The new Doctor?

Just been listening to the birth of a rumour on Five Live. Julian Worricker is interviewing Tom Baker about the new Doctor Who series and, in a rather mischievous way, Baker has said that he's been told that Eddie Izzard is going to the the new Doctor with Denise Van Outen as his assistant. Of course, he was very vague about who has told him this, but that won't stop the rumours sweeping round the world.

He did make a good case for why Izzard would be a good Doctor, though - part of the essence of the Doctor is that he is mysterious and always knows a lot more than he lets on and Baker feels that he can project the air of someone who does that as well as being someone who acts like he's travelled to a lot of places other people can't. The reason for Van Outen was a bit more mundane - 'she's got lovely legs'.

So, whether it turns out to be a rumour or if Eddie Izzard is actually cast, you heard it here first. Given that from what I understand, Russell Davies still hasn't written the script and there's only a vague transmission date of 'sometime in 2005' I'd be surprised if anyone's been cast yet, but you never know. Personally, I think Eddie Izzard would be a good choice, and it's interesting to note that the two previous Doctors who were best known for comedy before their casting (Jon Pertwee and Sylvester McCoy) portrayed two of the more serious incarnations of the Doctor.