Kris Marshall: It would be “wonderful” to play Doctor Who lead
My Family and Death in Paradise star Kris Marshall has said he would be keen to have a go at playing the lead role in Doctor Who in the future.
Marshall, 49, who is currently starring in BBC detective drama Beyond Paradise (pictured above) said it would be “wonderful to have a go at it” and to “join the pantheon” of fantastic Doctor Who actors from the last 60 years.
Marshall has long been a name associated with the role and was one of the favourites with bookmakers after Jodie Whittaker announced she would be leaving the show – a role that Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa would eventually fill.
“You know, I’ve been hearing this for quite some time. It’s a wonderful show, with an amazing history – one of the vanguards of the BBC shows roster.” Said Marshall when asked by BBC Radio Cornwall whether he would be keen to play the famous Time Lord.
Added Marshall: “It will be wonderful to have a go at it and join the pantheon – if that’s the right word – of brilliant Doctor Whos there’s been. Whether that happens, I don’t know. I’m really loving what I’m doing at the moment and where I am on Beyond Paradise. Hopefully, I’ll be doing this for a while but, you know, never say never.”
Doctor Who will return to the TV screen in November 2023 for three special one-hour-long episodes written by incoming showrunner Russell T Davies to celebrate the programme’s 60th anniversary. The shows, which are expected to include a number of as-yet-unnamed special guest appearances will star David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor opposite his former companion Donna Noble who will be played once again by Catherine Tate. Yasmin Finney will appear in the specials as Rose and Neil Patrick Harris will also feature in the specials as an unnamed enemy.
There are also due to be a number of other celebrations across the Whoniverse in 2023 including an epic multi-Doctor audio adventure from Big Finish Productions, Once and Future. The audio drama will feature Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant reprising their roles as the Doctor. There will be appearances from Georgia Tennant as Jenny, the Doctor’s daughter, Michelle Gomez as Missy, Nicola Walker as Liv Chenka, Camille Coduri as Jackie Tyler and Sadie Miller as the voice of Sarah Jane Smith, who was originally played by the late Elisabeth Sladen.
The first full episode of the Ncuti Gatwa Fifteenth Doctor era will air around the festive season of 2023 where he will be joined by his new companion Ruby Sunday, played by former Coronation Street star Millie Gibson.
It is expected that the remainder of Doctor Who season 14 will play out in the first half of 2024.
The 2023 specials will mark the first TV shows as part of a new deal between the BBC and Disney that make Disney+ the streaming home of Doctor Who.
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