8. James Frain
James Frain is one of those that-guy actors to viewers. Youve seen his face around, but you never quite attach it to a name you just know that hes a jobbing actor, picking up roles anywhere and everywhere. However, to call Frain a jobbing actor would do him a disservice the mans one of the finest character actors Britain has at the moment, and hes been due a big break for a long time. The fact of the matter is that Frain is extremely capable, and always brings a certain grandeur to his parts. Most recognisable for his stint in The Tudors as Thomas Cromwell, he brought possibly the most interesting characters in Henry VIIIs court, and gave him the right amount of pragmatism and pathos to really sell the part. Hes capable of giving good villainy too, portraying the somewhat-psychotic Franklin Mott in True Bloods third season and the slightly more nuanced Lord Warwick in current BBC drama The White Queen. It seems that whatever you give Frain, hell pick it up and run with it. He constantly hits the high notes in his roles, and these could all come to some of glorious fruition as the Doctor. If nothing else, it would also be nice to see a Doctor whos properly middle-aged again, and capable of delivering steely fury. The mans been dining at TVs top banquets for years now could be the time when he takes his place at the head of the table.