverse aging of the doctor at each regeneration I think it would be excellent to cast a young british actor. It's a bit Benjamin Button. And it fits nicely with the original statement of a limited number of regenerations!
This would be great and would fit the profile nicely. Younger guy, excellent British actor...however he's already appeared in Dr. Who... in "The Lazarus Experiment"
Admittedly he was listed as "Mysterious Man" and we don't in anyway know who he was linked to and he just warns Martha that the doctor is dangerous and to watch out, so that's no showstopper.
He's currently up for a Tony award for his work on the broadway version of Matilda, which is proving massive over there.
I'd actually like to see this. It'd be cool to see how he reacts to his new gender and whether it changes any aspects of his personality as a result.
Billie Piper - No. Too much storyline associated with the character.
Olivia Coleman - While she was great in Peep Show and Hot Fuzz, she doesn't really strike me as "Doctor" material.
Helen Mirren (?sp) - Now we're getting somewhere.
Alex Kingston - An ideal candidate....but too much storyline already associated with her.
I think it'd need to be a more mature actress, someone age 40 or older. A 20 or 30 something wouldn't really have the air of authority the Doctor needs.
"Alex Kingston - An ideal candidate....but too much storyline already associated with her."
Too much storyline!!!!! ffs, not to mention the ultimate in incest, "marrying" yourself!!!!!
I'm not convinced #12 should be female - it might be better to round off the regenerations with a male actor, then the escape from the limit is to become female so they can keep the series going.
"I'm not convinced #12 should be female"
Quite. And nor should any subsequent regenerationed Doctors: Why the Doctor shouldn't regenerate into a female.
Instead of dying / regenerating, perhaps the Doctor could just go on a little sabbatical, and his wife River could take over the doctoring for a year or two. That takes care of the storyline and avoids the icky questions and keeps Alex Kingston on the scene. Eventually, sadly, the Doctor regenerates off-screen for some hilariously-alluded-to reason, and River swaps roles again.
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Johnny Vegas - very interesting, a good serious actor when it's needed and it would a different approach
Eddie Izzard - again serious when required and a different approach
It's a shame I can't see a way for Donna (Catherine Tate) to be worked in as the new Doctor - it's nothing to do with "it's time for a woman" but because she could rip the whole thing up - one minute head butting Cybermen, the next compassion to melt the heart of a Dalek. In many ways stronger than any of the Doctors so far.
Milton Jones - hmm... potential there but I haven't seem do any dramatic acting and would like to be surprised.
As for the Cummerbatch etc. suggestions - same old, same old.
Helen Mirren - see her in RED and you won't have any doubts.
Let's dare do something!
If Eadon was up for it he'd befriend all the Androids, avoid Apples and have the TARDIS Windows boarded up.
@AC, we are looking at replacements for the Doctor, not his (or perhaps her) adversaries or companions. Just think how future episodes might go: we would soon learn that Cyberman OS was really Windows ME and that it was developed by the Daleks.
I think it's time for an older Doctor again, so:
1. Jim Broadbent
2. Bill Nighy
3. Simon Callow (was Dickens in DW but what the hell)
4. Simon Russell Beale (not his style so far but maybe he could branch out)
5. Not personally in favour of a female doctor, but Imelda Staunton would give it a good go, or perhaps Ceila Imrie
6. Sanjiv Bhaskar (not sure how much serious acting he'd do, but it would be a good ride)
"I can see no reason why Alex Kingston can't be the next Doctor."
Except that, a) she died at some point so would be the "last" doctor, and b) she's Rory & Amy's daughter, and c) she originally was planned to "kill" the doctor, which would have been the mother of all grandfather paradoxes. So would take some doing.
Same thing with Billie Piper/Catherine Tate/anyone-ever-in-Doc-Who (which I think people just like to nominate because they liked the character).
For an older spin: Sir Ian McEllen or Sir Patrick Stewart. Either would satisfy the nerd in me. Oo-er missus.
however, as it's run by an increasingly younger target audience: how about James McAvoy?
Paterson Joseph, as much as I like him, has already been in two episodes of Who in the episodes towards the end of Eccleston's tenure on Satellite 5 (he was the other remaining contestant on the Weakest Link show). As much as Moffat and Davies like reusing cast it just wouldn't work.
He'd constantly be disappearing off the set only to be found two hours later under one of the on-location vans, stripping the gearbox, having overheard the driver moaning that the syncro on fourth was a bit flaky. Or drinking tea. And he'd insist on flying the tardis at a mental lean, scuffing his knees out the front door.
I really rather like the idea of Sean Pertwee - preferably in Sergeant Wells guise from Dog Soldiers.
"The only people who go looking for Daleks are Kamikazes, glory boys and full-on f*cking f*ckwits."
"Sausages!"
Etc.
Steven R
Callum Blue - He seems fairly versatile, can do the moody look that the Doctor needs sometimes, and can be hilarious (as proven by Dead Like Me).
Hugh Laurie. His House delivery after his epic comedy career showed his capabilities. He'd likely draw in more Americans as well.
Amanda Tapping would make an interesting female doctor.
William Shatner
About as likely as most of the other nominations, but it'd be a wild ride!
Being serious, I would like to see a well trained more mature actor to take the francise away from the twilight set. Someone who could do for Doctor Who, what Patrick Stewart did for the Captain of the Enterprise
At the end of Episode 13 of Season 7 - "The Name of the Doctor" they introduced John Hurt as the Doctor.
Doctor Who canon maintains there can only be 12 regenerations of a Time Lord, for a total of 13 lives (the 1st one being the one where he is born, not a regeneration).
So if what we are seeing is not some story skullduggery...John Hurt is the LAST doctor. The result of the final regeneration. Which leaves us one more Doctor to fit between Matt Smith and John Hurt.
That being said, we can conclude that John Hurt is NOT the next incarnation, so he's off the list.
Let's not forget the name of the Valeyard was also mentioned, as in an incarnation of the doctor. Perhaps that was John Hurt.....after all, he didn't use the name "The Doctor", using Valeyard which apparently means "learned court prosecutor".
Besides, the regeneration limit was easily circumvented by the Master - he'd finished his regenerations and looked like a turd wrapped in bandages for a couple of series (Deadly Assassin?).
The 12 regen limit was already implied as broken back in the old series. The Valeyard was 'between his 12th and final regeneration' which pretty much flat out says R>12 in this case, if not giving you any clue what so ever where his final regen will actually fall.
Yeah, I'm wondering if it was a societal rather than biological thing.
The Time Lords permitted the Master a new regeneration...and technically speaking the 2nd Doctor's regeneration was forced on him rather than being 'natural'.
Ah, let's face it. If they want him to continue, they'll find a way around the rules they invented.
I think this would make for an interesting development, and there are a few strong contenders depending on what sort of personality the 12th Doctor is to assume.
As already mentioned, Sue Perkins would make a good 'quirky' option. Helen Mirren would undoubtedly be fantastic under any circumstances, although I'm kind of torn between picturing her roles in Red and Arthur. Emma Thompson would also potentially be a good choice as a no-nonsense, matronly Doctor.
However, while all of the above would definitely be fine choices, part of me would quite like to see Gemma Arterton as The Doctor... preferably in the style of her role as Kelly Jones in St Trinians. A nice opportunity for some initial post-regeneration confusion about her memories and feelings towards Clara, maybe leading to a kiss... guess it's unlikely, but certainly something I can dream about! ;)
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If the Doctor remains male, my candidates would be (In order of preference):
* Craig Charles (The ultimate smeghead becomes the ultimate smeghead with a much cooler, yet still just-as-somehow-busted ride.)
* Sir Patrick Stewart, a man whose credentials as a science-fiction authority figure who specializes in diplomacy are indisputable.
* David Tennant. Yes, David Tennant. We still have Ten's half-human clone running about. If something Permanent were to befall the original Doctor, the halfie could regain full Time Lord biology using the Chameleon Arch, and bring Rose with him again. Could get interesting if they run into River again.
* Sir Christopher Lee, a man who is, quite frankly, the ultimate badass given his name and the fact that his life and ancestry are a gigantic heavy metal album. Could also get a new Sonic Screwdriver with the same rough shape as Count Dooku's lightsaber as a friendly reference. :)
* Richard Hammond. Any time I see David Tennant wearing anything but a suit that Ten would wear, I can't shake the feeling I'm looking at Richard Hammond anyway. :)
If we're getting a female Doctor... Again, in order of preference:
* Catherine Tate. Yes, Catherine Tate. Donna still has the DoctorDonna personality and memory matrix within her, just suppressed. Again, if something Permanent were to happen to the Doctor as we know him, it might happen within eyeshot of Mrs. Donna Temple-Noble, thus restoring her DoctorDonna memories and personality. And as for the "burn you up" problem, that's simple; she can use the Chameleon Arch to make herself biologically a Time Lord.
* Georgia Moffett. Yes, Georgia Moffett. Jenny is, notionally at least, still at loose in the universe. If something Permanent were to happen to the Doctor, the TARDIS might seek out his next-of-kin; his daughter Jenny. She might take up the mantle of the Doctor in place of dear old dad. Plus, that would make her the Doctor's Daughter who married the Doctor and had the Doctor's Daughter and then became the Doctor, which is just convoluted enough to work. (Not to mention it would make David Tennant the Doctor who married the Doctor's Daughter and sired the Doctor's Daughter whose spouse then became the Doctor.)
* Amanda Tapping. Basically, Dr. Helen Magnus IN SPACE AND TIME! That couldn't possibly be anything but hilarious!
* Sigourney Weaver. Why not? Her science fiction chops are indisputable, and Avatar proved she can technobabble with the best.
While the Doctor is something of a British institution, in order to appeal to a broader audience, isn't it time for an American to play the role? With that in mind, may I nominate Danny DeVito. That's assuming he isn't busy playing the lead role in the American remake of "The Long Good Friday",
Oh, I do indeed hope the Impossible Girl remains with the Doctor. Of course, technically speaking, she always will be there in some incarnation or another. Though, isn't it funny that she's usurped Donna's title as the Most Important Girl in the History of the Universe?
Odd, isn't it, that the Impossible Girl was on holiday that time, requiring some kind-of-ignorant office lass to be the impetus preventing the Doctor's permanent fate on that black day. Ah well, maybe the G.I. managed to neutralize her that time, but didn't count on the complete left-fielder of one Donna Noble.
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