Your view: Who will be the next star of Doctor Who?

Ben Whishaw, Olivia Coleman and Paterson Joseph are on the bookies' shortlist

As soon as Matt Smith announced he would be leaving Doctor Who, speculation started on who would be the next actor to take on the iconic role.

Current favourite at the bookmakers is Ben Daniels, at 4-1.

He has previously starred in the Netflix remake of House of Cards as well as Merlin and Law and Order: UK.

Other favourites include Him and Her actor Russell Tovey, Rory Kinnear from Skyfall and Ben Whishaw who also starred in the Bond movie as Q.

Ben Daniels is currently favourite to be named the next Doctor

Many black actors appear on the bookies' shortlists as well as a number of female names. Previously Doctor Who has always featured a white male lead.

Homeland star David Harewood, as well as Paterson Joseph, who is best known for his role as Johnson in Peep Show, are two of the black actors given good odds.

Fellow Peep Show star, Olivia Coleman, who has just won two Bafta awards, is one of the women suggested to be the first female Doctor.

Jenny Colgan, who wrote the official Doctor Who novel, told the Today programme: "Anything is possible with casting.

"I love the fact that a woman is all we have to speculate about now. If they cast an actor of colour, nobody would even bat an eye, so I think the woman thing is the only thing left for people to get curious about."

Outsiders include Jason Statham at 100-1, David Walliams at 66-1 and John Terry at 500-1.

David Tennant, Sue Perkins and Robert Sheehan are some of your suggestions

You've been tweeting us to say who you'd like to see become the 12th Doctor.

Lindsey Williamson suggests, "how about the fabulous @RobMSheehan. Does the doctor not get younger each regeneration?"

Thomas Williams says, "whoever is the new doctor needs to be unknown. New to the scene and not a current personality!"

Kate wants programme makers to bring back David Tennant, while Toby Emerson wants Ben Whishaw to star.

Jimmo suggests Sue Perkins. "She'd be a superb Dr. Who."

A lot of people on the Newsbeat Facebook page agree with Kate and want to see the return of David Tennant.

Jodie Jones suggests Idris Elba or Olivia Colman and Rob Sharpe thinks "Russell Brand would be crazy".

Matt Smith's "spectacular" exit is yet to be revealed and producers say it will stay "under wraps".

They have confirmed he will return to BBC One screens in the 50th anniversary episode on Saturday 23 November.

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