Steven Moffat says a woman will eventually play 'Doctor Who'.

The lead writer and executive producer of the BBC sci-fi series would cast a female as the titular Time Lord if the right actress came along to play the character.

Speaking to BANG Showbiz at the Sky Women in Television and Film Awards at The Hilton Hotel in London today, he said: 'We've been laying in the possibility for an awfully long time, but you don't cast that way.

Prediction: Steven Moffat made his comments at the Sky Women in Television and Film Awards

Current star: Peter Capaldi is lauded by critics for his portrayal as the BBC1's prime-time timelord

'I know I'm going to get in trouble for saying that - you cast a person, you don't cast the gender.'

The 53-year-old showrunner is adamant the Doctor - who is currently played by Peter Capaldi - does not have to be a male, and he proved this by making villainous Time Lord The Master a woman - renamed as The Mistress and played by Michelle Gomez - for the first time.

He continued: 'But we did just make the female Master, she turns up and the Doctor doesn't say anything about it, he doesn't react at all, he thinks that's perfectly normal.

'It's not impossible no, it is entirely down to who the best person is.'

Adamant: The 53-year-old showrunner is adamant the Doctor - who is currently played by Peter Capaldi - does not have to be a male

Even though a female has never played the Doctor, more women have been hired to work behind the scenes on the programme in recent years

Even though a female has never played the Doctor, more women have been hired to work behind the scenes on the programme in recent years.

He said: 'We've had two female directors last year and I can honestly say that Rachel Talalay gave us the most macho 'Doctor Who' we had ever had.

'There was a load of explosions and soldiers and shouting. They bring their brilliance whatever their individual brilliance is.'

Action shot: Peter Capaldi with Michelle Gomez filming 'Doctor Who' TV show on set in Cardiff

Other stars to attend the ceremony included Mary Berry, Jon Snow, Michelle Collins and Vanessa Redgrave.

Rosamund Pike won The MAC Best Performance Award but was not present as she gave birth to her second son this week, while Redgrave was honoured with The EON Lifetime Achievement Award.