Tenth Doctor David Tennant the nation’s favourite Time Lord, as Whovians celebrate Doctor Who Day

• Whovians around the world are celebrating Doctor Who Day on social media.
• David Tennant revealed to be the nation’s favourite Time Lord, with outgoing Jodie Whittaker in fourth.
• Little-known Omari Douglas is 6-5 favourite to become the fourteenth Doctor.

Tenth Doctor David Tennant has been revealed to be the nation’s favourite Time Lord, new research by bookmaker William Hill has revealed.

Doctor Who turns 58 today, and fans celebrate every year on November 23 as Doctor Who Day – marking the date the sci-fi giant came hurtling back into our lives in 1963. 

But just who is the greatest Doctor? It’s a divisive question that everyone has an opinion on. 

But a new study by bookmaker William Hill, who are offering odds on who will become the fourteenth Doctor in 2022, which analysed tens of thousands of social media posts, domestic and international web search volume, headlines generated, and those all-important average IMDB ratings for each episode, meaning that the 13 Time Lords can be accurately ranked to find the internet’s favourite Doctor.

And it was West Lothian-born Tennant, widely considered one of Scotland’s greatest ever actors, and most famous for playing the tenth incarnation of The Doctor in 51 episodes of the sci-fi series (8.2 IMDB), that claims the keys to the Tardis.

In second spot is the man Tennant inherited the famous role from, Christopher Eccleston. The ninth Doctor, who first appeared in 2005’s The Parting of the Ways, and went on to clock up 14 episodes at the helm, with an average IMDB episode rating of 8.07, is the only other Time Lord who can compete on Tennant’s level.

Next on this list is Glasweigan Peter Capaldi, who racked up 41 episodes, starting with his maiden appearance in 2017’s Twice Upon A Time. Capaldi, though, was held back on the grounds of considerably lower search volume, both globally and domestically, as well as more moderate press coverage, but is otherwise highly thought of.

Outgoing Jode Whittaker, who first appeared in 2011’s The Woman Who Fell To Earth, claims fourth spot. The thirteenth Doctor, currently starring in series 13, title Doctor Who: Flux, was held back in her efforts to mount a challenge at the top by her IMDB rating, which was the lowest of all 13 Doctors.

And it was a similar story for fifth-placed Matt Smith, who despite boasting the highest IMDB average episode rating (8.3), scored second lowest in terms of public opinion on social media.

Back to the present day, and it’s little-known Omari Douglas who is 6-5 favourite to become the fourteenth Doctor, with the hit show’s bosses reportedly courting the 27-year-old rising star.

And speculation is rife as to who will take over the coveted role with current incumbent Whittaker and showrunner Chris Chibnall preparing to bow out.

And, after wowing audiences in his TV debut as Roscoe Babatunde in It’s A Sin at the start of this year, William Hill has Douglas at 6-5 to take on the mantle. The 27-year-old even forced the temporary closure of the market, as new information came to light, for a brief period last month.

There has also been much speculation about Years and Years and It’s A Sin star Lydia West, who was recently cut to 5-2. West, who was reportedly the name behind a flurry of bets which forced bookmakers to close their books in September, is set to appear alongside Russell Tovey in the film Text for You, and with Mike Myers and Ken Jeong in forthcoming comedy series The Pentaverate. 

Good Omens and Prodigal Son star Michael Sheen – recently voted as the fans’ choice for the high-profile vacancy – is the other blockbuster name at 3-1, with another Years and Years star, T’Nia Miller, now 9-1, having already played a Time Lord in the BBC series, and I May Destroy You creator and star Michaela Coel is a 14-1 shot.

To view the full list of potential contenders to the Tardis, please visit: https://sports.williamhill.com/betting/en-gb/tv-specials/OB_EV19775464/who-will-be-the-next-doctor-who-after-jodie-whittaker

Odds correct at time of publishing.