My top picks to play the Doctor, assuming the show comes back within the next five years and based on actors the BBC might feasibly actually get:
Caoilfhionn Dunne
Age: 42
Can play steely and heroic or awkwardly eccentric
Rocks a masculine look and would be the first openly queer woman in the role
Has been on the series before (as Costallion in The Well); the Doctor could reminding themselves of those who sacrificed themselves for them.
About time we had an Irish Doctor
Rahul Kohli
Age: 40
Class act
Reportedly a geek, so might do it even if it's a salary drop
Loads of horror and thriller experience
Can out-beard the Master
About time we had a South Asian Doctor
Gwendoline Christie
Age: 47
Classy, cool, beautiful
Tons of genre experience
I want the tallest Doctor to be a woman
Probably too big a deal to be affordable but maybe Amazon will buy Doctor Who for a few years so they can afford her.
Ben Daniels
Age: 62
Previously shortlisted for the role (he was the backup if Capaldi said no)
Solid choice if we want a traditional older white male Doctor
Proudly gay so we'd still represent
Award-winning actor but very much up for the role
Plenty of historical and genre experience
Christina Chong
Age: 42
Has been on the show before (as Lorna Bucket in A Good Man Goes to War) and wants to do it again
The Doctor could be reminding themself to remember the people on the edge of their adventures.
Finished filming Star Trek so she's free
Also a singer, so we can have a proper musical episode
Gorgeous
About time we had an East Asian Doctor
Matt Ryan
Age: 45
Time travel experience
Has appeared on Torchwood and Mine All Mine so can deal with whatever Cardiff throws at him
Hot as a bad boy antihero, even hotter as a geeky scientist
I cannot believe we haven't had a Welsh Doctor already
Alfred Enoch
Age: 37
Up-and-coming star, get him before he's unattainable
Son of William Russell, who played Ian Chesterton right back at the beginning
Anyone handsome and stylish enough to pull off that waistcoat can wear anything
Seyan Sarvan
Age: 32
Exceptionally good but little-known actor
Has worked with RTD so he could have a word in the right ear (if they're still listening to him)
So handsome
An Asian, Muslim, LGBTQ Doctor would piss off so many reactionaries it's almost worth it for that alone
Seriously, watch her in It's a Sin, she's awesome
David Jonsson
Age: 32
Exceptional character actor; can play auty androids, confident sleuths and closeted heroes with apparent ease.
Has that combination of Britishness and otherworldliness that is perfect for the role.
Can really rock period costume
Plenty of genre experience already
On the cusp of being a superstar, get him while you can
Paterson Joseph
Age: 62
He's been my top choice for the role since he played the Marquis on Neverwhere
Has been up for the role before (lost out to Matt Smith)
Has been on the show before (as Rodrick in The Parting of the Ways) but it was yonks ago so never mind
Can balance cool and eccentric, funny and threatening
Now that he's older he's even more Doctorish
Can apparently pull off any outfit with ease
