Fleabag actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge is favourite for next Doctor Who

Fleabag actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge is the new bookies' favourite to become the next doctor in Doctor Who.

She is one of several women to be linked with the role and moves ahead of Death In Paradise actor, Kris Marshall.

Olivia Coleman, Maxine Peak and Tilda Swinton are also in the running, alongside Homeland actor David Harewood.

Current Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi ends his run later this year.

Bookmakers Betway told the DoctorWhoTV website there had been a "flurry" of bets on Waller-Bridge.

"The sudden rush of support for Waller-Bridge suggests the race to become TV's next Time Lord is swinging in her favour," they said.

"It's starting to look like a case of when and not if the first female Doctor is announced," Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes, told Newsbeat.

"All the money suggests Phoebe Waller-Bridge will soon be entering the Tardis."

There has never been a female Doctor Who in the show's 54-year TV history.

Who is Phoebe Waller-Bridge?

Phoebe wrote and starred in Fleabag, which premiered on BBC Three in 2016

She is best known for her role in BBC Three's Fleabag TV series, which she wrote as an adaption of her 2013 one-woman play of the same name.

The 31-year-old also had a small part in the second series of ITV drama Broadchurch and is currently filming an unknown role in Disney's 2018 Han Solo Star Wars spin-off.

She previously worked with Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall on Broadchurch, which he also writes.

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