Doctor Who: 25 Actors We'd Love To Call The Doctor

20. Chiwetel Ejiofor

Someone who hasn't been so dismissive of the part however is Chiwetel Ejiofor, star of the incredible 12 Years a Slave. When asked about playing the part, he said that he'd be interested as he enjoys coming back to the UK, and he's certainly an actor that would be fantastic in the role; if 12 Years a Slave is anything to go by, he'd brilliantly convey the pain and loss in the Doctor's life and couple it with inner determination to keep going and soft kindness. Plus, he's hugely likeable and subtly mysterious; he'd be one hell of a casting for the first non-white Doctor.

The only problem is that after 12 Years a Slave, he's going to be wanted by everyone. He's probably too big to go back to television.

19. Idris Elba

Another man possibly too big for television is Idris Elba, the super-smooth John Luther and another candidate for first the non-white Doctor. But whilst Elba is often effervescent and gravelly-voiced, he'd bring something that we haven't seen in a Doctor before, and that's a physicality. Sure, Jon Pertwee was an action hero, but more in line with Sean Connery; Elba is a Daniel Craig-like figure who's not only suave and icy, he's capable of playing complex and nuanced. Whilst it's just not logical to pick a black actor for the sake of diversity, Elba really would bring something electric to the role, and has already been touted by fans as a possible future Doctor. And if Luther writer Neil Cross ever takes over the showrunning reigns, who's to say Elba won't find himself cast in Who?