HUGH’S WHO
Four Weddings star lined up to take Tardis to new dimensions
HUGH Grant is in secret talks to play the lead in Doctor Who in a daring BBC move to rebuild ratings.
The Four Weddings and a Funeral star is being wooed by award-winning screenwriter Russell T Davies, who is returning to run the flagging show.
A TV insider said: “Russell wants him to bring a fresh feel to the role. He’s a great actor and excellent at comedy. Conversations are already in progress.”
Davies will take over in time for the show’s 60th anniversary next year. Sources claim he hopes to build a “multiverse” around Grant, spreading the show’s attraction via spin-offs.
“The vision is it can become a Marvel-like product, with franchises around the
Doctor and other key characters,” said an insider.
“Russell is going to want greater resources to expand the Doctor’s universe.”
Davies was responsible for the show’s revival in 2005. He left in 2009 to be followed by Stephen Moffat then Chris Chibnall. But ratings dived. This year Jodie Whittaker’s last episodes as the 13th Time Lord will air before she and Chris depart.
David Tennant is thought to be returning for a couple of episodes as well as reuniting with Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi for a 60th anniversary special.
The insider said: “The new Doctor will then be unveiled in 2024.” In 1999, Hugh played the Doctor in a Comic Relief special by Steven Moffat. He turned down an offer from Davies to be the Ninth Doctor in his 2005 revival, but later said he regretted it.
The BBC declined to comment.
Jodie