With Jodie Whittaker set to leave Doctor Who next year, speculation is mounting over who will take on the iconic role. Bookmakers have installed Michaela Coel as the favourite, with odds of 7/1 from PaddyPower. The creator and star of I May Destroy You already has a strong relationship with the BBC, which is developing a new project with her. However, her recent casting in the next Black Panther film may limit her availability.
Other contenders include Matt Berry, known for Toast of London and What We Do in the Shadows. The English comedian has appeared across BBC channels and radio, and his star is rising with roles in films like Christopher Robin. Berry also included the Doctor Who theme in his 2018 album Television Themes.
Richard Ayoade, famed for playing Moss in The IT Crowd, is a fan favourite online. His deadpan hosting of the BAFTA TV Awards and directorial work on films like Submarine have earned him credibility. Michael Sheen, who previously voiced House in a Matt Smith-era episode, could bring a more seasoned presence, having starred in Good Omens and Staged alongside former Doctor David Tennant.
Jessica Raine, known for Call the Midwife, has already appeared in Doctor Who as a guest star and played a producer in the behind-the-scenes drama An Adventure in Space and Time. Rahul Kohli, a Comic Con regular from iZombie and The Haunting of Bly Manor, has been linked to the role so often that he jokingly asked fans to stop tweeting him about it. Younger candidates include Chance Perdomo, star of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and T'Nia Miller, whose role in The Haunting of Bly Manor has sparked rumours.
