r/doctorwho • u/CaspianValentine • 20h ago
Discussion The first Welsh Doctor
Despite the show being based in Cardiff for the last two decades, we’ve not had a Welshman* take the TARDIS keys… who would be your pick for the first Welsh Doctor?
I think Iwan Rheon is a fantastic actor with great range, and could be a very interesting Doctor
Edit - *or Welshwoman
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u/Swotboy2000 20h ago
Michael Sheen.
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u/tinyporcelainehorses 19h ago
I've been thinking lately that I sort of want Michael Sheen to play the master, actually. He's so good at appearing wise and cuddly and relatable: it'd be fascinating to see him as a recurring supporting character, leaning into that feeling, and then have a moment where you realize it's a facade and it drops, and he's cold, and cruel, and terrifying.
Alas, I did not feel able to submit a tender to direct a new series of doctor who due to minor factors such as my lack of any television production experience, and not being a production company, so this is going to have to remain a dream.
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u/Grafikpapst 18h ago
I have been saying for a while that in affably evil Master played by Sheen would be a fun spin. Have him offer tea and biscuits while brutally destroying someones life and never even do so much as raise his voice.
I think you dont even drop the facade, I think it is more chilling if he reallx just doesnt have any big feelings about the horrible things he does for his schemes.
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u/Due-Swordfish-8833 13h ago
tbh he was terrifying when he played that serial killer... I do see it.
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u/CaspianValentine 20h ago
Just for extra ammo in his bickering against Tennant?
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u/JustKomodo 20h ago
That’s the main reason! :D
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u/CaspianValentine 20h ago
Excellent 😁 imagine the two of them in a multi-Doctor story as well
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u/JustKomodo 19h ago
It would be just like the second and third Doctors irritating each other again!
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u/snapper1971 14h ago
Too old. I'm all for a youthful doctor. Sheen is probably too good for the role.
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u/Due-Swordfish-8833 13h ago
tbh I think in recent years we had more youthful doctors than old ones... I don't think Sheen is the right guy for the role, mostly because I'd prefer the Doctor not to be played by such a big name, but I also wouldn't mind getting someone older to play the role once more.
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u/Mrbbll22 19h ago
Aneurin Barnard had long been among my picks. He’s got such an other worldly quality to him and is a great actor.
A shame he’s now been in Doctor Who in a villain role - I know it doesn’t stop him becoming the Doctor at some point - but I’d have preferred his first time in the show to have been as the Doctor.
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u/Clem_Crozier 19h ago
Time for a Northern Ireland Doctor, so it is
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u/Dreamer-of-Travel 18h ago
That Master is a jammy sod, so he is! At least the daleks are wee buns compared to this craic!
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u/codename474747 13h ago
Catch yerself on u/Clem_Crozier, Jim MacDonald is too old to play The Doctor now, so he is....what about yer?
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u/Ok_Bandicoot516 16h ago
Matthew Rhys! I’d save Michael Sheen for The Master
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u/J_train13 K-9 15h ago
I fear Sheen as the Master would only truly work if they brought Tennant back a third time
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u/RaviFennec 14h ago
I can't believe I'm about to type this but I'd rather subject myself to waterboarding than having Tennant come back for a third time.
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u/J_train13 K-9 14h ago
I understand what you mean however I'm afraid Micheal Sheen would be unable to foil anyone else as the Master
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u/TinkreBelle 14h ago
don't get me wrong I love Sheen and Tennant's chemistry, but I can see it working with someone else, idk who exactly, I think I just like the idea of him being the Master more than the Dr lol
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u/Blingsguard 19h ago
Kimberley Nixon
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u/Forsaken-Language-26 15h ago
It would also make her the first (to my knowledge) neurodivergent Doctor. Same with Katy Wix since she's also been mentioned.
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u/TomClark83 19h ago
Michael Sheen and Rhys Ifans are the obvious two, but I think Craig Roberts could be an interesting shout for a younger Doctor (and yes, I'm counting mid-thirties as young - this is in no way affected by bitterness after someone asked for an "older Doctor in their thirties" the other day...)
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u/MasterOfCelebrations 18h ago
We actually have a Welshman playing the third doctor at big finish
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u/TheJLLNinja 16h ago
Technically as well in the episode “Listen” the Doctor as a child was portrayed by a Welsh boy.
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u/Slayeroflemons-new 19h ago
Tom Ellis.
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u/WhiteKnightPrimal 15h ago
I would love a Welsh Doctor! Would it be too much to suggest Gareth David Lloyd? It wouldn't be the first time the Doctor has 'stolen' the face of someone else.
Maybe give us an Irish Doctor at some point, too. We've had English and Scottish Doctors, we just need Welsh and Irish to get the whole British set. And they really need a ginger Doctor at some point, too, I still want pay-off for the focus on not being ginger they had in Ten and Eleven's run.
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u/CurrentLeg2581 19h ago
Joanna Scanlan. (If she counts? Born in England to a welsh family and then grew up in Wales). She’s amazing in Riot Women and could pull off the arrogance, strangeness and charm at the same time.
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u/professorrev 19h ago
That can't be right surely, given how execrable her Welsh accent is
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u/CurrentLeg2581 18h ago
I’ve no idea (I live in Scotland, not an expert on welsh accents), but according to Wikipedia she grew up in north wales from the age of three.
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u/professorrev 19h ago
Funnily enough, I was thinking this almost the whole time I was watching Widows Bay
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u/PanicTight6411 18h ago
Please god yes, give us the Merlin doctor
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u/CaspianValentine 16h ago
D’you mean Colin Morgan (Jethro in Midnight)? Cos he’s not Welsh
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u/blamordeganis 15h ago
In a classic Who story (Battlefield, iirc), Merlin is revealed to be a possible future incarnation of the Doctor.
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u/Polyolbion 6h ago
Really? Oh God, leave his timeline alone, writers. Not quite as lame as half human.
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u/TheMightyPedro 17h ago
Matt Ryan (VA and performance capture for Edward Kenway in Assassins Creed Black Flag)
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u/WeakAd2636 13h ago
Iwan Rheon could make a good welsh rip off of 11. He has that awkward autistic vibe 🤣🤣
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u/Maurice_Foot 12h ago
Michael Sheen would make for an interesting choice, especially if he’s in his curly hair and beard patriarchal look (see Michale Sheen’s and David Tennant’s ‘Staged’ series).
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u/codename474747 13h ago
Rob Brydon
He'd never lie to his enemies....but anecdotes aren't his Forte
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u/karo_scene 17h ago
Might break the budget so hard for the show that time and space would be shattered...
Catherine Zeta Jones.
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u/KittyTheS 14h ago
She makes about $200,000 per episode on Wednesday. She'd probably expect more as a lead actor but I don't think she's totally priced out.
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u/gadget850 14h ago
Eve Myles
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u/TinkreBelle 14h ago
that's an interesting choice and I don't disagree, but I think the only reason it wouldn't be as bad or worse of a controversy than Billie Piper is because she's the main character of a spinoff and didn't have much of a role in the main show
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u/MissyManaged 17h ago
As someone who always goes to bat for a Welsh Doctor, Aimee-Ffion Edwards is my top pick.
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u/WaltHitchcock 5h ago
Matt Ryan (John Constantine in Arrowverse and DC animated projects and Edward Kenway in Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag). Easily. He’d be perfect.
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u/shiny_director 3h ago
Richard Harrington could be a good choice. He does broody and dramatic, but has shown he’s also gifted at comedy.
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u/lyndon85 18h ago
Christian Bale? It isn't going to happen but I think him doing the Doctor with his actual accent would be brilliant
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u/aspirin-mumbo 20h ago
i mistook Iwan Rheon for Rhys Ifans, but goddamit, Ifans would be great in this