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Jennifer Saunders tipped as the next Dr Who
Last updated at 11:49am on 20.12.07Absolutely Fabulous star Jennifer Saunders is tipped to be the first ever female Time Lord.
The comic, famous for her role as outrageous Edina, in is in talks to take on the role of Doctor Who - albeit for a one-off special episode.
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Gender bender: Jennifer Saunders has been tipped to play the first female Dr Who, a role currently held by David Tennant
A source told The Sun: "She's in the running and we all think she would be fantastic."
Fans of the show were left stunned earlier this month when David Tennant's Dr Who co-star Catherine Tate let slip during a radio interview that it could be his last series.
Catherine, who plays Doctor Who's assistant Donna, confirmed that she too would be stepping down from the show after series four.
She told Jonathan Ross on his Radio 2 show: "I think it's maybe David's last series."
James Nesbitt is the widely pegged as the favourite to permanately replace David, with Welshman Rhys Ifans also rumoured to be in contention for the part.
Reader views (22)
I'd love to see Jennifer Saunders play the doctor. Better than that Matt Smith rubbish.
- Si, St. Neots
hi doctor who rocks
- Jessica Croker, melksham england
And why can't there be female Timelords? No one has ever said that the Doctor can't regenerate into a woman! It's rather sexist. And as a reply to Jack Calocke from Plymoth, - I do!
- Dayna Hiscock., Melksham, England
I think Jennifer Saunders will make a brilliant Doctor because she's funny and a talented actress. It's unfair to be so dead set against a female Doctor; no one said that Time Lords can't change sex as they go through regeneration. I also find it rather sexist to say that the Doctor can't be a girl. But I am still sad to see David go - he is really loveable!
- Dayna Hiscock., Melksham, England
The doctor has always been a male and it just wouldn't be right if he turned female because he was born a male and he can't have a sex change during regeneration!
David Tennant plays a brilliant Dr. and I am sad to see him leave I just hope the next one is as good as he is.
- Georie Brook, oldham,manchester
Its like making James Bond a woman, it just doesn't work. The Doctor is a man, and should always be a man. Want diversity? Fine! Make him black, make him a teenager, just not female!
- Tom, London
I think that a female doctor will be utter rubbish, the doctor could never be a female and David Tenant really should carry on for quite a while. He's a brilliant actor and gives the show 110%. He makes the stories come alive and so I think he really shouldn't leave. Who wants a female doctor anyway?
- Jack Calocke, Plymouth
Feminists everywhere are now creeping into my leisure time. The doctor is male and should always be male could think of nothing worse than a female doctor. Hormones and women things creeping in, why does everything have to be so politically correct? DOCTOR WHO IS MALE, don't spoil it.
- Al Green, Manchester England
I have loved every Dr. I am so excited at the thought of him regenerating, every time.. no matter how much I adore and love the present Dr at any one time, the next one has always done it for me too. The tip offs sound so brilliant.. all excellent actresses/actors. Bring it on!
And as for all you winge buckets saying you won't watch it blah blah, we all know you are secretly watching, or going to watch, behind your closed curtains!
- Saz, London
If Jennifer Saunders is taken on as a fall time doctor then I'm not watching it no more. The ideas stupid and would probably have the programme scrapped like with Sylvester Mcoys storylines were rubbish with the end result being cancelled, so come on think of something more original. The doctor's a male, always have been basically - its like making barbie into an action hero.
- Jim Davies, Newport
As a life long watcher of the Doctor who series from way back when it first started, and for every series since then and up to now i think that having a female Doctor who would be something that could either damage or improve the series.
the only problem with the female version of the Doctor would be the person playing it. Jennifer Saunders is probably one of the best female actors that England has ever produced along with her partner Dawn.
If they allow another female person to do this it would with out a doubt destroy the shows idea. I think there would be nothing better than a female doctor (Saunders) for the female fans of the show.
- Djv, London, Blackheath
None of the channels in Winnipeg play Dr. Who any more so I am out of the loop. It is a shame that the stations CBC and PBS have stopped playing the show. I am sure there are many more viewers in Winnipeg than just myself that really have been enjoying the new episodes.
As for the doctor in Dr. Who, I would think it would be wise to keep the doctor as a male as well as the Master. The idea of a female doctor doesn't sit well with me. All the doctors have been male. Now with that said, I have no issue of having a female time lord in the story line. It could add a positive twist in the show.
- Todd Lohvinenko, Winnipeg, Canada
I think Jennifer would make a fantastic doctor. And If it's only for a "one off episode" for the people who "won't be watching this one"...does it matter?
- Alexandra Brown, Essex, England
Well, since it looks like they might be bringing the Master back as a woman in season four, then the odds of a female Doctor increase dramatically. Although, it hardly matters, since if they go ahead and do that, I shant be watching anymore. First (horrible actress list begins) Rose, then her mother followed by Martha and all this sexuality from the Doctor...it's already leaving me pretty revolted. So far the Daleks have been top notch, the new alternate reality Cybermen were pretty sweet and uhhh.....hmmmm....can't think of anything else I really, really enjoyed. A lot of epsiodes have been "Ho hum..."
- Tyler Huntington, Acton, Ontario CANADA
I disagree with Mr Pantree - Jennifer Saunders would make a wonderful addition to the legend that is Doctor Who. Here in the States we watch avidly every episode - and being a fellow female activist think that it is about time for a female Doctor!
Long live Doctor Who!
- Atlanta Olympic, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Mary Tamm, Lalla Ward and Lynda Bellingham (amongst others) all played female Time Lords (Time Ladies) in the original run of Doctor Who.
- Dave Cross, London, UK
Like Mr Pantree I shan't be watching until that God awful Tate woman is removed from the screen.
- Rob D'Offy, London
I had only vaguely heard of Sean Pertwee so I looked him up on Google and found him on a site called, 'The league of obscure British actors'!
- Isabel, Woking, England
Sean Pertwee, ha ha! He hardly has a long and illustrious career behind him...
NB women have been allowed to be doctors for many years now Arthur.
- Pat Holmes, London
Sean Pertwee would be an excellent choice as he's a very good actor - but there's no way he'd do it. He's one or two notches (at least) above playing the role (with respect to David Tennant and the other fine actors who have played Dr. Who). And, for what it's worth, I too can't stand Catherine Tate. I never did know what all the fuss was about regarding her as a comedienne (or as an actor).
- Jonathan, Osaka, Japan
Didn't Joanna Lumley already do this in a Comic Relief special?
- Claire, London
Ugh - I for one will not be watching. It is bad enough they are bringing back that terrible Tate woman, who can do nothing except shout the lines she has learnt. It will be a sorry demise of a once wonderful show, which I have enjoyed watching for nearly forty years. I may start a petition for Sean Pertwee to be The Doctor. He is the rightful heir.
- Arthur Pantree, London, England
