What would you like from the new 12th Doctor?

Based on the results from the YouGov poll DS08 posted, I wanted to see how we as a community react to it, whether our results are similar or different.
So, as the poll on there says:

"Thinking about the next person who will play the role of Doctor Who, which of the following do you think it's important that they should be? (Please tick all that apply)"

"Heterosexual"

I'm sorry, what?

What?

What?

Exactly - not my poll options. I thought it would be interesting to compare even so, so the poll needs to/should be exact.
It's a bit sad really that people really will judge an actor on their sexual preferences. 15 people on the official poll voted that way too. Shame, but this stuff happens. I'm still very tempted to remove it all the same…

I myself have no preference. Certainly I'd expect them to be conservative and go for someone like all the others, but I'm open to something different, hence I voted 'none of the above' - yup, the 'I don't care' option

I just want him to be British, male and over 40. It would be nice to see an older Doctor in New Who, also there are rumours that the new Doctor may be announced today...

>>>It's a bit sad really that people really will judge an actor on their sexual preferences. 15 people on the official poll voted that way too. Shame, but this stuff happens. I'm still very tempted to remove it all the same…<<<

It's also a little bit sad that someone felt the need to vote that over here... I'd be interested to know why.

And @TomBaker64 - I reccomend Alexander Siddig. He's British (sort of, he's part... Iranian, I think) and 47. (Dr Bashir from Deep Space Nine)

The Professor wrote:And @TomBaker64 - I reccomend Alexander Siddig. He's British (sort of, he's part... Iranian, I think) and 47. (Dr Bashir from Deep Space Nine)

He also played Philip in Primeval if I remember correctly. And I didn't know he played Dr Bashir in ST: DS9, he looks different with a beard.

Yup, that's the one!

He's just been cast in the BBC's replacement for Merlin (although, I think that might have finished shooting, and the announcement was only recently?) so he probably won't be the 12th Doctor.

Still... if this sets up a good working relationship with the BBC, he can be 13.

I don't understand why you'd need the actor to be straight - gay people can play straight characters and vice versa. What is the reasoning behind whoever voted for that on here? I understand that Phoenix has to put that as an option though as I expect he wants our results to be directly comparable to the YouGov poll (by the way, it's 15% who said the next actor has to be heterosexual, not 15 people- 15% of the 633 people asked is around 95 people. )
I voted British and male.

Ahh, cheers DS - that would explain the rather odd numbers. Even so, that's quite a shocking figure!

I agree with the points above too - surely the whole point of acting is that you can become someone you are not? In that way, sexuality wouldn't matter. In fact, nationality wouldn't matter either. He is a Time Lord after all, so even British 'understanding' wouldn't matter, just an appreciation of the audience. As long as they could put on a thumping good British accent though, otherwise I imagine people would get peeved. After all, there's nothing worse than a dodgy British accent, a la Sam in Lord of the Ring

I wonder if we'd made this a public poll people would have voted differently…

>>> In fact, nationality wouldn't matter either. He is a Time Lord after all, so even British 'understanding' wouldn't matter, just an appreciation of the audience. As long as they could put on a thumping good British accent though, otherwise I imagine people would get peeved.<<<

yeah, I've always wondered about that... whenever someone objects to an American Doctor, I'm pretty sure they're objecting to an Americanized (spelled with a z, because it's America) version of the show... as if an American actor would suddenly change everything!

If we're going for an American... Michael Rosenbaum. He's AMAZING. Properly, capitalised, amazing.

I would sooner have a black, British, male actor, than a female actress

Totally agree with you Scazza !

Why is ginger not on here? Does nobody else want the Doctor to have his wish?

Either way the ginger thing has now been running for 2 regenerations I would expect it to be mentioned in the next one.

Why isn't Ood on there? Tony The Ood could be the new Doctor! :laugh:

It's somewhat irking that there is no 'Female' option, surely that takes more prominence than 'Heterosexual' and 'Under 40'? Thus, I have voted 'None of the above'.

I absolutely LOVE Dame Helen Mirren for a recent statement she made about when Doctor Who should have a female Doctor, and I like how she basically slated the fact that it is a male with a female companion. Got to love that woman. <3

Oswin, you'll notice that all of these options are about what has come before, not what hasn't. This is a poll about consistency, not conjecture. Therefore, this could also be called 'What aspects of the actor who plays the Doctor are most important to you?' and 'Which of these do you want to remain the same?'. Yes, there has been flux within these paradigms, but 'female' would not be applicable in this instance.
Just thought I'd clear that up for you

I'd like an older British male. Preferably 40+ Acting wise, I'd prefer him to be a good bit more serious than Smith, maybe even Tennant. And with more of a Hartnell edge to him. I like the Doctor being a little dangerous at times.

Jackknight wrote:I'd like an older British male. Preferably 40+ Acting wise, I'd prefer him to be a good bit more serious than Smith, maybe even Tennant. And with more of a Hartnell edge to him. I like the Doctor being a little dangerous at times.

I don't know about Hartnell... I think someone more Pertwee like would be cool though. I dunno about over 40 but FOR SURE over 30

A Pertwee-esque Doctor would be great too. Though even he had that hard edge to him where he'd just kill an Ogron if he had to or get fed up with a companion here and there. Poor Brig. Wouldn't mind a return of Venusian karate.

I'd be okay with an actor in their mid to late 30s as long as they played the part more seriously.

Whoever it is though, I just hope they don't keep telling me how brilliant and clever they are. Let me figure that out on my own.

Phoenix wrote:Oswin, you'll notice that all of these options are about what has come before, not what hasn't. This is a poll about consistency, not conjecture. Therefore, this could also be called 'What aspects of the actor who plays the Doctor are most important to you?' and 'Which of these do you want to remain the same?'. Yes, there has been flux within these paradigms, but 'female' would not be applicable in this instance.
Just thought I'd clear that up for you

"A comedy actor", "A household name" - are they really applicable to those prior to the as of yet unknown 12th Doctor? And I don't really think the poll is specifically pin-pointing aspects of what has been present in actors prior to the 12th Doctor, but more what actors they think should be employed to play the part, and narrowing it down to a select few options for people to pick from. Thus the poll seems a bit narrow-minded, seeing as there is no "Female" option, although on the other hand I understand where you are coming from, but it can be perceived in two different ways.

It wasn't Phoenix's idea to make up these poll questions. Blame YouGov. He's just trying to make it comparable to the YouGov poll to see what the results are.

Of all the rumoured actors to take on the role of The Doctor my favourite is Rory Kinnear, even if he is only 35 he looks like he could bring a good amount of seriousness back into the role.

He looks like he could be good. To be honest, I'm already bored with it all and just want them to announce the new guy already.

It should be the best person for the job. I don't care if they're British or not (As long as they speak English). It could be Matt Lucas, it could be David Walliams, it could be Mark Gatiss, it could be Whoopie Goldberg. Whoever brings the most to the role for all I care.