Olly Alexander addresses rumours he’ll replace Doctor Who’s Jodie Whittaker as show’s first gay lead
Olly Alexander is the latest pop star rumoured to be representing the UK at next year’s Eurovision. (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Olly Alexander’s manager has addressed rumours that the Years & Years frontman could join Doctor Who – and it’s heartbreaking news.
Rumours have been swirling about Alexander stepping into the TARDIS since his It’s a Sin character Ritchie was seen battling Daleks in a Doctor Who crossover.
Over the weekend, The Sun reported that Alexander was “on the verge of being announced as the new Doctor”. The publication said that Alexander’s casting was “definitely happening, he’s just had to keep quiet about it while negotiations were finalised”.
However, the singer’s manager Martha Kinn stepped in to quash the rumours.
Kinn denied Alexander will be the next doctor in a post on her Instagram Stories filled with Who references.
She joked that Olly Alexander is “often contacted by Cybermen” – a fictional race of cyborgs and enemies of the Doctor.
“I’m afraid I have to exterminate this speculation,” Kinn said. “As nice as it is to see interest in this story regenerate, it just isn’t true.”
She continued: “As Ood as it might sound, Olly is focusing on his music, for the time being.”
It has been speculated that Jodie Whittaker – who became the first-ever female Doctor in 2017 – will step down after one more series.
But this has not been confirmed by the BBC or Whittaker herself.
Former Doctor Who showrunner and It’s a Sin creator Russell T Davies previously backed Alexander to become the next Doctor, insisting the actor would “make a marvellous Doctor Who“.
Olly Alexander confronted the long-running speculation about him starring in Doctor Who head-on during an interview on The One Show. He was asked about the “rumour that’s circulating” that he might join the sci-fi favourite and coyly responded: “Do you think if I was I would tell you?”
He espoused his love for the show but admitted committing to such an intensive role was not on 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,” Alexander explained.
