Hugh Grant has dismissed reports he will be the next actor to play the Doctor, television’s most famous time traveller, on the BBC’s Doctor Who.
The 61-year-old actor, best known for his roles in British romcom films including ‘Notting Hill’, ‘Love Actually’ and ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’, responded to speculation first reported by the Daily Mirror that he is in the running to replace Jodie Whittaker.
Grant had played the Doctor in a 1999 Comic Relief special. In 2004 he was offered the role but turned it down.
Whittaker announced in 2021 that she would no longer be playing the doctor after three special episodes set to air later that year, meaning a position has become vacant.
However, in response to a Guardian article about his potential new role, Grant tweeted: “Nothing against Dr. W., but it’s not me. I have no idea where the story came from.”
The Daily Mirror had said: “Talks [were] in the works,” according to a TV insider, after Russell T. Davies, who was previously head writer on the BBC TV series, was signed to return as showrunner for the 60th anniversary.
It’s been reported that Davies could turn the series into a “Marvel-like” product, a nod to the franchise responsible for comic book-inspired films like Iron Man and The Avengers.