# How do you want the next Doctor to be? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 12, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309 "2013-07-12T13:44:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/1 "2013-07-12T13:44:51Z")
Not who, how. I think Matt Smith is terrific, but I don’t want more of the same. I want a Doctor who is less manic, and talks more slowly. I’m tired of needing to turn on the close captioning to catch all the clever dialogue. What sort of personality do want for the next Doctor? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/2 "2013-07-12T13:46:55Z")
That would be me. Because the world is ready for a Doctor portrayed by a pudgy, middle-aged American with no professional acting credits. But it would be so cool! ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/3 "2013-07-12T13:49:17Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > That would be me. > Because the world is ready for a Doctor portrayed by a pudgy, middle-aged American with no professional acting credits. > > But it would be so cool! Who would you want for your companion? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/4 "2013-07-12T13:59:47Z")
Someone older. I want someone who can have a more avuncular relationship with the companions. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/5 "2013-07-12T14:33:47Z")
It would be nice for him to be a ginger finally 😛 I would not object to a woman, or an actor/tress of something other than pasty white - someone I know mentioned the actor who played in Kinky Boots as the drag queen, Chiwetel Ejiofor - who I think would be very interesting as the Doctor. I could also see someone of oriental descent as the Doctor, though I don’t have a specific actor/tress in mind. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/6 "2013-07-12T14:41:46Z")
Given the troubles they’ve had putting together a whole season’s worth of shows the last few years, I hope they don’t choose now to make a fairly radical change (as a woman, or ethnically diverse Doctor), because the odds are they won’t have enough shows for in a year for the audience to warm to 'em. I finally got to enjoying Matt when they cut back on the number of episodes, and, frankly, I feel cheated. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/7 "2013-07-12T14:48:51Z")
I want older, more scholarly, less “I have to save the world and I’m sorry.” I agree with the “talk slower, less manic.” Alan Rickman. Or I would like a fighter, someone who looks and acts bad-ass. Idris Elba. And I want a companion who isn’t in any way shape or form remotely attracted to the Doctor. I want a smart companion, preferably male. The only companion that I liked since the reboot is Martha, but the whole secret love didn’t gel with me. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/8 "2013-07-12T15:04:17Z")
Agreed with peedin, although I really liked Donna, in part because they hammered home that it was never going to be a romantic or pre-romantic relationship and partly because she was very obviously not a “Yes, Doctor” companion. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/9 "2013-07-12T15:08:21Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Who would you want for your companion? Lucy Liu’s Watson. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/10 "2013-07-12T15:51:55Z")
> [@peedin](#): > > I want older, more scholarly, less “I have to save the world and I’m sorry.” I agree with the “talk slower, less manic.” Alan Rickman. Or I would like a fighter, someone who looks and acts bad-ass. Idris Elba. And I want a companion who isn’t in any way shape or form remotely attracted to the Doctor. I want a smart companion, preferably male. The only companion that I liked since the reboot is Martha, but the whole secret love didn’t gel with me. Personally, I want a Doctor that’s so unattractive and offputting that the fandom would just have no idea what the hell to do with him and couldn’t even bring themselves to ship him with anyone. I’m talking like Harry Potter style Timothy Spall. The fangirl tears would be so, so sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/11 "2013-07-12T16:13:41Z")
Richard Ayoade would make a fantastic Doctor. More Saboo, less Maurice Moss ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/12 "2013-07-12T16:20:43Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > I would not object to a woman, or an actor/tress of something other than pasty white Yes. I’m a casual fan of the new Doctor Who. Is there a canonical reason it can’t be a woman, or someone of Indian or African descent? Or Bermudan? There’s no cultural reason you wouldn’t see people that looked like that in London. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/13 "2013-07-12T16:24:39Z")
No, the only reason it’s been a white male is because they’re too scared to change what’s been working and be known as the dick who killed Doctor Who. I would be all over a break from tradition but then, I’m always for that. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/14 "2013-07-12T16:47:02Z")
I’m game for a non-white, non-male and/or non-young Doctor too. And FFS, no romance. Not even bromance. So let’s see… I’m not good for knowing actors, really, and I don’t really feel like limiting myself to UKians. So… Dule Hill, of Psych, wouldn’t be bad. Lee Pace. The entire cast of Leverage, plus (and he’s even a Brit!) Mark Sheppard. (Incidentally, I don’t mean that I want them all to be the Doctor–rather that any of them, particularly Aldis, Gina, Christian or Tim would be decent in the role, in their own ways. Beth Riesgraf I have a harder time seeing.) ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/15 "2013-07-12T16:53:23Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Agreed with peedin, although I really liked Donna, in part because they hammered home that it was never going to be a romantic or pre-romantic relationship and partly because she was very obviously not a “Yes, Doctor” companion. I disagree with peedin in that I didn’t like Martha. Rose, Martha, pre-Rory Amy and Clara are a bit too “I’m the Doctor’s girlfriend” for my tastes. Like the producers keep trying to recreate the whole Doctor / Sarah Jane Smith thing. I’d like to maybe see a companion who didn’t come from circa early 21st century Earth (particularly England). ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/16 "2013-07-12T16:55:10Z")
There are plenty of discussions elsewhere on who should play the next Doctor, or what gender/race they should have. I’m just interested in what kind of personality you’d like them to have. Bad example: John Noble should be the next Doctor. Good example: The next Doctor should be like Walter Bishop on Fringe. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/17 "2013-07-12T17:00:39Z")
I disagree about making the next Doctor female. That would be just too weird. And raise too many questions.\* I do think someone less…manic…than Matt would be good. I’d say older too. But not TOO much older. And I read somewhere that he was only going to get 12 regenerations and then that was that. Is this true? \*Like…could he…collect from himself pre-woman and then impregnate himself and thus renew the species? Ok ok, so maybe I’m the only one who thought of that. It doesn’t make me weird. Right…? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/18 "2013-07-12T17:09:53Z")
It’s confusing and there’s conflicting canon. OldWho intimated, if not outright stated that the 12 Regens was enforced by the Time Lords. No time lords, no limit. But then there’s stuff like River Song apparently burning all her regens to heal the doctor. Martha always seemed so smart to me. Rose ran in and pushed the biggest reddest button. Martha digs out the user manual. Plus, her finale was fucking amazing if you think about actually having to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/19 "2013-07-12T17:36:15Z")
I’ve been a fan of the Doctor since the 1980’s, and even then fandom assembled was coming up with dozens of ways the Doctor could progress beyond a 12th regeneration. It will be whatever the producers/writers determine it will be. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309/20 "2013-07-12T17:46:05Z")
Considering how often The Master was brought back beyond his 12, I’m not worried about how the writers will go beyond 12 for the Doctor. Me, I would like to see an older, more cerebral Doctor with no chipper 20-something girlfriends and women throughout history pining for him. Maybe a Bill Nighy type. Not feeble and infirm but more likely to think a solution through before barrelling off down a corridor. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-want-the-next-doctor-to-be/663309.md?page=2)