Ben Whishaw is the bookmakers’ frontrunner to replace Peter Capaldi when he leaves Doctor Who later this year (17).
Capaldi revealed on Monday (30Jan17) that he would be hanging up his sonic screwdriver after the upcoming tenth series, immediately leading to speculation as to who could replace him in the Tardis.
Names thrown in the mix included Harry Potter star Rupert Grint and The I.T. Crowd‘s Richard Ayoade, but Ben is currently favorite to take on the part.
Most famous for playing Q in Bond movies Skyfall and Spectre, bookmakers William Hill have given Ben 6/1 odds to be cast as the Time Lord.
Rupert, Richard and Rory Kinnear all have an 8/1 chance of landing the role, Ben Daniels has been given a 10/1 chance and Russell Tovey is on 12/1. At the end of the list is James Corden, who is currently busy in the U.S. with his late night chat show, with odds of 66/1.
The odds were released as exiting Doctor, Peter, backed 72-year-old veteran actress Frances de la Tour to land the part, insisting it is time that the role should be played by a woman.
“The time felt right to bow out, to let somebody else play this wonderful role and I would like Frances de la Tour to be the first female doctor,” he told Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper.
His comments align with former Doctor Who star Billie Piper‘s thoughts that the part should be taken on by a female.
“I’ve always supported the original format but I don’t know where they can go from here,” she told the BBC. “I think it would be great (to have a female Doctor) given the spirit of the world at the moment. I think it would be timely.”
But she’s not sure she would want the role herself, adding: “I don’t know. It’s a lot of work.”
