Doctor Who actor David Harewood says the next Doctor should be black or female

The Homeland star says “it's nice to be in the running”

Published: Sunday, 26 February 2017 at 12:35 pm

Following the announcement that Peter Capaldi is stepping down as the star of BBC sci-fi Doctor Who, speculation has been rampant about who could be his replacement as the time-travelling Doctor.

Ad

And now former series guest star David Harewood has thrown his own hat into the ring, acknowledging some fans’ suggestion that he take over from Capaldi while also stating he believes that the next Doctor should be played by an ethnic minority actor or a woman (an idea suggested by many prominent voices associated with the series in recent weeks including Billie Piper and Mark Gatiss).

"It's nice to be in the running," Harewood (who appeared as the villainous Joshua Naismith in 2009/10 double episode The End of Time) told BBC News at the Independent Spirit Awards.

"It needs to do something different, so I think it's either going to be a black person or a woman. It would just bring a different flavour to it."

Referencing his current role as hero Martian Manhunter on superhero drama Supergirl, he added: "I'm already playing an alien so maybe I could switch and play a Time Lord - who knows what's going to happen?

"It's nice to be in the running. It's an iconic role."

Still, Harewood also thought that bookies’ favourite Tilda Swinton would be an excellent choice to take over the Tardis.

"She's extraordinary anyway so I think she'd be great," he said. "It would be a very different Doctor and maybe that's what it needs."

Only time (and space) can tell if he’ll turn out to be right.

Ad

Doctor Who returns to BBC1 on Saturday 15th April

Authors

Radio Times commissioning editor Huw Fullerton. He sits in front of a shelving unit, looking at the camera and smiling. He wears glasses and has a moustache

Huw FullertonCommissioning editor

Huw Fullerton is a commissioning editor for Radio Times magazine handling comedy, entertainment and specialist drama. In a previous regeneration, he covered all things sci-fi and fantasy for RadioTimes.com.

Ad

Ad

Get the Christmas double issue

Too much to watch at Christmas? Let Radio Times do the choosing to find something the whole family will enjoy.

Subscribe by 3 Dec

Loading...

Ad

Loading...