Doctor Who won’t be a woman, say the BBC in letter to concerned fan
Speculation has been mounting as to who will play the 13th Doctor ever since Peter Capaldi announced that he was stepping down as the eponymous Time Lord back in January.
At one point, betting was suspended on Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge inheriting the Tardis, while Olivia Colman, Game of Thrones’ Natalie Dormer and Hollywood star Tilda Swinton have also been linked with the role.
However, the chances of woman taking the job now appear to be remote – at least according to one BBC employee.
The Sun is reporting that the Corporation’s complaints officer, Joanne Coyne, wrote to a fan that there are “currently no plans” for a female Doctor Who.
Responding to a concerned parent’s letter in which he said that switching the gender of the role would confuse his children, Coyne wrote: “We appreciate that you’re a big Doctor Who fan and you have concerns that the programme would change should there be a female doctor.
“Be assured there are currently no plans to have a female Doctor Who.”
Other actors rumoured to be in the running to play the Time Lord are Kris Marshall (Death in Paradise), David Harewood (Homeland) and Tom Rosenthal (Plebs).
A BBC spokeswoman, meanwhile, said: “No casting decisions have yet been made on Series 11.”