Neil Gaiman on Doctor Who: “A black actor was offered the part”

So now that Peter Capaldi is confirmed as the next Doctor in Doctor Who, it seems like Stephen Moffat and co have made a wise choice. And once again we have a white actor in the role. Guess that’ll never change, huh?

Well, not necessarily as, according to author and sometime Doctor Who writer Neil Gaiman, it seems that the role has been offered to a black actor in the past: “Of course. (I thought I’d said that I was disappointed that it didn’t happen this time, and that there are some amazing actors out there. I was rather disappointed that Paterson Joseph didn’t get it last time, although I’ve loved Matt’s Eleven.) And yes, I have no doubt there will be [a black Doctor]. (I know one black actor who was already offered the part of the Doctor, and who turned it down.) Just as there will be a female Doctor.”

Now, obviously Gaiman doesn’t say Who exactly the actor was, but it seems the fan community thinks they have it all worked out and that Pacific Rim and Luther actor Idris Elba (below) may have been the man who would have been, em, Who.

Gaiman does know who the actor was, saying: “You can ask, but seeing that it was something I was told in confidence by the actor in question, you won’t get an answer.”, but we guess it’s a secret that will remain just that.

While we love the idea of Capaldi as the new Doctor, at least this shows the BBC aren’t afraid to think outside the box… role on the next Timelord… ot Timelady.