Doctor, Doctor...

As someone who is childish and nerdy, I perfectly fill the brief of a Doctor Who fan (the show has an audience comprised of children and adult nerds, after all). It is no understatement to say that I was extremely excited about the programme's new series premiere last night. Not only had a revamped show been promised (new title sequence, new TARDIS, new head writer), but there was a brand new Doctor in the shape of Matt Smith!

How disappointed I was to see that, given the chance to inject some new blood into the BBC's flagship drama, the producers have merely opted for an actor offering us no more than some sort of terrible David Tennant pastiche. I thought the whole idea was to choose an actor who would play the character in a different manner to his predecessor?

Ecclestone was serious, Tennant was goofy, and now we have Matt Smith who is, erm, goofy again. D'oh!

With this disillusionment in mind, I have composed a shortlist of actors who I believe would have offered us something new as the Doctor. And would have been much better than the notably-average Smith.

1. Alan Rickman (left)

Highly respected and well-loved, Rickman could have potentially taken the role in any number of ways, given the depth of his acting skill. Suave and senior, Rickman would have been a far cry from the directionless, one-dimensional adolescent Smith.

 2. Rik Mayall (not pictured; sorry Mayall fans)

Mayall is genuinely funny, as appearances in Bottom and The Young Ones testify, and is sufficiently out of the spotlight to merit a return to the small screen.

3. Andy Serkis (right)

Described as "one of the greatest actors of his generation" by The Times, Serkis is renowned for his absolute engagement with every role which he adopts (a recent film outing as Ian Dury is testament to this). With no real TV drama appearances setting any sort of precedent, he could have approached the role of he Doctor from any angle without upsetting fans; an exciting prospect.

4. Paterson Joseph (left)

Whilst Mitchell and Webb take most of the glory in Channel 4's Peep Show, it is Joseph's monolithic Alan Johnson who is the real star. As leading light in BBC drama Survivors, Joseph proved his serious acting mettle. I think he would have the kind of comic/dramatic traction shared by many of the earlier Doctors.

5. Stephen Fry (right)

A populist choice, but Fry's acting is a testament to itself (look at virtually anything he was in during the 1980s to see evidence of this). Playing the role of the Doctor could have potentially drawn in more fans and cemented the Twitter lord's 'national treasure' status. Undoubtedly, Fry would have been an immediate crowdpleaser, and the Tom Baker for a new generation of fans.

First 6Music and now this...