‘Doctor Who’ Has the Perfect Answer to Its Biggest Doctor Problem

3 days ago 22

Adrian Rogers/©BBC/courtesy Everett Collection

Published Oct 26, 2026, 5:58 AM EDT

Collier Jennings is an entertainment journalist with extensive experience. Collier, or "CJ" to his friends and family, is a dedicated fan of genre films - particularly science fiction, fantasy, and comic book adaptations, not to mention all forms of animation. This stems from a close bond with his father, who introduced him to these genres via copies of X-Men comics and reruns of the original Ultraman series. With his near-encyclopedic knowledge and bottomless love of genre, he's tackled a wide variety of articles.

Doctor Who is undergoing a major shake-up, as the 2025 season ended in a massive twist where Ncuti Gatwa's 15th Doctor regenerated into a familiar face: Billie Piper, who previously played one of the Doctor's most stalwart companions, Rose Tyler. While Piper's surprise return sparked speculation about her becoming the next Doctor, her exact role remains unconfirmed. Former showrunner Russell T. Davies has since revealed that the regeneration twist was conceived amid uncertainty over the show's future.

While fans were promised answers with the 2026 Christmas special, they were thrown for another loop when that special was canceled, and the BBC put Doctor Who out to competitive tender. On top of that, Davies and his Bad Wolf production company departed the long-running science fiction series, leaving its future up in the air. But as the future for the series hangs in the balance, one person is the perfect choice to give Doctor Who a new lease on life, according to a longtime BBC presenter.

'Doctor Who' Already Has Its Next Perfect Doctor Hiding in Plain Sight

When appearing as a guest on The Rest is Entertainment podcast earlier this year, Richard Osman discussed the future of Doctor Who, once again backing up Davies' comments that the series wasn't canceled and also saying that the BBC was right to pull the plug on the Christmas special, as putting the series in a competitive tender would let it have a much-needed rest.

But what really stands out about Osman's interview is that he recommended Saturday Night Live UK's George Fouracres as the next Doctor, claiming that Fouracres has the right blend of comedic and dramatic chops to bring the Time Lord to life. "All the best Doctor Who’s can really do comedy — Matt Smith, Tennant, Capaldi. They can really do comedy, but you could stick them on Shakespeare, and they can really do that as well. And George Fouracres is a great Shakespearean actor and a great comic."

Osman raises a good point, as some of the most popular Doctors have had plenty of comedic moments in addition to delivering some truly dynamic drama. But Fouracres's career — particularly his time on Saturday Night Live UK — makes him the perfect fit for the role. And with Fouracres now showing off even more of his versatility in the show's second season, Osman's casting suggestion feels more relevant than ever.

George Fouracres' 'SNL UK' Performance Proves His Chops for 'Doctor Who'

What makes Saturday Night Live UK stand out from its American counterpart is the sheer number of sketches that hit, in both concept and comedic timing. Fouracres is a large part of this success, thanks to his ability to completely disappear into the characters he plays. A great example is the sketch "An Italian Plumber with Princess Problems," in which he pits Super Mario against Aimee Lou Wood's Princess Peach. Not only does Fouracres perfectly nail Mario's signature accent, but he also brings plenty of laughs as the plumber has a very loud argument with Peach about their love life. This type of commitment would be perfect for the Doctor, especially if Fouracres can bring his own unique touch to the Time Lord.

Fouracres has continued to demonstrate that range in Saturday Night Live UK Season 2, where he plays Prime Minister Andy Burnham, having previously portrayed Keir Starmer in the show's first season. His ability to transform himself into wildly different characters only strengthens the argument that he could bring something special to the Doctor.

Ironically, Saturday Night Live UK actually has more than a few connections to Doctor Who. Not only did the series feature a sketch spoofing Doctor Who in its first season, but Ncuti Gatwa also hosted an episode. Gatwa is no stranger to the comedy scene himself, having risen to prominence thanks to his role in Netflix's Sex Education; this further proves Osman's point that the best Doctors can mix the funny with the serious. Saturday Night Live UK also featured Wood in its Doctor Who sketch, making the argument that she could actually be the perfect companion for the next Doctor. Why not sweeten the deal by having her play opposite another SNL UK alum in Fouracres?

'Doctor Who' Could Go Back to Its Roots With George Fouracres in the Lead

Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor and Billie Piper as Rose Tyler in Doctor Who.

If the next version of Doctor Who does cast Fouracres, it could mark a return to form for the series. When Davies brought Doctor Who back in 2005, he adopted a more serious tone by casting Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor, the last surviving Time Lord, who was clearly suffering from immense PTSD.

This was a sharp contrast to the original series, where performers like Tom Baker and Sylvester McCoy were allowed to put a more whimsical spin on the Doctor. With movies like Project Hail Mary and Superman shifting the pendulum of genre fare away from "grim and gritty," perhaps the time is right for Doctor Who to return to its roots, and Fouracres would be the perfect man for the job.

Doctor Who is available to stream on BritBox, Disney+, and AMC+, and you can catch George Fouracres on Saturday Night Live UK, which streams on Peacock.