<P> Producer Jane Tranter also considered casting Judi Dench as the Ninth Doctor . The role of the Ninth Doctor went to Christopher Eccleston . </P> <P> Russell Tovey auditioned and screen - tested for the part of the Eleventh Doctor, having been recommended to Steven Moffat's new production team by outgoing showrunner Russell T Davies . Moffat briefly considered casting Peter Capaldi . The role of the Eleventh Doctor went to Matt Smith . </P> <P> Ben Daniels revealed to Digital Spy that he had been included on a shortlist of actors in the running for the role, but was not the production team's first choice . Helen Mirren were suggested as potentials for the role of the Twelfth Doctor . The role of the Twelfth Doctor went to Peter Capaldi . </P> <P> When referring to if the new Doctor would be a woman, incoming Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall originally was quoted in February 2017, as saying "Nothing is ruled out but I don't want the casting to be a gimmick and that's all I can say". The role of the Thirteenth Doctor went to Jodie Whittaker . She will be the first woman to play the Doctor in the television series . She had previously worked with Chibnall on in Broadchurch . Chibnall said that he always wanted a woman for the part and that Whittaker was their first choice . </P>

Who turned down the role of the doctor