Former EastEnders actor, James Bye, has said he’d like to play a future incarnation of Doctor Who.

Bye played Martin Fowler for some 10 years in the soap, but left in the show’s live 40th anniversary special. Though he’s now carving out a career on stage (he’s playing Mr Darcy in the theatrical adaptation of P.D. James’ Death Comes to Pemberley), he’s been asked what role he’d like to take on in TV. And he replied:

“I’ve joked about playing Doctor Who, but it’s funny because people see me as Martin and go, ‘Oh he’s just a regular guy’, but in real life I’m a little fruitier than how I’ve come across on screen so far.”

“So yeah, maybe I should message Russell T Davies and say, ‘When it’s time, give us a shout’.”

Actually, he’d likely be a decent Doctor: he’s a likeable chap and very different to the rather plain Martin Fowler he portrayed on screen, and proving himself a great actor. He was on Strictly Come Dancing and quickly became a favourite, largely due to his fun personality.

Plus he clearly knows who’s in charge of Doctor Who, i.e. Russell T Davies, showrunner since 2023 and previously between 2005 and 2009/10, so James obviously has an interest in the behind the scenes goings-on of the franchise.

Nonetheless, we don’t know whether Doctor Who is even going to be picked up for another series; Russell T Davies might not be showrunner if it does return; and James’ name hasn’t really been in the running, at least if you pay attention to what bookies say. Heck, lots of people want to play the Doctor!

James Bye might make a great companion though…