Doctor Who Odds: Aidan Turner Favourite For Role But Will Show Be Exterminated?
Doctor Who is facing an uncertain future after the BBC confirmed this year's Christmas special is no longer happening, sparking speculation on betting sites that the sci-fi series might soon be axed.
The programme is being put out to competitive tender this year - meaning it is being pitched to be made by an independent company, rather than the BBC - and showrunner Russell T Davies has departed his beloved series.
The BBC said: "After careful consideration, the BBC, Russell T Davies and Bad Wolf have collectively decided not to go ahead with the previously announced Doctor Who Christmas episode.
"This decision was not taken lightly, and we know it will be disappointing for fans, but in order to set the show up for future series, it was decided that rather than bridge the gap with a one off special, we are choosing to push forward to invest in the long-term future of the show which ensures that when the TARDIS lands once more, it does so in all its glory."
Exterminate! Exterminate!
While the BBC appear confident Doctor Who will not vanish forever, it is now just Evens on betting apps that the sci-fi series is permanently shelved this year, and it's 11/10 that Who's fate is sealed in 2027.
If a new production partner isn't found, then that could well be the reality for the programme, which is deeply embedded in British TV history.
Britain has taken the extraterrestrial Doctor to its heart, and the actors who have portrayed the titular Time Lord have become household names, if they weren't already.
In Doctor Who's latest episode, The Reality War, which aired in May 2025, Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor exited the series, only to surprisingly appear to regenerate into former Who star Billie Piper.
Billie famously portrayed Rose Tyler, the Doctor's companion, in 2005, but her latest appearance fuelled rumours that she could be the new Doctor.
In the episode, Billie cheerily said: "Oh, hello," but she wasn't listed in the end credits as a new Doctor.
Billie was a short-priced favourite to be the next Time Lord soon after the episode, but with so much uncertainty surrounding the show's future, she has drifted to 15/8.
It was also speculated that David Tennant could return as the Doctor for a third time, after he portrayed the Tenth Doctor - with Piper's Rose as his companion for some of his tenure - and he returned to the show in 2013 to play the Fourteenth Doctor.
However, like Piper, he has drifted to 3/1 in the market.
Doctor... Who?
While Tennant may not be the pick to return as the titular Time Lord, he could put in a good word for one of his recent co-stars.
Tennant has been a huge hit as evil Lord Baddingham in Disney+ series Rivals, but his on-screen nemesis Aidan Turner, who portrays TV presenter Declan O'Hara in the show, is now 13/8 favourite to be the next Doctor.
The Irish actor is no stranger to the BBC after rising to fame in the likes of Being Human and Poldark.
A return to the corporation in a new series of Doctor Who would be a huge coup for the BBC, but they might be too late to attract Turner, whose career is clearly on an upward curve.
Doctor Who Odds: Who Will Be The 16th Doctor?
Actor | Odds | Probability |
Aidan Turner | 13/8 | 38.1% |
Michael Sheen | 7/4 | 36.4% |
Billie Piper | 15/8 | 34.8% |
Peter Capaldi | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Jo Martin | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Eve Myles | 11/4 | 26.7% |
David Tennant | 3/1 | 25% |
Paul McGann | 7/2 | 22.2% |
Alan Cumming | 4/1 | 20% |
Domhnall Gleeson | 9/2 | 18.2% |
Christopher Eccleston | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Jodie Whittaker | 11/2 | 15.4% |
Erin Doherty | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Stephen Merchant | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Richard Rankin | 7/1 | 12.5% |
Whoopi Goldberg | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Matt Smith | 10/1 | 9.1% |
If the new Doctor Who showrunner wants to please Whovians immediately, then they could do far worse than appoint Jo Martin (5/2) as the new official Time Lord.
The Marlow Murder Club star reprised her role as the Fugitive Doctor in May 2025, and Who super-fans were delighted.
Some supporters have called for her to be the next Doctor, and some have even speculated that her 2025 turn could have been a nod to the Doctor's next incarnation.
Former Doctors Paul McGann (7/2), Christopher Eccleston (5/1), and Matt Smith (10/1) have also been linked to a Time Lord comeback.
Welsh Wonders And Great Scots
There has never been a Welsh Time Lord - but Michael Sheen could be the first.
Sheen has worked with Tennant extensively over the years, so if he needed to know exactly what the Time Lord role entailed, his longtime pal could provide such info.
He is just 7/4 to take on the iconic part, but his compatriot, Welsh actress Eve Myles, might also be in contention.
Eve is no stranger to the Whoniverse, playing tragic maid Gwyneth in the 2005 episode The Unquiet Dead - when Eccleston was portraying the Ninth Doctor, and Piper was his companion Rose - and she went on to portray Gwen Cooper in four series of spin-off show Torchwood.
Doctor Who Odds: When Will The Show Be Axed?
Year | Odds | Probability |
2026 | Evens | 50% |
2027 | 11/10 | 47.6% |
2028 | 3/1 | 33.3% |
2029 Or Later | 5/1 | 16.7% |
She is 11/4 to be the Sixteenth Doctor, but Eve and Michael could face strong competition from some great Scots.
Four Scottish actors, Tennant, Ncuti Gatwa, Sylvester McCoy, and Peter Capaldi have portrayed the Doctor over the years - and Capaldi is just 2/1 to reprise the role.
Fans have often been keen for Peter to return to the series, ever since he departed his Twelfth Doctor role on Christmas Day 2017, but they might have to make do with one of his compatriots, Scottish star Alan Cumming.
Cumming previously starred as King James in the 2018 Doctor Who episode The Witchfinders - when Jodie Whittaker (11/2) portrayed the Time Lord - and he has been linked to the iconic role several times.
However, the actor is clear that he has never turned it down.
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A piece on his website states: "There have been a lot of mentions in the press and online about me having been offered the role of Doctor Who in the past. Here's the truth: I haven't been.
"I was approached about possibly doing it a couple of times, but I never turned it down because I was never actually offered it."
He's 4/1 to accept such an offer if one comes in, and fellow Scottish actor Outlander star Richard Rankin is a 7/1 shot to land the role.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
Who would you like to see as the next Doctor? Give us your thoughts in the comments below!
