Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat has said that gender should not dictate who plays the show's main role.

Peter Capaldi will play the 12th Doctor from Christmas onwards, though Moffat told Nerd Cubed that he is "reasonably confident" a female performer will eventually be cast.

Martina Salvi/Rex Features

"The problem with this whole [female Doctor] argument is everybody [just] says 'a woman' - you don't ever cast 'a man' as the Doctor, you cast a particular man," Moffat explained.

"One day I'm reasonably confident somebody in this [showrunner] role - whether it's me or someone else - will say not, 'Let's cast a woman', they'll say, 'That person, that's the one who could the be the Doctor'."

Rankin

The sci-fi drama's head writer insisted that finding a star to play the Doctor should not be about "casting a gender".

"You're just casting someone that you think will set that role on fire," he said. "I think for now that is Peter - I thought it was Matt [Smith] before - it's not about the gender thing."

Doctor Who will return to BBC One for its 50th anniversary special, 'The Day of the Doctor', on Saturday, November 23.

> Doctor Who Matt Smith 'heartbreaking' in final episode, says Moffat

Watch a teaser for the Doctor Who 50th special below:

This content is imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io