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Who will be the next Doctor Who? It's time for a new Time Lord and we think we know who it'll be...

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Current doctor Peter Capaldi

Grab your sonic screwdriver and join us on a journey into the future as we predict who will be the next Doctor Who.

It was reported this week that Peter Capaldi is set to step down in 2017 after the next series.

And now the chase is on to find his successor to become the 13th Doctor in the programme's 53-year history.

Doctor Who fans are getting their multi-coloured Tom Baker tribute scarves in a twist trying to figure it out since the news broke this week.

Nobody has a clue who new writer Chris Chibnall, the creator of Broadchurch, will pick to launch his era at the reins of the longest-runner sci-fi show ever.

Some believe a Hollywood star could take up the mantle, while others think it's time for a female star to land the top job.

So, in a bid to help sort the Time Lords from the time wasters, we've set ourselves the intergalactically tough task of analysing all of the data to reveal who is most likely to get the nod.

Forget exter-min-ate... it's time to est-i-mate!

Who are the bookies tipping for the TARDIS?

There are more runners and riders in this one than the Grand National. But Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes say there's already a frontrunner.

"Fingers are firmly pointing at Ben Whishaw", she said. "He's favourite to swap MI6 for the Tardis sooner rather than later".

Below is the full list of odds...

  • Ben Whishaw 5/1

  • Richard Ayoade 6/1

  • Rory Kinnear 7/1

  • Miranda Hart 8/1

  • Jason Flemyng 9/1

  • David Harewood 10/1

  • Helena Bonham Carter 10/1

  • Alexander Vlahos 12/1

  • Daniel Rigby 12/1

  • Olivia Colman 14/1

  • Michael Sheen 14/1

  • Idris Elba 16/1

  • Chiwetel Ejifor 16/1

  • Russell Tovey 16/1

  • Ben Daniels 20/1

  • Alexandra Roach 20/1

  • Jennifer Saunders 20/1

  • Sheridan Smith 20/1

  • Sophie Okonedo 25/1

  • Tilda Swinton 25/1

  • Helen Mirren 25/1

  • Hugh Bonneville 25/1

  • Sarah Lancashire 25/1

  • Eddie Redmayne 25/1

  • Phillip Glenister 25/1

  • David Mitchell 33/1

  • Keeley Hawes 33/1

  • James Corden 50/1

  • Hugh Grant 50/1

  • Katherine Kelly 50/1

  • Damian Lewis 50/1

The search is on... so who's getting Googled the most?

Idris Elba and Helena Bonham Carter

Hollywood stars dominate the top two spots, with Helena Bonham Carter and Idris Elba putting in the most traffic.

Bonham Carter doesn't have too many films in the pipeline according to her IMDB, so her search volumes may suggest a new role in Doctor Who could be in the pipeline.

Idris Elba's work elsewhere is also likely to play a part - especially as he's linked to potentially playing the next James Bond.

Aside from those two, Ben Whishaw tops the pile as the best of the rest. He's followed by Miranda Hart and Richard Ayoade.

What's the average actor's age?

Forty-one is the average age actors start as the Doctor.

Current Doctor Who, Peter Capaldi was 55 when he began filming the role - making him the joint oldest in the history of the show. He's tied with the first-ever Doctor, William Hartnell.

Current doctor Peter Capaldi

Matt Smith was the youngest actor to step onto the set at just 27.

Of our list of hopefuls, bookies' favourite Ben Whishaw is 35 at the moment, so would be 36 by the time the part arrived - the same age as eight Doctor Paul McGann was when he got the job.

Richard Ayoade would be 39, Rory Kinnear 38 and Miranda Hart 44. Hollywood's Idris Elba would be 44, while Helena Bonham Carter would have turned 50 - the same age the third Doctor John Pertwee was when he got the job.

Is it time for a woman to take the lead?

Joanna Lumley played 'The Female Doctor' in a 1999 Red Nose Day spoof called The Curse of Fatal Death', which was written by Steven Moffat.

The same skit featured big names playing various versions of the Time Lord. Rowan Atkinson, Richard E. Grant, Jim Broadbent and Hugh Grant all featured.

Female characters have traditionally played the Doctor's brave side-kicks, and one of the best known was Sarah Jane (played by the late Elisabeth Sladen, below). She originally starred opposite Jon Pertwee and then Tom Baker, before returning for a cameo during David Tennant's tenure.

Her return proved so popular BBC bosses commissioned her to star in the Doctor Who spin-off 'The Sarah Jane Adventures' from 2007.

So... we believe the next Doctor Who will be played by...

Yes, Miranda Hart gets our vote as the next Doctor Who. She's almost the perfect age, the bookies fancy her as second favourite female and she has a lot of experience being surrounded by doctors in TV's Call The Midwife.

Miranda is also the top-searched UK female star on our list and she's a fan of wearing Doctor Wo-style scarves, as shown below.

The comic also topped a fan poll the last time a new Doctor needed to be found, beating former show favourite Billie Piper to the top spot.

After being told fans wanted to see her in the TARDIS, she told Heat: "Really? Who. me? Are you serious? That's hilarious!

"I didn't watch it when i was younger - it scared me. I started watching some Doctor Who recently on my own and got too scared. I had to watch it in the daytime - I'm pathetic.

"I might be alright if I'm in it, though, and I don't have to watch it".

Why rely on estimates when you can get the facts...

We can crunch numbers all we want, but estimation is no substitute for the facts.

Whether it's trying to predict the next Doctor Who or attempting to calculate an energy bill, if you're relying on an estimate you won't get an accurate result.

With a smart meter you won't have to rely on estimated bills or submit meter readings manually any more. You'll also be able to see what you're spening on gas and electricity in near real time in pounds and pence.

Every home in Britain will be able to get a smart meter by 2020 at no extra cost. Just contact your energy supplier to find out when you can get yours.

Smart Energy GB is the national campaign for Britain's smart meter rollout.

Visit smartenergyGB.org to find out more.

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