Doctor Who: My Top Picks For The Next Doctor

We expect it isn't for at least another few months until we find out who our next long-term Doctor is. Unless that big regeneration twist from last year's "The Reality War" means we won't find out until Christmas Day.

Either way we've got a bit of a wait until their identity is revealed, but that doesn't mean we can't theorise about who could be wielding the sonic screwdriver next. So, let's get down to my personal top picks.

Robert Aramayo

I swear (no pun intended) I'm not just jumping on the bandwagon with this one.

Robert Aramayo has become a more familiar name over the years. He's had a brief role as a young Ned Stark in Game of Thrones. He's had a leading role in Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power. He's now even become a multi-award winning actor thanks to this year's BAFTA awards where he beat out the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio for Best Actor.

Yes, his role in I Swear, has now well and truly put him on the map. So, who is to say he wouldn't be a shoe in for the next Time Lord?

He definitely has the distinctive look for the role. He's young enough to want to carry the role for a good few years. He would definitely have a somewhat obscure but fun take on the role. It is definitely something in the realm of possibility.

Erin Doherty

She's currently the bookies favourite, and we can see why. Erin Doherty's fame has shot up over the last few years. She had a smaller role as Princess Anne in The Crown's third and fourth seasons, but has since dominated screens in Adolescence and A Thousand Blows. So why not have her as the second female Doctor in the main continuity of the show?

One thing to note is that Doherty has never really broke into film like Aramyo, so maybe this could be her logical next step by leading a show as big as Doctor Who.

One thing is for sure. We would need her to keep her normal accent. It would be pretty cool to have a full on cockney, feisty female Doctor.

Shazad Latif

Latif may not be all that familiar to the casual viewer, but maybe that's what the BBC is looking for.

Loyalists will remember him from Toast of London ("Hello, Steven? This is Clem Fandango, can you hear me?") and this year's Wuthering Heights amongst his other credits. Again, he isn't massively recognisable, but it is sometimes in the BBC's character to choose someone who is known but not primarily for one specific role.

Latif could take us back to the character's less-cool, nerdier side, and would also give us another actor of colour to nail the role.

Vicky McClure

This is a big one, and would be a huge success for the show.

McClure has been a real trailblazer in every project she's touched as far back as This is England. She has the intensity, humour and acting ability in general to really carry a role like this.

One thing we remember from Jodie Whittaker's time as the Thirteenth Doctor is how loopy the character could be, but I do feel it lacked how intense Whittaker can be (look at her groundbreaking performance in Broadchurch). I'd like to think that McClure would give us a second chance of making full use of a truly gifted actress.

Yeah, she may feel a bit too well known across various shows for her to fit into the role, but you can't say she wouldn't be a perfect fit.

Ben Ashenden

Now, stay with us on this one.

Ben Ashenden is a classic case "I've seen that guy somewhere", and chances are you have. He is a relatively unknown actor but has quite a few credits to his name on the whole. So, why couldn't he be an option for the role?

He does give off a bit more a traditionally geeky look, and when is the last time we had The Doctor like that? Pretty much never. It would be fun to have a sort of Big Bang Theory-style Doctor for once who is still able to play the dashing hero.

Ncuti Gatwa...YES, REALLY

Who is to say this isn't all part of a biggest publicity stunt known to man?

It has been reported that Murrey Gold, the show's composer, let slip Russell T. Davies has written multiple versions of the Christmas special. What if this isn't down to Billie Piper's future, but down to Gatwa's future?

You have to admit, his excuses for leaving the show do sound quite poor. Maybe too poor. Maybe too poor to be true. "I am getting old". Come on, Ncuti, you are in your early thirties.

It could be that the show knew they were looking to cut ties with Disney in terms of their streaming partnership, and it gave chance for Ncuti to go off and try new things in the interim (it was said that Hollywood was calling and that was why he decided to depart). Meanwhile, the door is left open for him to make a triumphant return in some kind of "degeneration" situation. Gatwa could officially be the Doctor of crazy regenerations.

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All in all, only time will tell for who is going to take over the Tardis controls full time. But, we can hope for one of the above faces to be in line for the role at some point.

Doctor Who returns at Christmas later this year.