Ben Daniels and Rupert Grint get public vote in Dr Who running as Coral takes the Timelord to London
London commuters had a surprise waiting for them at Earls Court Station on Friday in the form of a Doctor Who lookalike offering free bets on candidates to take over the role from Matt Smith, provided by betting website Coral.
Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint - also known as Ron Weasley - was tipped by passers by to snap up the role, after a line in the show several seasons ago referenced the fact that the Doctor wanted to be ginger, while some called for the show's first female Doctor.
PR director at Coral, Simon Clare, said: "The Doctor Who story has quickly become the biggest novelty betting event of the year, so we decided to bring some Dr Who mania to London's most famous police box.
"We had plenty of contenders over the first few days but there has been a major gamble on Ben Daniels over the last 48 hours and he is now a red-hot favourite for the role."
The Merlin actor's odds have been slashed from 33/1 to 7/4, while Olivia Colman is the shortest-priced female in the betting at 14/1. Former Doctor David Tennant has odds of 16/1 to make a return to the show and popular outsiders for the part include Miranda Hart at 50/1, David Walliams at 66/1 and Hugh Laurie at 100/1.
Colman appeared briefly in Doctor Who episode 'The Eleventh Hour' with Smith, but this will not affect her chances: Freema Agyeman and Karen Gillan both appeared in the show before they were given the role of companion.