EastEnders star Danny Dyer among bookies’ favourites to be new Doctor Who

BOOKIES have slashed the odds on Danny Dyer becoming Doctor Who’s next Time Lord.

It comes after the EastEnders star — who has played hardman Mick Carter for nine years — announced he was quitting the BBC1 soap to look for his “defining role”.

Ladbrokes now has Danny among the top ten stars who could take over from Jodie Whittaker, 39, when she leaves later this year.

They have cut his odds of entering the Tardis from 66/1 to 16/1. Other bookies are also placing Danny on their shortlists.

Danny, 44, moved ahead of the likes of film actor Ben Whishaw, Luther star Idris Elba and Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

A spokeswoman for Ladbrokes said: “Danny may be not be the archetypal actor to portray the Doctor but that’s just why he might be the perfect choice to make a big change on the show.

“He’s all the rage with punters and has already said he wants to take on different roles.

“So we could see him swapping The Queen Vic for the Tardis — and we’ve slashed our odds accordingly.”

EastEnders bosses this week confirmed Danny would be leaving the show later this year.

He quashed rumours he was going on to a £1million deal to film a drama with Sky or that he had any beef with the Beeb.

He said: “It’s me taking a risk.

“There’s no big story around it, really. Other than the fact I’ve decided to go off and try some other stuff. I’m still looking for that defining role.”

The three stars of last year’s Channel 4 drama It’s A Sin — Lydia West at 3/1, Olly Alexander at 4/1 and Omari Douglas at 5/1 — remain favourites to take on the role.