Step aside, everyone – Danny Dyer has thrown his hat into the ring to be the next Doctor Who.

The British actor has said he’s ‘interested’ in taking over from Peter Capaldi at the end of the next series.

With rumours that Dyer’s contract on BBC soap EastEnders is up for renewal, some are theorising that he could be available to step into the TARDIS.

“I’d be interested in [Doctor Who]. I could see myself in the scarf and all that,” Dyer told the Daily Star.

10 actors who could realistically be the new Doctor Who 10 show all 10 actors who could realistically be the new Doctor Who 1/10 Russell Tovey If the BBC want to go for a younger but still well-known actor, 35 year-old Russell Tovey could be the one. Despite making a move to the US for HBO drama Looking, he’s also starred in The Night Manager and Sherlock in recent years. Oh, and he’s been in Doctor Who before – in David Tennant’s final episode, The End of Time BBC 2/10 Daniel Kaluuya The multi-talented Daniel Kaluuya got his break starring in and writing for Skins, and starred in David Tennant-era Who story Planet of the Dead. He’d be a fresh new face for the show – although his schedule is getting busy with a role in Marvel’s forthcoming Black Panther BBC 3/10 Phoebe Waller-Bridge BBC Three comedy-drama Fleabag is universally beloved by everyone who’s seen it – and she could be a strong choice as the first female Doctor. She starred in the second series of Broadchurch, so she’s certainly on showrunner Chris Chibnall’s radar ITV 4/10 Jonathan Bailey If Chibnall continues in the typical Doctor Who mould, Jonathan Bailey is a strong bet. Not only has he made a brief appearance on the show before in Peter Capaldi episode Time Heist, but he’s had a recurring role in Broadchurch too ITV 5/10 Michaela Coel The genius behind Chewing Gum would bring a perfect off-kilter, high-energy, alien vibe that the Time Lord really needs – and recent appearances in Black Mirror and London Spy showed off her range. Coel would be a bold new face for Doctor Who Rebecca Reid 6/10 Chris Addison Another bigger-name actor who might take on the role is The Thick of It’s Chris Addison. He had a role in Capaldi’s first Doctor Who series, and would fit the typical nerdy vibe associated with the show Channel 4 7/10 Hayley Atwell Word is that Hayley Atwell, aka the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Peggy Carter, is keen to play the Doctor – and a big fanbase would be thrilled to see that happen. She can do action-packed sci-fi roles, and is looking for something new after her US legal drama Conviction was sadly cancelled ABC 8/10 Zawe Ashton Having made a name for herself in Fresh Meat and Not Safe for Work, Zawe Ashton would make a great headstrong female Doctor. She also put in a great turn in Doctor Who as a rebel soldier in one of Capaldi’s first episodes Ruby Films 9/10 Joivan Wade He’s probably still a bit too young, but having made a great impression as Rigsy in Series 8 and 9, Joivan Wade is well versed in the world of Doctor Who. Maybe once his time on EastEnders is up, he could be ready to be a Time Lord himself Tristan Fewings/Getty Images 10/10 Olivia Colman With The Night Manager pushing her firmly into ‘national treasure’ territory, Olivia Colman is likely too big for Doctor Who – but if anyone could persuade her it might be Chris Chibnall. She previously starred in Matt Smith’s first Doctor Who episode as a sharp-toothed shape-shifting monster BBC 1/10 Russell Tovey If the BBC want to go for a younger but still well-known actor, 35 year-old Russell Tovey could be the one. Despite making a move to the US for HBO drama Looking, he’s also starred in The Night Manager and Sherlock in recent years. Oh, and he’s been in Doctor Who before – in David Tennant’s final episode, The End of Time BBC 2/10 Daniel Kaluuya The multi-talented Daniel Kaluuya got his break starring in and writing for Skins, and starred in David Tennant-era Who story Planet of the Dead. He’d be a fresh new face for the show – although his schedule is getting busy with a role in Marvel’s forthcoming Black Panther BBC 3/10 Phoebe Waller-Bridge BBC Three comedy-drama Fleabag is universally beloved by everyone who’s seen it – and she could be a strong choice as the first female Doctor. She starred in the second series of Broadchurch, so she’s certainly on showrunner Chris Chibnall’s radar ITV 4/10 Jonathan Bailey If Chibnall continues in the typical Doctor Who mould, Jonathan Bailey is a strong bet. Not only has he made a brief appearance on the show before in Peter Capaldi episode Time Heist, but he’s had a recurring role in Broadchurch too ITV 5/10 Michaela Coel The genius behind Chewing Gum would bring a perfect off-kilter, high-energy, alien vibe that the Time Lord really needs – and recent appearances in Black Mirror and London Spy showed off her range. Coel would be a bold new face for Doctor Who Rebecca Reid 6/10 Chris Addison Another bigger-name actor who might take on the role is The Thick of It’s Chris Addison. He had a role in Capaldi’s first Doctor Who series, and would fit the typical nerdy vibe associated with the show Channel 4 7/10 Hayley Atwell Word is that Hayley Atwell, aka the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Peggy Carter, is keen to play the Doctor – and a big fanbase would be thrilled to see that happen. She can do action-packed sci-fi roles, and is looking for something new after her US legal drama Conviction was sadly cancelled ABC 8/10 Zawe Ashton Having made a name for herself in Fresh Meat and Not Safe for Work, Zawe Ashton would make a great headstrong female Doctor. She also put in a great turn in Doctor Who as a rebel soldier in one of Capaldi’s first episodes Ruby Films 9/10 Joivan Wade He’s probably still a bit too young, but having made a great impression as Rigsy in Series 8 and 9, Joivan Wade is well versed in the world of Doctor Who. Maybe once his time on EastEnders is up, he could be ready to be a Time Lord himself Tristan Fewings/Getty Images 10/10 Olivia Colman With The Night Manager pushing her firmly into ‘national treasure’ territory, Olivia Colman is likely too big for Doctor Who – but if anyone could persuade her it might be Chris Chibnall. She previously starred in Matt Smith’s first Doctor Who episode as a sharp-toothed shape-shifting monster BBC

“I think I could do it easy. I’d keep my accent too.”

Capaldi announced that he will be leaving the sci-fi show at the end of Series 10 as showrunner Steven Moffat moves on.

“This will be the end for me,” the Scottish actor said. “I feel sad, I love Doctor Who, it is a fantastic programme to work on.

“It’s been a huge pleasure to work with that family. I can't praise the people I work with more highly, but I have always been someone that did a lot of different things.

“I’ve never done one job for three years. This is the first time I’ve done this and I feel it’s time for me to move on to different challenges.”

Some fans are calling for new showrunner Chris Chibnall – the creator of Broadchurch – to cast the first female Doctor, with Olivia Colman, Lara Pulver, and Hayley Atwell all rumoured.