Since Jodie Whittaker announced she would be stepping down as Doctor Who last year, fans and media outlets alike have been asking: who's going to be the next Doctor?
Now the UK's Daily Mirror claims Hugh Grant could be taking over as the Time Lord.
The Love Actually and Notting Hill star has been in "secret talks" to play the next Doctor Who, according to a source the tabloid says is a "TV insider".
Here's what we know.
Hugh Grant was asked to play Doctor Who in 2004
Grant was the first choice to play the Doctor when the BBC was in talks to reboot the show in 2004.
"I literally offered him Doctor Who in 2004 ," showrunner Russell T Davies told UK news site inews in 2018.
Years later Grant confirmed the approach, according to inews.
"I was offered the role of the Doctor a few years back and was highly flattered," the site quoted him as saying in 2007.
"It's only when you see it on screen that you think, 'Damn, that was good. Why did I say no?'"
This time Grant isn't commenting
Despite Grant being highly active on Twitter, he has not addressed or confirmed any Doctor Who rumours.
As for Grant's upcoming film endeavours, he is set to appear in Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre and Dungeons & Dragons.
His recent credits include Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated film, The Undoing, as well as the villain Phoenix Buchanan in Paddington 2.
Which other actors have been linked to the new Doctor Who?
A long list of actors — including former Doctor David Tennant, have been linked to the new Who role.
The Independent newspaper said those in the running also included:
- Lydia West
- Omari Douglas
- Olly Alexander
- Michael Sheen
- Michaela Coel
What do we know about Doctor Who's 'Marvel makeover'?
The Mirror's "insider" claimed Davis was aiming to expand the Doctor's horizons, saying: "The vision is that the show can be a Marvel-like product, building franchises around the Doctor and other key characters in his many lives."
The paper said a Doctor Who "multiverse" could be on the cards.
If the Time Lord has taught us anything, it's that we can't predict the future of Doctor Who.
