Peter Capaldi (pictured) announced last month that he was stepping down from his role on the popular show Doctor Who

The BBC has reportedly written to a worried Doctor Who fan to 'assure' them that actor Peter Capaldi's replacement will not be a woman.

Capaldi, who famously played Malcolm Tucker on the hit BBC comedy series The Thick of It, announced last month he was stepping down from Doctor Who.

Fans of the science-fiction show have been trying to guess who will be the new Time Lord in the series which first appeared on British television screens in 1963.

Bookmakers penned their own list of potential replacements, and by Wednesday night, My Family and Love Actually star Kris Marshall was the favourite to be the new star.

Meanwhile, other candidates included Bad Education and Fleabag actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Homeland actor David Harewood and Broadchurch star Olivia Colman.

But according to The Sun, the BBC has said there are 'currently no plans' for a female to replace 59-year-old Capaldi.

It comes after an avid viewer of the hit show filed a complaint to the broadcaster regarding the new Doctor.

The man wrote that they were concerned changing the gender would be confusing for his children, according to the paper.

Remarkably, a BBC staff member replied and put his mind at ease by confirming the replacement would be a man.

Joanne Coyne, a complaints officer, wrote: 'We appreciate that you're a big Doctor Who fan and you have concerns that the programme would change should there be a female doctor.

'Be assured there are currently no plans to have a female Doctor Who.'

Bad Education and Fleabag actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge (pictured) is currently the second favourite to be the next doctor, according to the bookies

MailOnline has contacted the BBC and a spokesman said: 'No casting decisions have yet been made on Series 11.'

It comes after Capaldi said he felt 'sad' after announcing he would be stepping down from his Time Lord role.

He said: 'This'll be the end for me. I feel sad. I love Doctor Who. It's a fantastic programme to work on.'

'It's been a huge pleasure to work with... a family. I can't praise the people I work with more highly.

'I've never worked the same job for three years, and I feel like now is the right time to move on. I'll still be the Doctor for a while.'

Twelve actors have played the time-travelling Doctor since William Hartnell first adopted the role in 1963, and so far all of them have been men.