Doctor Who fans desperate to discover the identity of the character’s twelfth incarnation may be in for a tense summer as the BBC has now said that they won’t be announcing the new doctor until early autumn.


BBC insiders have told RadioTimes.com that filming on the Christmas special – to be followed by the full series – will not take place until the autumn – probably August, or even September.

According to sources the identity of the Twelfth Doctor is almost certain to be announced just prior to filming, which means that it is very likely that the new incarnation of the Time Lord will not be unveiled until late summer.

Initially the BBC had hoped to begin filming the Christmas special earlier, with some sources suggesting July as a potential date.

“Suffice to say we are completely on track,” said a spokeswoman.

Still, nothing has stopped the rumour mill, with a plethora of names now in the frame to take over from Matt Smith.

These include Rory Kinnear (Black Mirror), Domhnall Gleeson (AKA Harry Potter’s Bill Weasley), The Fades actor Daniel Kaluuya and Dominic Cooper (The History Boys and Mamma Mia).

However one person who had been tentatively linked with the role, The Wire and Luther star Idris Elba, ruled himself out last night.

“I’d look silly in a bow tie,” he joked at the screening of the first episode of Luther series three.


To browse a range of Doctor Who DVDs visit RT DVD Shop