Jodie Whittaker will soon relinquish control of the TARDIS. Which names are the rumored favorites to take over as Doctor Who's Next Doctor?
The list of actors lined up as favorites to replace Jodie Whittaker in Doctor Who is as diverse as it is tantalizing. After two seasons and a Flux, Jodie Whittaker's departure from the TARDIS is confirmed. A run of specials that includes January's "Eve of the Daleks," April's "Legend of the Sea Devils" and a final regeneration episode will mark the Thirteenth Doctor's farewell run. From there, we know Russell T. Davies replaces Chris Chibnall as showrunner from Doctor Who's 60th anniversary onward, and he'll ultimately shoulder responsibility for picking the Fourteenth Doctor.
Honoring the time-honored tradition of pre-regeneration speculation, the Doctor Who rumor mill is in full swing as an official announcement edges closer. Hugh Grant recently moved to debunk widespread reports of his Fourteenth Doctor casting, but plenty of other names have been linked with Britain's biggest TV gig - some we've heard (many) times before, others we haven't. While most rumors inevitably lead nowhere, betting favorites can prove a somewhat helpful guide as to which actors are in contention. Peter Capaldi, for instance, was installed as a firm favorite to become Matt Smith's successor months before his eventual unveiling.
At the time of writing, no clear front-runner has emerged for the Fourteenth Doctor role, but a few recurring names are doing the rounds. Here are the major Time Lords-in-waiting.
As soon as Russell T. Davies' return as Doctor Who showrunner was confirmed in mid-2021, Olly Alexander became odds-on favorite for the Fourteenth Doctor spot - and it's not hard to see why. By casting both Christopher Eccleston as his Ninth Doctor and David Tennant as his Tenth, Davies picked actors he'd worked with on previous projects. As the star of RTD's acclaimed It's A Sin, the endearingly outlandish Olly Alexander emerges as an obvious choice to replace Jodie Whittaker in Doctor Who's starring role. Alexander has politely distanced himself from such discussion, while question marks remain over both his limited acting experience, and how he'd balance such a demanding TV job alongside his blossoming music career. Nevertheless, Olly Alexander is never far from the Fourteenth Doctor conversation.
Michael Sheen has long been an actor you feel could play Doctor Who, possessing classic British charm, stage-tested thespian chops, and that all-important dash of eccentricity. Starring alongside David Tennant in Good Omens, however, has placed Sheen front-and-center of Doctor Who's Fourteenth Doctor debate. The two actors share a wonderfully amusing friendship, and one would be forgiven for pondering whether Tennant might've convinced his angelic pal that a stint in the TARDIS could prove worthwhile. Sheen has flat-out denied receiving any overtures from Doctor Who's casting department, but they definitely have his number - the actor voiced an unseen character in season 6's "The Doctor's Wife."
Another from the It's A Sin cast (and not for the last time) is the hugely talented Lydia West. A preexisting connection to Russell T. Davies has lifted West up alongside It's A Sin co-star Olly Alexander as one of the favorites to succeed Jodie Whittaker in Doctor Who. Curiously, Lydia West also featured in BBC's Dracula, which was penned by Steven Moffat (ex-Doctor Who showrunner) and Mark Gatiss (Doctor Who writer), and lent her voice to a Doctor Who Big Finish audio story starring Catherine Tate's Donna Noble in 2020. Still need convincing? None other than Jodie Whittaker herself has publicly endorsed West as her pick for the Fourteenth Doctor, and that recommendation was subsequently "noted" by Russell T. Davies. Addressing the whirlwind of rumor, West has spoken with excitement about possibly being in line for Doctor Who.
Steven Moffat's Doctor Who rewrote the rule book on regeneration. With Tom Baker's mysterious Curator character, Doctor Who implied Time Lords could "revisit" past regenerations, while the Twelfth Doctor subconsciously picked his own physical appearance as a warning to himself. Effectively, that means the Fourteenth Doctor could feasibly be played by a previous TARDIS occupant, and David Tennant is the name currently on lips. Maybe Russell T. Davies hopes to recreate his Doctor Who glory days - if it ain't broke (and the Tenth Doctor's tenure was absolutely not broke), don't fix it, after all. Tennant's Tenth Doctor might be tempted back for multi-Doctor stories or one-off specials, however, it's difficult to imagine he and Davies being content with simply retreading the past.
Richard Ayoade is absolutely no stranger to Doctor Who casting rumors. Known for his roles in The IT Crowd, The Watch and The Mandalorian, Ayoade was among those mooted to replace Matt Smith... and then Peter Capaldi... and now Jodie Whittaker. Will he get there eventually? A master of awkward, kooky comedy but bearing charisma in spades, it's no surprise that Ayoade joins Patterson Joseph and Kris Marshall as eternal non-Doctors, but just like Joseph and Marshall, Ayoade's casting may now reek of predictability - no matter how well-suited he is. Fans certainly remain keen on the idea, voting Richard Ayoade as their preferred Fourteenth Doctor in a 2021 poll, but the Travel Man himself has been characteristically quiet on the matter... except when Tweeting, "Can't wait to find out if I'm Doctor Who. Fingers crossed!" the day before Whittaker's official reveal.
Rising to prominence thanks to 2020 drama I May Destroy You - which she starred in, wrote and directed - Michaela Coel's complex, offbeat performance as Arabella installed her as an early contender to replace Jodie Whittaker in Doctor Who season 14. A wheelbarrow of Emmy and BAFTA awards has turned Coel into a valuable commodity, and she's already confirmed for a 2022 MCU appearance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, potentially as Storm, if rumors are to be believed. A significant presence in the MCU would likely rule Coel out of Doctor Who's top job, but the actress has adopted a "never say never" stance whenever asked about a possible Time Lord future in interviews.
Doctor Who has a habit of elevating actors who impress in supporting roles to the main cast. Peter Capaldi, Colin Baker, Karen Gillan, and Freema Agyeman all made their Doctor Who bows under different guises before becoming the Twelfth Doctor, Sixth Doctor, Amy, and Martha, respectively. Lenny Henry's guest spot as Daniel Barton in Doctor Who season 12's "Spyfall" could, therefore, pave the way toward his becoming the Fourteenth Doctor. A household name in the UK for over 30 years, Lenny Henry perhaps isn't the most realistic prospect to join Doctor Who on a full-time basis, and, similar to Hugh Grant, he's arguably too well-established and recognizable to give the franchise the reinvention it currently requires. Anyway, Henry already played The Doctor... sort of. The Lenny Henry Show included a parody sketch with the man himself lampooning Gallifrey's troublesome Time Lord - scarf and all.
Connected to Russell T. Davies through Years And Years (which also features Lydia West, incidentally...), T'Nia Miller is now perhaps best known as Hannah from The Haunting of Bly Manor. She can also be spotted playing a freshly-regenerated Time Lord general in Doctor Who season 10's "Hell Bent," ticking the two crucial boxes of knowing RTD, and already appearing in Doctor Who. Through her extensive work as a TV character actor, T'Nia Miller has demonstrated an acting range befitting of the new Fourteenth Doctor, and when confronted with casting rumors in interviews, has cheekily hinted she might give RTD a call...
Rounding out the It's A Sin alumni is Omari Douglas, who portrayed Roscoe in Russell T. Davies' acclaimed drama series. Though only just beginning his onscreen career, Douglas boasts an extensive list of theater credits, standing him in good stead as a future Doctor Who actor. Betting odds have Omari Douglas as a genuine contender for the Fourteenth Doctor job, and the actor has responded positively when questioned - despite pleading ignorant to having any insider information. Russell T. Davies has spoken very highly of Douglas as a leading man, but remained tight-lipped regarding his credentials waving a sonic screwdriver around.
Known for The Girl With All The Gifts, The Personal History of David Copperfield, and A Very English Scandal, Fisayo Akinade's acting chops provide a strong foundation for any potential Fourteenth Doctor bid. He's also a firm favorite of - and stop us if you've heard this one before - Russell T. Davies, with Doctor Who's incoming showrunner giving Akinade his first gig on TV with both Banana and Cucumber. In a 2005 BBC interview from his first stint leading Doctor Who, RTD was effusive about finding Akinade's young talent, comparing the discovery to Billie Piper's casting as Rose Tyler. Now a more seasoned, mature actor, Akinade may be deemed ready for a bigger, more timey-wimey challenge.
