Hugh Grant addresses Doctor Who casting rumours

Hugh Grant has cleared the air about those new Doctor Who rumours.

The Mirror reported that the Four Weddings and a Funeral actor was "in talks" to replace Jodie Whittaker as the next Doctor, causing a swirl of excitement on social media.

However, Grant has now played down those rumours, tweeting: "Nothing against Dr W but I'm not. No idea where the story came from."

It's not the first time he has been rumoured to be playing the Time Lord. Russell T Davies, the former showrunner who is returning to the show in time for the 60th anniversary, offered the role to the Paddington star back in 2004.

host hugh grant speaks on stage during the 2020 laureus world sports awards at verti music hall on february 17, 2020 in berlin, germany

Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for Laureus

Davies and Grant finally worked together in 2018 on BBC One's three part series A Very English Scandal, a dark comedy-drama about the Jeremy Thorpe scandal in the 1970s.

Speaking to Digital Spy at the time, Davies explained that the original Doctor Who offer "never got past [Grant's] agent".

"Literally, I've wanted to work with Hugh Grant for decades," Davies said, "We did ask him to be Doctor Who in 2004. I have to say, that never got past his agent. I told him this. He was completely oblivious.

"With that level of star, you approach the agent and they just kick it out the window. 'Would Hugh like to come to Cardiff for a year?' 'No!'"

StudioCanal

Grant also confirmed to us at the time that talk of him being part of Doctor Who was only ever based on rumours.

"I've heard that [Doctor Who] rumour but I don't remember anyone ever coming to me... my agent, no," he said.

"But I adore Russell, he's a real genius. He did send me something [else]... was it called Banana? But it was ages ago. I can't remember why I didn't do it."

Of course, Grant also spoofed the character of The Doctor as part of an an all-star cast in the 1999 Red Nose Day sketch 'Doctor Who: The Curse of Fatal Death'. The comedy special was written by Steven Moffat, who would later go on to become Doctor Who's showrunner.

Doctor Who will air two more specials later this year on BBC One in the UK. In the US, the show airs on BBC America, with series 1-12 available on HBO Max.

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Jess Bacon

Jess is a freelance writer and editor with a passion for over-analysing everyone’s favourite movies and TV shows. As an English graduate from the University of York with an MA in Creative Writing, Jess worked as a magazine editor before turning freelance. Since then, Jess has written for outlets such as GQ, The Guardian, Inverse, Huff Post, Stylist, and Insider. She specialises in the representation of mental health, grief, and women in film. She’s also a major Marvel nerd and is writing a YA fantasy novel. LinkedIn