With rumours of the Master returning to the show for Series 8 (please, really let this one be true), I thought I’d do a rundown of actors I wouldn’t mind seeing in the role/have been rumoured to an extent. Sorry Sherlock fans, you might be disappointed with this list.

Ben Daniels: He was rumoured for the role of the 12th Doctor (and may have been him too) but instead perhaps he could play the Master. Daniels has a history of some villainous roles too and I’m sure he’d be a wonderful version of the renegade Time Lord.

Charles Dance: Heavily rumoured/favoured by fans and given that his role on Game Of Thrones as Tywin Lannister has possibly earned him some new fans, he’s also one of my favourites for the role. Both him and Capaldi as onscreen enemies would be amazing, wouldn’t it?

Jason Isaacs: Another actor with a strong history of villainous and darker roles, Isaacs is also pretty close to Capaldi’s age and seems to be one of those actors not many fans mention as well. I think he would be another great choice for the Master.

Matthew Rhys: Possibly not likely to happen due to his commitments to The Americans (though I’m sure Season 2 is finished filming), Rhys convinced me with his take on John Jasper in BBC2’s The Mystery Of Edwin Drood, that he could be rather menacing in a quiet, subtle way that would even outdo the likes of Roger Delgado.

Michael Sheen: I was trying to avoid selecting any actors with previous involvement in the show but I couldn’t resist with Sheen. Yes, he voiced the rather nasty House in The Doctor’s Wife but the guy deserves to be seen on Doctor Who and who better than playing the Master, eh?

Steve John Shepherd: Mainly known in recent times as his role of Michael Moon in EastEnders, it might be arguably too soon for Shepherd to play another high profile villainous role but along with Dance, he has been rumoured/clamoured by certain fans and I actually do think he would be an interesting choice as well if he were picked.

So those are my choices. Who are yours to go up against Capaldi’s Doctor?

Dance and Shepherd are the ones I keep hearing, but I love your suggestion of Isaacs.

John simm. Only had two story's as the master and I think his incarnation dosen't need to be thrown on the scrapheap so soon, just because there's a new doctor. if they absolutely feel the need to change though, dance would be a good choice. Was thinking of people who play bad guys well, and malcolm tucker flashed in my head, so for a split second thought of putting peter capaldi, then my brain sorted itself out and was like 'oh, hang on a minute'

Exactly, I'd like to see him in at least one more episode. I think he still has potential.

Personally I don't want to see The Master back any time soon, though for the sake of the thread I'll play along.

I'd love it if they did a mid-episode regeneration that nobody was expecting. Have John Simm back setting up the first half of a story and then have him regenerate half way through. It'd be much harder to have The Doctor regenerate half way through an episode for the sake of attachment to the actor in the role and him needing a proper exit, but with The Master it could be something of an extended farewell for Simm before his replacement comes on board (I don't think Simm should stick around for a third story in full though).


As for who the next Master should be, I am totally undecided. I always used to think Anthony Stewart Head would make for a much more reserved, calculating Master which would be interesting (if Capaldi can come back, so could Stewart-Head!) and a massive tonal shift from the maniacal lunatic we got with John Simm.

I know it will likely never happen but... Alan Rickman.

"I'll get you Robin Hood - oops! - John McClane - oops - Harry Potter - oops! - Doctor..."

I wouldn't object to Simm coming back for another story but I kind of feel (and perhaps I'm wrong here but time will tell I suppose) that he might only return to do a brief regeneration scene and then we'd get a new guy.

I think we should have a new master to compliment an older Doctor. My top choice would be Charles Dance followed by Sirs Ben Kingsley, Ian McKellen or Patrick Stewart (in that order). I know the last three are very high-profile, but they've all done a lot of small budget, low profile and light-hearted roles recently, so I don't see why they wouldn't if they've got the time and they like the part, as none of them are particually up-themselves

Ooooo, scary

This, and Michael Sheen as an option but however I would love to see a regen scene with John Simm turning!

A dual role for Capaldi for one ep, that would be for great viewing, The Master decides to copy the doctors appearance for a laugh Could be done quite well these days!

I could happily have Simm remain in the role for a while. But that being unlikely I would like to see a two parter with Simm regenerating as the cliffhanger and lead into episode 2. Unlike the Doctor the regeneration of the Master is not a sacred event so a mid episode change will work in a way it wouldn't for the Doctor. I just think Simm deserves at least one more appearance and not a cameo.

And who takes over? All of Shawns suggestions are good. I think Charles Dance would be fantastic. His Master facing off against Capaldi would be just as fitting as Tennant versus Simm was.

Just no beard twirling panto stuff like many of the Classic Who Doctors. Simm was strangely accused of wacky overacting which I never understood. Especially in S3 he introduced a genuine depth and nastiness to the character which was light years beyond the 'hes behind you' schtick of previous Masters. I would like to see that continue. Yes give the character light and shade but not too much light.

Kingsley and Stewart - yes, great choices there.

Someone on GB suggested Gary Oldman as well too.

Thanks guys.

I really wish that folks would accept ££ into the equation.

Oldman would be epic, but why would he do Who for 10% of what he could earn for the same amount of filming in LA?

To reverse that, let's say Matt Smith can get £125k a year for 10 months of Who, or the same amount for 6 weeks on a well financed movie?

Seriously, would you be calling for the Zarbi?

Jason Isaacs. Mmmmmmmm.

Also Anthony Stewart Head though! Him and Capaldi would be explosive. That would be dark. Real dark.

Callum Blue

Idris Elba!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Double vision - Peter Capaldi should play the Master, well atleast for one episode Would be a great twist, once Jenna has learnt to trust the new Doctors incarnation after Matts phone call and spending time with him on new adventures - WHAM, there is this other dude who looks just like him that she shouldn't trust under any circumstances - mind fart!

http://24.media.tumblr.com/8257f6fd2...9yduo1_250.gif

That's a lot of exclamation marks and smileys. Surely it's not that exciting?

I would Pee my pants if Jason Isaacs was cast.

He has been my choice since John Simm was imo miscast. His Lucius Malfoy (but with dark shorter hair, less camp and more sinister) would make a fantastic Master.

I want Geoffrey Beevers back, I'd love to see the decaying Master again!

Larry Lamb would be my new choice.

But would he be the post-Delgado decaying Master again or would something have happened to the Simm Master that had caused him to decay??

I wouldn't mind John Simms returning.
All I would ask is that they dispose of the awful (imho) madman Master, and return to the original sinister sly Master of the Delgado era, maybe not as panto as Ainley's master though.

That would be before he stole Tremas's body.

Would be good if we had a multi Master story!