Doctor Who fans have been in speculation overdrive following the announcement that Jodie Whittaker is officially preparing to exit the TARDIS. Radio Times conducted a survey about who should replace her, and it received more than 10,000 responses! Actor Michael Sheen came out on top.
Sheen, known for his roles in The Twilight Saga, Good Omens, Masters of Sex and, most recently, Prodigal Son, was the clear favorite on the survey, coming in ahead of the competition to take over as the new Doctor. Sheen is no stranger to the Doctor Who franchise, having voiced a character in an episode written by Good Omens author Neil Gaiman.
Could Michael Sheen become the new lead on Doctor Who?
The IT Crowd star Richard Ayoade and Jo Martin also got a lot of attention in the survey results. Ayoade’s recent appearance on The Mandalorian highlights his knowledge of the galaxy. Meanwhile, Martin already appeared in a season 12 episode of Doctor Who as the Doctor herself, and fans have always wanted to know more about her character.
Sheen would be a fine choice to take over Doctor Who, but there is always the concern that having a big star could overshadow the rest of the show, something that has shaped casting decisions over the years. Though most actors playing the Doctor have been well-known prior to joining the cast, landing roles on Doctor Who has ignited their careers and sent them to the next level of superstardom.
Then again, Sheen enjoys playing a variety of roles, so he could jump on board the TARDIS for a season or two while he’s preparing for the next season of Good Omens.
Speculation about the next Doctor begins as soon as a new Doctor is crowned. Fans love speculating about new Doctors as much as they love seeing new Doctors in action. Showrunners are always keen to keep possible frontrunners close to the vest as long as possible. Whittaker’s final season, which will be punctuated by several specials in 2022, won’t even arrive until later this year, so there is no rush on BBC’s part to make an announcement any time soon.
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