American Gangster star Chiwetel Ejiofor emerges as hot favourite to become the first black Doctor Who

With the announcement that Matt Smith would be leaving the role of Doctor Who at the end of the year, the hunt is on to find the twelfth Time Lord.

And so far, British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor has been given 7/1 odds and is the sci-fi fansites' favourite to fill the role, not to mention becoming the first black Doctor in the show's history.

Chiwetel, 35, has already stated that if the series' producers asked him to play the Time Lord, he'd tell them 'yes, of course.'

The new Doctor? Chiwetel Ejiofor is the fan favourite to replace Matt Smith as the new Time Lord

Asked by Andrew Marr in 2011 whether he'd take on the part, the actor said: 'Yes, of course. It's always good to be asked to come back to London and do great stuff not only in television but in theatre and film too.'

 

Skybet gave BAFTA-winner Chiwetel, the odds taking into account his stellar history on stage and screen, having starred in films American Gangster and Love, Actually, on TV in The Shadow Line and Dancing On The Edge, and having won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor as Othello in 2008 theatre production.

But Ejiofor isn't the only star rumoured to be taking on the high-profile job, with Rory Kinnear as the Ladbrokes favourite with odds of 3/1.

Farewell: Matt will be saying goodbye to the TARDIS and companion Jenna-Louise Coleman after the Christmas special

Female? The Radio Times have suggest Zawe Ashton as the first Time LadyThe Richard II actor is thought to be a perfect choice as he is a well-seasoned actor on stage and screen, with a strong history at the BBC, but has never taken on a major leading role.

A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: 'Rory has all the credibility and is known in the industry as a very talented actor, but he isn't as instantly recognisable as some of the other candidates.

'Matt Smith proved that choosing a lesser-known talent can really work, and he's been a big hit with viewers. It's essential to get this decision right for the future of the series.'

Russell Tovey is also a strong contender, whose name was linked to the eleventh Doctor role but obviously the Being Human star lost out to Matt Smith in 2010.

High odds: Rory Kinnear and Russell Tovey are two other actors considered to be in the running to become Doctor Who

The young Doc: Rupert Grint has 10/1 odds to become the next Time Lord

Russell, 31, has been given 10/1 odds by William Hill to take on the role, as did Rupert Grint - who would be the youngest Doctor ever - but one female suggestion would really throw a spanner into the works.

Fresh Meat star Zawe Ashton was put up as a potential Doctor by the Radio Times and she seemed to be pleased with the subsequent social media endorsements.

Writing on Twitter yesterday, Zawe, 29, said: 'Thankyou to all who have been concurring!!Ha! #AVeryNewWho'.

Dame Helen Mirren and Olivia Coleman have also been suggested, but reportedly, BBC bosses won't be casting the first ever female Doctor because it would be too difficult for parents to explain the Time Lord's sex change to their children.

'While I think kids will not have a problem with a female Doctor, I think fathers will have a problem with it,' former Doctor Who boss Russell T. Davies told the Daily Star.

'They will then imagine they will have to describe sex changes to their children.'

At the end of the last series, John Hurt was introduced as 'The Doctor' but many commentators do not think this puts him as the tweltfh Time Lord.

Hurt has stated that he plays 'part of the Doctor' in a “kind of trinity,” which includes David Tennant - who will return for the 50th anniversary episode - with Matt Smith.

Smith will say farewell to the TARDIS after this year's Christmas special.
The 30-year old actor has played the Time Lord for three years, and said: 'It's been an honour to play this role, to follow the legacy of brilliant actors. When ya gotta go, ya gotta go.'

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