Doctor Who Odds: Erin Doherty Shortens For Time Lord Role
Doctor Who's future is still up in the air - but Whovians were recently handed a boost.
The sci-fi show was recently nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming category.
Sadly, there wasn't to be a happy ending at the Hollywood ceremony, as Doctor Who lost out to comedy-drama Etoile's choreography.
Despite the defeat, there are still some reasons to be cheerful for the Who faithful.
Doctor Who 'Going Nowhere'
While a third season of the show on Disney+ is yet to be confirmed, the BBC have reassured sci-fi super-fans that the programme is "going nowhere".
Amid recent speculation that the programme may be shelved or rested, BBC's content chief Kate Phillips said at the Edinburgh TV Festival: "Any Whovians out there, rest assured: Doctor Who is going nowhere.
"Disney has been a great partnership, and it continues with [Doctor Who spin-off] The War Between the Land and the Sea next year.
"But going forward, with or without Disney, Doctor Who will still be on the BBC ... The Tardis is going nowhere."
What's more, Lindsay Salt, the director of BBC Drama, insisted the corporation will "always stay committed" to the sci-fi series.
Doctor Who Odds: When Will The Show Be Axed?
Year | Odds | Probability |
2025 | 5/2 | 28.6% |
2026 | 3/1 | 25% |
2027 | 4/1 | 20% |
2028 | 5/1 | 16.7% |
2029 Or Later | 7/1 | 12.5% |
Following the BBC's encouraging comments, Doctor Who has drifted out to 5/2 on betting apps, from 13/8, to be shelved this year. It's also now 3/1 - from 2/1 - to be axed next year.
However, the programme's recent ratings aren't quite as positive.
According to Deadline, the latest Doctor Who series averaged 3.2 million viewers.
That was half a million fewer than last year's series, and 1.7 million fewer than series 13, for which an average of 4.9 million tuned in to see Jodie Whittaker's final foray as the first-ever female Time Lord.
Until another series is confirmed, Whovians have every right to be concerned - but the BBC certainly seems committed to the show.
"Have a smashing little dance, 'cos we know what's best!" 💃🕺 #DoctorWho is EMMY NOMINATED for Outstanding Choreography in 'The Devil's Chord'! pic.twitter.com/TXiS4Imcvi
— Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) July 16, 2025
Billie Drifts
Another uncertain aspect of the programme is who will be the next Time Lord.
In the latest series finale, The Reality War, Ncuti Gatwa departed his role as the Fifteenth Doctor.
The closing moments of the episode saw Gatwa's Doctor regenerate into former Who star Billie Piper, who cheerily said: "Oh, hello!"
While some are convinced Billie, who played Rose Tyler, the Doctor's companion, in 2005, will portray the 16th Doctor in the BBC sci-fi series, others aren't so sure.
Like with a potential new Doctor Who series, bosses have yet to confirm who the new Doctor will be.
Earlier this year, showrunner Russell T Davies wrote in Doctor Who Magazine: "We don’t know what’s happening yet, and while everyone works that out, I’ll take a pause on this page... Hopefully, we’ll have news soon."
With the uncertainty, Billie continues to drift. She is now out to 8/13, from 1/2, to be the next confirmed Time Lord.
Doctor Who Odds: Who Will Be The 16th Doctor?
Actor | Odds | Probability |
Billie Piper | 8/13 | 61.9% |
Erin Doherty | Evens | 50% |
Whoopi Goldberg | 7/4 | 36.4% |
Matt Smith | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Aimee Lou Wood | 5/2 | 28.6 |
Hugh Grant | 3/1 | 25% |
Jo Martin | 3/1 | 25% |
Danny Dyer | 7/2 | 22.2% |
Tom Hiddleston | 4/1 | 20% |
Lydia West | 9/2 | 18.2% |
Diane Morgan | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Stephen Merchant | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Martin Freeman | 11/2 | 15.4% |
David Tennant | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Emmys Erin Shortens For Who Role
Unlike Doctor Who, Erin Doherty did win an award at this year's Emmys - after she was presented with the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie prize for her starring role in Netflix megahit Adolescence.
Doherty shot to fame as Princess Anne in The Crown, and she has recently been linked to the Doctor role.
If Piper isn't confirmed as the new Time Lord, the part will be up for grabs - and signing up Doherty would be a huge coup for the BBC.
Following her Emmys success, the in-demand star is into Evens, from 6/4, to land the coveted part.
She could face competition from a fellow Emmys winner.
Legendary actress Whoopi Goldberg, who has scooped two Daytime Emmys in her illustrious career, recently shocked Whovians by revealing she was once rejected from portraying the Time Lord.
She told The Sun on Sunday: "I wanted to be Doctor Who. But Doctor Who is particular.
"There was a very specific reason because it was created, specifically, for the English telling, from the very beginning.
"I understand because there are certain things that you all just would never have here.
"And I get it, but man oh man, I love me some Doctor Who."
While her dream was once exterminated, it may not be all over.
Goldberg is just 7/4 to become the next Time Lord, just in front of a Doctor Who return for Matt Smith (2/1) - who portrayed the Eleventh Doctor from 2010 to 2013 - and Ncuti's Sex Education co-star Aimee Lou Wood (5/2).
* 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!
