EVER since PETER CAPALDI announced he was giving up on life in the Tardis, speculation has been rife as to who would replace him as Doctor Who.
But despite bookies suspending betting on Fleabag star PHOEBE WALLER-BRIDGE taking the job, a woman in the role now looks out of the question.
The BBC have said there are “currently no plans” for a female Timelord, but they’ve announced it in an unusual manner.
The discovery comes after a keen Doctor Who fan filed an official complaint to the Beeb with concerns switching the gender of the role would confuse his kids.
And amazingly, a BBC worker wrote back and “assured” him it would be another man.
Complaints officer Joanne Coyne wrote: “We appreciate that you’re a big Doctor Who fan and you have concerns that the programme would change should there be a female doctor.
“Be assured there are currently no plans to have a female Doctor Who.”
They also said their worries would be passed onto senior managers and programme makers “including the Doctor Who team”.
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Other women alongside Phoebe to have been touted for the job include Game of Thrones’ NATALIE DORMER, Broadchurch’s OLIVIA COLMAN and Hollywood star TILDA SWINTON.
Fellow potential Timelords are former Death in Paradise actor KRIS MARSHALL, sports pundit JIM ROSENTHAL’s comedian son TOM and Homeland’s DAVID HAREWOOD.
Tellingly, all a BBC spokeswoman said on the matter was: “No casting decisions have yet been made on Series 11.”
It’s exits all round on the BBC1 show.
Joining Peter on the way out are his sidekick PEARL MACKIE and the show’s writer STEVEN MOFFAT.
Announcing his decision to step down from the role after three years, Peter said: “This’ll be the end for me. I feel sad. I love Doctor Who. It’s a fantastic programme to work on.”
He will bow out in this year’s Christmas special, and be substituted there and then by his replacement.
At least we’re slowly narrowing down who that might be.