Eccleston was my first and in a lot of ways I'm not sure anyone has ever topped him in my estimation. That said, I'm pretty sure that, forced to choose between Tom Baker, Eccleston, Tennant, and Smith, I couldn't do it. Peter Davison would be pretty high up on the list too, and Patrick Troughton is no slouch either.
I kind of hope for the new Doctor that they cast someone who's either not white or not male. Or both. Either that or a ginger.
Benedict Cumberbatch would definitely be awesome.
I imagine Ayoade is too busy being a filmmaker now to do something as full-time as Doctor Who.
"Excuse me Miss, do you like pineapple?"
Throwing in my lot with Cumberbatch.
Also, although it was an awful Americanised piece of garbage, Paul McGann was a beast in the 90's TV movie.
See Bumbersnatch is Sherlock to me.
I have heard rumours that it will be the guy who played 'Q' in the latest bond though.
I actually hope the next Doctor isn't a woman, despite my outspoken feminism. This opinion has nothing to do with women's acting abilities, and everything to do with Moffat. After what he did to Irene Adler in Sherlock -- completely eliminating her intellectual prowess and making her an oblivious pawn who was defeated in the end by a schoolgirl crush (and of course then needed rescuing by Sherlock) -- I have very little faith in Moffat's ability to portray a strong female Doctor. I'd rather not have to cringe every time I turn on this show.
I don't think i'd watch it if it was a female doctor. Complete pandering to political correctness. Time Lords have never re-generated to a completely different sex.
If it's Miranda Hart like it has been touted then I will not watch it until she's gone. She is utterly foul.
Didn't the Doctor explicitly say he's been a woman before? Or that the Corsair was? Some Time Lord he commented on, anyway.
e; jesus christ please tell me you're joking about that possibility Paul
See I do not like Miranda Hart in her show 'Miranda'. It is possibly the worst thing I've ever seen, but she comes across well in interviews and she was a darling in Call the Midwife.
I do not want to see her as the Dr though, ever. Olivia Colman has been suggested too. If the Dr was to be female, I'd like to see an actress who is quite petite and cutesy, but obviously highly intelligent. Someone like Felicia Day would be a perfect female Dr imo.