KRIS Marshall is the new Doctor Who, it has been claimed.

The actor - best known for his roles in My Family and Death in Paradise - has reportedly already begun filming for the new BBC space epic series.

4 Kris Marshall is going to be the next Doctor Who according to the shock claims Credit: Getty

"Kris Marshall has already joined the cast and will regenerate at the end of this series, not in the Christmas special," a source told the Mirror.

According to the paper, the BBC has refused to consider a woman for the lead character, with the source adding: "They won't risk a woman Doctor. They want a David Tennant type."

The BBC has denied the claims and insisted no casting decisions have been made.

Fans became convinced Kris would be the actor to take over the role after he quit Death in Paradise just says after current Doctor Peter Capaldi announced his decision to quit.

The alleged new Doctor could be arriving far sooner than expected with the new trailer for the show seemingly showing a regeneration.

A new trailer has debuted for the tenth series of Doctor Who, including a soul-sucking soldier, terrifying aliens and a new assistant.

The Doctor is ready for battle – but will he make it to the end of the series?

4

When Peter Capaldi announced his departure from Doctor Who, his leaving date was set for Christmas Day 2017 but a brand new trailer for the upcoming tenth series suggests he might be leaving sooner than expected.

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With 12 episodes planned, the series finale is due to air at the beginning of July, months before the Christmas special where historically the character regenerates.

The tell-tale signs come right at the end of the trailer where the Doctor can be seen clutching his chest in pain, as the golden regeneration energy covers him.

4 The Doctor can be seen regenerating in the latest trailer

However fans are sure to speculate that this is a red herring and it wouldn’t be the first time that Dr. Who showrunners have added a fake regeneration to keep the audiences gripped.

Back in 2008 when it had already been announced that David Tennant was to leave the show, an episode midway through the series had Tennant’s Doctor regenerate back into himself.

With Capaldi’s replacement not yet announced an early regeneration would be sure to guarantee higher audience ratings, something that the last full season struggled with.

4 Will Nardole save the day when the Doctor regenerates?

To confuse fans even more, the Doctor’s latest assistant Bill is hardly anywhere to be found in the more dramatic scenes of the trailer and Nardole (Matt Lucas) goes to catch what looks like a sonic screwdriver flying through the air.

This follows reports that actress Pearl Mackie won’t make it past her first series as latest companion, Bill.

The trailer features several other teasers for Whovians including the return of the Doctor’s famous foes, the Dalek’s and the Cybermen.

Doctor Who’s tenth series begins on April 15 on BBC One.

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