Rumors have been swirling online about who the next titular character of Doctor Who could be, with many names being thrown into the ring. However, one star finally offers a definitive answer on whether she’ll be the Sixteenth Doctor.
Speculation around Doctor Who casting is practically a tradition in between seasons, and the latest round of rumors predicted that Adolescence star, Erin Doherty, could be the next in line to play the iconic Doctor. While she was a popular candidate when it came to fan casting, in reality, the actor unfortunately had to disappoint her fans by revealing that she is not going to be the next Doctor.
In an interview with RadioTimes, Doherty explained that she knew all about the Doctor Who theories surrounding her. She also mentioned that she absolutely loves science fiction and fantasy, but she has not been approached about the role in any capacity. “I’ve heard the Doctor Who rumour, and I’m into sci-fi and fantasy, but I can honestly say there have been no discussions,” she told the publication.
After this recent revelation, fans are now back at square one when it comes to who will become the Sixteenth Doctor. And, the fate of Doctor Who season 16 is still up in the air as well. While there is a confirmed Christmas special coming this year, any solid plans or details for an upcoming season have not been provided at the time of this article’s publication.
Doherty first caught the public’s attention with her breakout role as Princess Anne in The Crown. The actor showcased her talent after she took on a completely different type of character when she portrayed a shallow influencer in the TV series, Chloe. Her career really took off when she joined Netflix’s miniseries Adolescence. Her performance as the clinical psychologist, Briony Ariston, earned her an Emmy and a Golden Globe nomination.
Now, the actor is heading back to screens in the second season of Disney+’s period drama A Thousand Blows. She plays Mary Carr, the leader of the real-life all-female gang, The Forty Elephants, and her ventures in London’s criminal underworld. The series also stars Stephen Graham as Sugar Goodson, a bare-knuckle boxer.
A Thousand Blows season 1 can be streamed on Disney+. Season 2 will premiere on the streaming platform on January 9, 2026.
Doctor Who season 16 does not have an official release date at the time of this article’s publication.
Release Date
1963 – 1989-00-00
Network
BBC One, BBC Television
Directors
Douglas Camfield, David Maloney, Christopher Barry, Michael E. Briant, Barry Letts, Michael Ferguson, Peter Moffatt, Richard Martin, Chris Clough, Lennie Mayne, Pennant Roberts, Ron Jones, Paddy Russell, Paul Bernard, Michael Hayes, Timothy Combe, Morris Barry, Graeme Harper, Gerald Blake, Hugh David, Mervyn Pinfield, Rodney Bennett, Waris Hussein, John Gorrie
Barry Jackson
Gordon Lowery