Lydia West suddenly becomes bookies favourite to be the next Doctor Who

When it comes to picking the next Doctor Who, the Bookies seem to be a fickle bunch as last week one established star was tipped to be the new time travelling hero, and now an up-and-coming actress is expected to land the dream role.

Just a week ago, 44-year-old Danny Dyer was the Bookies top tip to land the coveted role – but now they are backing 28-year-old Lydia West for the part.

The actress has become well known in the past year thanks to her role in Channel 4’s hit drama It’s A Sin – which was written by Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies.

Lydia is being backed with odds standing at 3-1 after a flurry of bets were made on her being handed the role over the space of 48 hours at the end of last week.

Coral’s John Hill explained: “It has been one-way traffic for Lydia West in our Doctor Who betting over the last 48 hours.

“She has emerged as the new favourite as many punters believe she will replace Jodie Whittaker as the next Time Lord.”

The week before, outgoing EastEnders Danny Dyer was leading the pack with odds stacked at 2-1 – but his odds have since slipped to 5-1.

Lydia’s It’s A Sin co-star Olly Alexander has been a name tied to the Doctor Who franchise as a possible new lead performer for months and his odds are still strong at 4-1.

Meanwhile another It’s A Sin star, Omari Douglas, has odds at 5-1, stage actor Fisayo Akinade has odds at 6-1 ex-EastEnders actress Rakhee Thakrar has odds at 7-1, Hollywood star Michael Sheen holds odds of 10-1, I May Destroy You star Michaela Coel is looking at odds of 16-1– as are Funny Girls star Rose Matafeo and It’s A Sin’s Nathaniel Curtis and Xena icon Lucy Lawless.

Current Doctor, 39-year-old Jodie Whittaker, will bow out of the role before the end of the year with her replacement likely to be unveiled in the closing seconds of whatever episode she departs.

The actress has hinted she is regretting her decision to quit the long-running show.

She said in an interview last October: “You know what I’m like – I’m a crier. I had to do my final (backstage interview) today. We haven’t finished filming so I can avoid the thoughts a bit more.

“But obviously with the behind-the-scenes stuff, it was in that slightly concluding way and, ‘Can you tell us how you feel about the crew?’ and then I just lost it.

“I was just crying my eyes out, absolutely gone. I always knew this is the best time I will ever have on a job. I have felt like that from the start of it.”

She added: “But this show needs new energy.

“The Doctor, the joy of this part is you hand on your boots – and you hand them on. And I don’t know who, but whoever that is, what a thing to go, ‘You are going to have a right time’.”