TV
Olly Alexander odds-on for role as fourteenth Doctor
Year & Years frontman and It’s a Sin star Olly Alexander has been carved out as 1/2 favourite to become the fourteenth Doctor Who, after the first sightings of a trailer for the upcoming season 13, during which the Doctor hacked into the Saturday night’s broadcast of Strictly Come Dancing, asking “can you hear me?”
2021’s reduced thirteenth season of just six episodes is due to drop any time, and will be Jodie Whittaker’s third and final outing as the Time Lord, as she is set to exit the sci-fi series in 2022, after a trio of specials. The upcoming season, which will adopt a one-story format, will see the return of Whittaker and companion Yaz (Mandip Gill), and will also introduce new character Dan, played by stand-up comedian John Bishop.
It was recently announced that Russell T. Davies – who revived the series in 2005 after a fifteen-year hiatus – will be replacing Chris Chibnall as showrunner for the 60th anniversary and beyond. And it is Davies’ return as Showrunner that has fuelled speculation that Harrogate-born Alexander is set to land the role, having previously said he would have loved to cast the Years & Years frontman as The Doctor. The star, and his agent (Martha Kinn), have both flatly denied the rumours.
Alexander, 31, is a British musician, singer-songwriter, actor, LGBTQ advocate, and television presenter, whose music is released under the name Years & Years.
Good Omens and Prodigal Son star Michael Sheen, recently voted as the fans’ choice for the high-profile vacancy, is available at 5/2, narrowly pipping 8/1 Richard Ayoade to the accolade.
Another strong contender to the Tardis is Years and Years star T’Nia Miller (7/1), who has already played a Time Lord in the series. Miller played ‘The General’ in 2015’s Hell Bent, and is another name in the frame due to her previous projects with the incoming showrunner – Davies.
I May Destroy You creator and star Michaela Coel is also 7/1, with roles in Star Wars and Black Mirror bolstering her already impressive credentials.
Bridgerton pair Ben Miller and Rege-Jean Page are 12/1 and 16/1 respectively, while eleventh Doctor Matt Smith’s fancy is Rhys Irfans of The Amazing Spider-Man fame, at 8/1. Comedian Rose Matafeo is another prospect at 8/1 following her successful comedy series Starstruck.
