Doctor Who: Peter Capaldi backs a woman as his replacement and already has one in mind

The 58-year-old announced on Monday he was stepping down from the role after playing the Time Lord since 2013.

And now the Scotsman is backing a woman to replace him with his first pick being Frances de la Tour.

Reflecting on his decision to quit, he said: “The time felt right to bow out, to let somebody else play this wonderful role.

“And I would like Frances de la Tour to be the first female doctor,” he told The Mirror.

The 72-year-old is an award winning stage and screen actress who has appeared in the Harry Potter franchise and is most known for her role as Miss Ruth Jones in the sitcom Rising Damp.

Doctor Who’s former companion Billie Piper also said she wants a woman to be the 13th Time Lord.

Speaking to the BBC at the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards in London, Piper said: “I’ve always supported the original format but I don’t know where they can go from here.

“I think it would be great [to have a female Doctor] given the spirit of the world at the moment. I think it would be timely”.

And fans of the show have be sharing their opinion on who should be next with stars such as Rupert Grint, Colin Morgan, Tom Hiddleston, Hayley Attwell and Sue Perkins thrown into the mix.

Executive producer Steven Moffat has previously suggested a future regeneration of the character could be a woman, as he said: “I think the next time might be a female Doctor. I don’t see why not.”

Peter made the unexpected announcement that he was leaving the long-running sci-fi drama after the Christmas special whilst discussing the upcoming 10th series on Jo Whitley’s BBC Radio 2 show.

When asked what was in store for fans, he told the DJ: ”I suppose the big thing for me is that it will be my last. It will be the end for me.”

Doctor Who will return to BBC One on Saturday 15 April.