Tilda Swinton favourite to become the next Dr Who

Oscar-winning British actress Tilda Swinton is a frontrunner to take over the soon-to-be vacant role from Peter Capaldi, and become the show’s 13th – and, notably, the first female – Time Lord in Dr Who. Swinton, who is currently in London doing some voice-work on Wes Anderson’s upcoming stop-motion animated film Isle Of Dogs, is now bookies’ favourite to take over the iconic role with 4/1 odds. Her name was originally suggested by Paul McGann, the show’s 8th Doctor, who last month tweeted a picture of the actress with the caption, “Imagine Capaldi regenerating into...”. The 56-year-old actress won an Academy Award for her performance in the 2008 film Michael Clayton and made her name on the big screen playing the White Witch in the Chronicles of Narnia series, and starring in The Beach, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Only Lovers Left Alive and The Grand Budapest Hotel. The outgoing Doctor, Capaldi, supported the idea of a female doctor but had someone else in mind for the coveted role. He told The Mirror, “The time felt right to bow out, to let somebody else play this wonderful role. And I would like Frances de la Tour to be the first female doctor.” Other female actors who are considered for the role include Olivia Colman (5/1), Maxine Peake (8/1) and Fleabag actor Phoebe Waller-Bridge (12/1). Love Actually star Kris Marshall, Ben Wishaw and Richard Ayoade are leading among the male possibilities. Doctor Who is set to return on BBC One on April 15 with Capaldi appearing in 12 episodes before the regeneration in the Christmas Special.