From Rory Kinnear to Miranda Hart, Ben Daniels to Samuel West, there's no end of names being touted as a possible replacement for Matt Smith's Time Lord, and now Dame Helen Mirren has been added to the list.
The Dame is having none of it though, and dismissed the idea of a bookie putting her at odd of 25/1 to land the role. "Oh, please - I would put much longer odds on it than that," the actress laughed when speaking with The AP. However, she did say she would like to see a woman take on the role. "I'm so sick of that man with his girl sidekick," she declared. "I could name at least ten wonderful British actresses who would absolutely kill in that role."
Former Who star Arthur Darvill didn't seem so sure about the idea of a woman taking on the role, but did offer his full support for the Dame. "I suppose it could be a woman," Darvill told Anglophenia. "I don't know. I think it is a male part, though I think it's just about the person. I'd love to see Dame Helen do it - best of luck to whoever gets it, though."
Speculation was rife over the weekend that Skyfall's Rory Kinnear had been cast in the role, but Jenna Louise Coleman was quick to dispel the rumours. "It's going to be a long, long search" she told fans.
Meanwhile there's still the 50th anniversary special to come, which will feature Smith, Coleman, David Tennant, Billie Piper and John Hurt. The BBC hasn't ruled out the idea of casting a woman, so we guess we'll just have to watch this space.
We personally love the idea of Colin Morgan taking on the role...
