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Culture

Could Michael Sheen be the first Welsh Doctor Who?

By David Owens
Michael Sheen (Credit: Jon Pountney)

Michael Sheen is among the favourites to become the next Doctor Who.

The actor has been named among the frontrunners for the prized role by the bookies, who have installed him at 6/1 to become the next occupant of the Tardis after news broke that the current Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, looks set to stand down after two series.

There's never been a Welsh Doctor Who - and with the modern incarnation of the series being filmed in Cardiff, it would be the perfect moment for a native of Wales to enter the Tardis.

Sheen, of course, lives in Wales and has shown his unswerving commitment and dedication to Welsh culture with the launch of the Welsh National Theatre.

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There are others who think so too.

Writing for the Standard while pondering potential candidates for the role, media commentator Vicky Jessop wrote: "We’ve never had a Welsh Doctor before – might it be time to change that, once and for all? A longtime friend of David Tennant, Sheen also recently announced that he was becoming a “not for profit” actor, meaning he’s pledged to give away large chunks of his salary to charity and focus on doing jobs he loves. Long story short: his paycheque might actually be affordable for the beleaguered BBC."

Other names in the running include Crown lead Josh O'Connor, Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden and Hobbit star Richard Armitage.

After 10th Doctor, David Tennant, surprised everyone by returning as the 14th Doctor, 11th Doctor Matt Smith has also been mentioned as a possibility for another stint in the Tardis.

David Tennant and Catherine Tate star in Doctor Who (Credit: BBC)

The news of a potential new Doctor Who comes after previous reports suggested that the BBC had plans to shelve the sci-fi series, which bosses have strongly denied.

In a statement released this week, commenting on a story in a national newspaper that Doctor Who was to be shelved a BBC spokesperson said: "This story is incorrect, Doctor Who has not been shelved. As we have previously stated, the decision on season 3 will be made after season 2 airs.

"The deal with Disney+ was for 26 episodes - and exactly half of those still have to transmit. And as for the rest, we never comment on the Doctor and future storylines."

Ncuti, 32, became the first-ever Black actor to play the role. According to The Times, the Scottish star is said to have already filmed his "regeneration exit scene."

Welsh sugar

Personally, we would love to see Michael Sheen administering a little Welsh sugar to the Doctor's intergalactic adversaries (and I'm sure his great mate David Tennant would be on hand with some top time travel tips)

Imagine hearing Sheen's famous rallying cry in the Tardis. The Cybermen would melt themselves down and the Daleks would quake with fear at this Welshman's passionate roar!

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22 comments

Mab Meirion

Why not, what a good idea... It would need a very good storyline and script... Suggestions for a couple of malcontents in need of exterminating...

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Rhys

Yes! The Ood (Uwd) for one! It means 'porridge' in Welsh 😉

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Rhys

I must admit, despite the enormous contribution that television and the arts in Wales has made to Doctor Who in recent years, I had wondered whether we'd be more likely to see a Welsh president of the United States, before we'd ever see; dare I say it a 'Welsh' Doctor Who! Of course 'the' Doctor is from Gallifrey; or to be more correct Gallifrey Isaf! And yes, the 'll' as all genuine Whofians will attest, is pronounced 'Ll' as in 'Llanelli' or indeed 'Lloer' (Moon). Even the Doctor's real name, ³∑x₂ is of course Welsh! As you see, it has no vowels, and as many English speakers will agree, there appears to be an abundance of words that don't have vowels in Welsh - dŵr, nwy, gwyrdd, gŵyl to name but a few. So, CROESO adref (home) Dr. PWY !

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Mab Meirion

Locations: Dorothea Quarry, Nantlle Valley for one... The Tardis underwater, lets not make it easy for him... Bible Country, Strikes, Zip Wires...

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Mab Meirion

What an opportunity for a home grown screen writer steeped in Hanes Cymru to weave a 'Welsh Web' through our remarkable history... A Iolo of the future... Hengwrt, an alternative portal, it could capture young imaginations and fill those hard benches in our 'National School' in Aber...

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Dave

Dear God no! Please no! While he would make a brilliant Doctor, I don't want his career to be tarnished by the current showrunner and writers and their agenda

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Y Cymro

I disagree. Perhaps he, Sheen, could put the spark back into the show by channelling his inner Tom Baker. Personally speaking, I'm not a fan of the modern era, although Tennant & Smith were brilliant Time Lords. Prefer classic Doctor Who featuring Bill Hartnell, Pat Troughton, Jon Pertwee & Tom Baker.

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Y Cymro

Seeing Doctor Who's greatest foe, the Daleks & Davros was created by Welshman Terry Nation from Cardiff. Who wrote some of the most iconic 1960s & 70s Doctor who stories. Also many scripts for ITC TV series such as, The Saint, Avengers, Persuaders , Baron, Department S. He (Nation) created the cult TV series Survivors and Blake 7, not forgetting BBC Wales with Welshman Russell T Davies of Swansea was responsible for the highly successful 2005 reboot, spinoff Captain Jack and Sarah Jane Adventures. So a Welshman playing or being Doctor Who is long overdue seeing actors William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Christopher Eccleston, Matt Smith & Jodie Whittaker were all overtly English. And what about Scottish actors David Tennant and Peter Capaldi, not forgetting the current incarnation , Ncuti Gatwa , the first black Doctor Who, although of Rwandan ancestry settled in Scotland with his family after they escaped the Rwandan genocide in 1994 aged 2 yrs old and considers himself a proud Scotsman.

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Kurt Morgan

You forgot Doctor Who producer, and Show runner, Innes Lloyd who in 1966 came up with the idea of Renewal to replace William Hartnel with Patrick Troughton. Renewal was what Innes Lloyd called what became Regeneration.

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Y Cymro

Yes, you are right. Good point Kurt. Hopefully others can see finally see how much Wales has contributed towards "British" sci-fi but have got scant recognition.

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Y Cymro

Note, I said created not designed. Nation came up with the concept & the voice. The concept was then taken and built by set designer Ray Cusick.

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Kurt Morgan

Great idea, but I'll believe it when I see it. The trend during the NuWho era since 2005 is to skew younger for actors playing the role. I think it also depends on who the BBC's partner is in producing the show at that point. The whole reason that Ncuti Gatwa is leaving is because his third season hasn't been greenlit yet as Disney has seen no increase in subscribers as a result of streaming Doctor Who. BBC Studios will find new streaming partners if Disney doesn't renew the contract, but who that will be is anyone's guess.

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Joan Kelley

Don't forget Peter Capaldi....loved him

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Linda Jones

Great idea.

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Kieran Kelly

I agree Linda, a fantastic idea. All the better with the constant friendly discussion between Tennant and Sheen. This would a brilliant footnote in their bromance!!

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Simon

Ooohhh. Ain't we all posh then, innit. Anyone who's been in the Underworld films, the Twilight films and Good Omens probably wouldn't object to being in Doctor Who took, but they wouldn't be able to get him to commit to much more than a single episode as a guest star.

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YourMuslimUncle

Haven’t watched since they decided to put woke agenda before good storyline and writing (Jody’s BS run). My wife (whom doesn’t care how woke it is) stopped watching because of how childish it had become. A Drag would be awesome, but can the current show runner & writers get out of their own way to make a good show or will it be more agenda crap. We in US have categorically rejected this, for sanity and merit. If not I can keep watching and collecting the classics

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Joan Kelley

Totally agree. Jody Whitaker is a fabulous actress but her run is the doctor was terrible through no fault of her own but due to terrible, terrible stories and writing.

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Rhys

I struggle with the use of 'US' and 'sanity and merit' being used in the same sentence.

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Joan Kelley

OMG please, please make this happen. I've Loved Michael Sheen for so many years. I loved him as Aziraphale with David Tennant in good omens. Honestly, I've never seen him in anything that he wasn't absolutely fantastic. He would be an amazing Doctor Who, fingers crossed, please make this happen.

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Joan Kelley

Why? Not a doctor who fan?

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Debbie

Russell lovey would be great

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I must admit, despite the enormous contribution that television and the arts in Wales has made to Doctor Who in recent years, I had wondered whether we'd be more likely to see a Welsh president of the United States, before we'd ever see; da...

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