With Peter Capaldi rumoured to be leaving Doctor Who at the end of the next series, it’s time for the big question: Who will play the Time Lord when he regenerates?

TV favourite Olivia Colman, past assistant Catherine Tate, or even someone more left-field – Emma Watson, anybody? – could be in the running as the BBC faces calls to cast the first female Doctor in the role.

Peter Capaldi as The DoctorPeter Capaldi as The Doctor (BBC Pictures )

 

Or perhaps James Bond star Ben Whishaw, beloved Benedict Cumberbatch or quirky comic Richard Ayoade could fill the gap?

With showrunner Steven Moffat set to depart, there is speculation that Peter will make way for a new Doctor in 2017, at the end of series 10. Here’s who we’d like to see in the role…

Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict CumberbatchBenedict Cumberbatch (Matt Crossick/PA)

 

Benedict may have his hands full playing Sherlock and another Doctor – that is, Doctor Strange – but wouldn’t he be a fantastic Time Lord?

Emma Watson

Emma Watson Emma Watson (Chris Jackson/PA)

 

The Harry Potter star could switch from the big screen to the small screen for a star turn as the first female Doctor. The fandoms would lose their minds.

Ben Whishaw

Ben Whishaw Ben Whishaw (Matt Crossick/PA)

 

Ben plays quirky tech whiz Q in James Bond and would make an excellent Doctor. He ruled himself out in 2013 – but perhaps a couple of years have changed his mind?

Catherine Tate

Catherine Tate in Do Not DisturbCatherine Tate (UKTV)

 

Catherine has already starred in Doctor Who as the Doctor’s companion, back in the days of David Tennant. Fans loved her – and surely there could be a clever explanation of how she ends up as the Time Lord.

Damian Lewis

Damian LewisDamian Lewis (Dan Steinberg/Invision)

 

Surely it’s time for a ginger Doctor?

James McAvoy

James McAvoyJames McAvoy (Simon Annand/Dramatic Need)

 

Scottish actor James could follow in the footsteps of Peter Capaldi – and viewers wouldn’t even have to adjust to a new accent.

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Chiwetel EjioforChiwetel Ejiofor (Hannah McKay/PA)

 

Chiwetel is rumoured to have turned down the role before, but in an interview on the Andrew Marr show he said he would be open to the idea of playing the Time Lord.

Hayley Atwell

Hayley Atwell Hayley Atwell (Grant Pollard/Invision)

 

Hayley has already thrown her cap into the ring. When someone on Twitter asked if she wanted to appear in the sci-fi series, she declared her ambition, replying: “I’d like to BE Doctor Who.”

Richard Ayoade

Richard Ayoade Richard Ayoade (Victoria Will/AP)

 

The director and former IT crowd star would make the role entirely his own.

Olivia Colman

Olivia ColmanOlivia Colman (Anthony Devlin/PA)

 

TV stalwart Olivia has already had a bit part in Doctor Who, but wouldn’t she be great as the Doctor herself?

David Tennant

David Tennant and Billie Piper in Doctor Who (BBC)David Tennant and Billie Piper in Doctor Who (BBC)

 

David is of the best-loved Doctors of the rebooted Doctor Who and his return would be the ultimate plot twist: could the Time Lord regenerate into a past version of himself?