Olly Alexander addresses rumours he’s replacing Doctor Who’s Jodie Whittaker
Olly Alexander has artfully dodged answering rumours that he will be replacing Jodie Whittaker on the iconic BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who. (Photo by Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images/BBC)
Olly Alexander for Doctor Who? The star has been linked with a stint in the Tardis since his impressive showing on It’s a Sin, and now he’s finally addressed the rumours.
Rumours started swirling recently that the Years & Years singer might replace Jodie Whittaker as the next Time Lord, after his It’s a Sin character Ritchie was seen battling Daleks in a Doctor Who crossover.
It was speculated back in January that Whittaker is due to leave the iconic role, but the BBC has yet to confirm if the rumours are true. Whittaker made a huge splash after becoming the first female Doctor in the show’s more-than 50-year history.
Appearing on Tuesday’s (20 April) The One Show, Alexander was asked by host Alex Jones about the “rumour that’s circulating” that he might join Doctor Who.
But Alexander coyly responded: “Do you think if I was I would tell you?”
Both Jones and co-host Michael Ball jokingly took offence that Alexander wouldn’t give them a forthright answer, especially after they’d treated the singer to a special video message from legend Shania Twain earlier in the show.
Olly Alexander says Doctor Who ‘would be amazing’
Olly Alexander said he would love to join the Doctor Who cast, but admitted it’s not in the cards “anytime soon”.
“I would love to – what an amazing role that would be – but it’s not happening I don’t think anytime soon,” he explained.
Ball said he has “money on it” that Alexander will take up the Time Lord mantle, saying Alexander’s answer was “giggly”.
In January, Doctor Who star John Barrowman suggested Olly Alexander would be a “wonderful” choice to replace Whittaker when she departs from the long-running drama. Barrowman, who played Captain Jack Harkness in the Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood, appeared on Lorraine and touted Alexander’s suitability for the role.
“Olly would be amazing, and I think he would make a wonderful Doctor,” Barrowman said.
Former Doctor Who showrunner and It’s A Sin creator Russell T Davies also backed Alexander as the next Doctor. Davies said Alexander would “make a marvellous Doctor Who“, and noted he would be the first openly queer actor to play the role.
Should Olly Alexander join the Doctor Who cast, he would follow in the footsteps of actors including David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi and Christopher Eccleston.
The Years & Years frontman garnered critical acclaim for his performance as Ritchie Tozer in the heartbreaking AIDS drama It’s A Sin. Alexander has even teased that he would like to continue his acting career – even admitting he has been “sent a few scripts” – but he hasn’t confirmed what his next role will be.
