As Peter Capaldi prepares to step aside at the end of 2017, we play the regeneration game and look at who could be the new Doctor?

Ben Whishaw

Whishaw is the bookies’ favourite at 6/1 with credits including tech wizard Q in Bond blockbusters Spectre and Skyfall.

He has previously been mentioned as a leading contender for the role of the Doctor.

In 2013 he won the best leading actor TV Bafta for his performance as Richard II in the first of the BBC’s epic production of Shakespeare’s history plays, and he was nominated again in 2016 for his performance in London Spy.

Should Bedfordshire-born Whishaw, 36, be interested in taking up the Time Lord mantle he may have the chance to get some tips from Capaldi as they reprise their roles in Paddington 2 later this year.

Richard Ayoade

The IT Crowd star won a Bafta for his portrayal of lovable geek Maurice Moss in the hit Channel 4 sitcom.

He also also earned plaudits in the director’s chair for 2010 rom-com Submarine and more recently voiced The Snowman in the BBC’s reboot of the cartoon classic Danger Mouse.

While studying law at Cambridge he was president of the university’s famed theatrical group, the Footlights, whose former presidents included Hugh Laurie, Sue Perkins and Eric Idle.

The 39-year-old is hot on Whishaw’s heels with the odds for him taking the keys to the TARDIS put at 8/1.

Rory Kinnear

Once tipped to take over from Matt Smith as the Doctor, the son of character actor Roy Kinnear is again among the favourites with the bookmakers.

The 38-year-old, who has appeared in several Bond films, said in 2013 that he had never watched Doctor Who and had no idea what it was all about.

However, he would have had plenty of time to learn the difference between a Dalek and a Voord in the intervening years and William Hill placed him at at equal odds with Ayoade.

Rupert Grint

The ex-Harry Potter star was tipped as a possible replacement for Matt Smith in 2013.

David Harewood

The ex-Homeland star would be the first non-white lead in the hit drama.

“It would be very exciting if the phone rang. I doubt it somehow,” he has said.

Olivia Colman

The next Doctor doesn’t have to be a man, of course.

New Doctor Who boss Chris Chibnall has been working with Colman on his other show, Broadchurch.

MP Yvette Cooper is among her fans, once saying that seeing the award-winning actress playing the Doctor would be “ace”.

Billie Piper

Could the actress, who previously played companion Rose Tyler, return as the Time Lord?

Hayley Atwell

The Agent Carter and Captain America actress has previously said she would love the role.

Asked by a fan whether she would like to appear in the BBC sci-fi series, she tweeted in 2015: “I’d like to be Doctor Who”.