So Matt Smith is leaving

Yesterday, the news broke that Matt Smith will be leaving Doctor Who during this year's christmas Special. As usual, there are rampant rumours regarding who will replace him. So I thought I'd chime in my opinion on the subject.

I'm torn.

On the one hand, I enjoy it when a new Doctor is introduced. They bring something fresh to the series. And with the first few viewings, there is always that moment when you think, "Oh look at that! It's just like Nine". Finding the traits the Doctor shares with his previous regeneration always makes me smile.

But on the downside, I've grown to like Matt Smith's Doctor. He's the first of the new Doctors to be truly alien in the way he interacts with people. His relationship with Clara has been very intriguing and somewhat refreshing to see (even if Moffat has repeatedlyreused story ideas).

Should Matt stay for a while longer? I think he still has something to give to the character, but at the same time, it's better that he's going out on a high, rather than sticking at the character for so long we become bored of him. David did it, as did Christopher, and it's nice to see Matt has realised this as well. 

So who should be the next Doctor?

One intriguing possibility that has been risen is that a woman could replace him. Lara Pulver (pictured below) has expressed an interest in playing the 12th Doctor, and recent episodes have confirmed the long held belief that a Time Lord could regenerate and become a Time Lady, and actresses Helen Miriam, Olivia Coulman and former companion Billie Piper have been citied as possibile replacements.

The Next Doctor?

Personally, I hope that this is not the case. Much as I'd love to see a woman take on the role, I think that the idea of the Doctor as a slightly weird British man is simply too ingrained. Had it already occurred during the Classic era, that would be a different matter entirely. But it didn't (sadly) and now I think it's too late to try it, especially with the Doctor approaching his final life (which I will play)

So who could do it?

Some actors listed on betting sites for the role are Idris Elba, Russell Tovey, Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch. While all the above would make wonderful Doctors, I'm hoping that it goes to a middle aged or older actor. As proven by Jon Pertwee, age does not have to limit the role at all. In fact, he was the first "action" Doctor, with his Venusian Aikido. So could do it?

Before The Snowmen, I would've said Richard E Grant without hesitating. Why? Let's look at the facts, shall we?

He's played non canon versions of the Doctor twice before. The first was in the Curse of Fatal Death, and while he didn't get very much screen time, he left an impression on many viwers. The second was in The Scream of the Shalka, an attempt by the BBC to bring Doctor Who back before Russell T Davis stepped in. Here he was haunted by some loss and he did not want a companion. But as the serial progressed, he became a lighter character, showing some traits one associates with the Doctor, as well as a love of show tunes. I would've loved to see this Doctor, travelling with Alison and an Android version of the Master in many more adventures, but sadly, it was not to be.

So who exactly would I like to see as the Doctor then? 

There has also been one actor that I thought would make an excellent Doctor, and he did in two audio adventures in the Doctor Who: Unbound series. He is no stranger to science fiction, having had roles in Star Trek and as the villian in the first TRON film as well as voicing a villain in the Doctor Who animated adventure Dreamland. In fact, he recently appeared on Doctor Who itself, in the episode Cold War.

I am, of course, talking about David Warner.

At 71, he would be the second oldest (John Hurt just beats him by two years) to protray the Doctor. If you don't think he could do it, just go listen to his audio adventures (available from the Big Finish website). You can trust me on this. David Warner would make an excellent Doctor. And by having him being a little older, his relationship with his Companion would be more akin to that of the Third Doctor and Liz Shaw or Sarah Jane, a departure from the current lovey dovey Companion relationships we've seen.

That's just my thoughts on the subject. Do you agree? Disagree? Let me know in comments!

Live Long and Prosper