Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Billie Piper: "It would feel like a snub at this point"

Former Doctor Who actress Billie Piper has said it is time for a woman to take on the role of the famous Time Lord.

Peter Capaldi has announced he is stepping down from the lead role in the BBC sci-fi series at the end of the year.

Piper, who played companion Rose Tyler, said it would "feel like a snub" if the role didn't go to a woman.

"I've always supported the original format but I don't know where they can go from here," she told the BBC.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption "Olivia Colman would be a magnificent choice" for the next Doctor, David Tennant tells The World at One

"I think it would be great [to have a female Doctor] given the spirit of the world at the moment. I think it would be timely".

But she said taking on the role herself was too much responsibility.

"I don't know," she said. "It's a lot of work. It would be a lot of time in Cardiff."

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Piper was speaking at the Critics' Circle Theatre Awards in London where she won the award for best actress for her role in the play Yerma at London's Young Vic.

Piper, who played a young woman driven to extremes by her desire to have a child, will reprise her role at the same theatre in July and August.

Capaldi, who plays the 12th Doctor, will return for a new series of the show in April, with his final episode shown at Christmas.

His final series also marks the departure of lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat.

Image caption Billie Piper as Rose Tyler with David Tennant's Doctor in Rise of the Cybermen

Moffat has previously suggested a future regeneration of the Doctor could be a woman, saying: "I think the next time might be a female Doctor. I don't see why not."

In recent series, Michelle Gomez played Missy, the first female incarnation of The Doctor's nemesis The Master.

The bookies' favourites for the next actor to take over the role of the Time Lord are James Bond star Ben Whishaw and former IT Crowd actor Richard Ayoade.

Olivia Colman, who has been working with new Doctor Who boss Chris Chibnall on his show Broadchurch, is also a popular choice with fans.

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