Denise Welch has thrown her hat into the ring for a new BBC role following ITV’s major cuts to Loose Women. With speculation swirling that she might voice the Time Lord in a new Doctor Who spin-off, the outspoken TV star isn’t hiding her interest.
The BBC recently revealed it will be launching its first Doctor Who animated series for preschoolers, set to air between 2027 and 2029. The series will be shown on CBeebies and produced separately from the main live-action show. As they scout production partners, the BBC is also rumoured to be shortlisting familiar names for the lead voice — including Denise Welch herself.
The buzz began on Reddit, where fans speculated the BBC was looking at recognisable CBeebies names such as Mr Tumble star Justin Fletcher, Dinosaur Adventures host Andy Day, and CBeebies presenter George Webster — a move aimed at pushing the message that “the Doctor can be anyone.” Other names allegedly in the mix include veteran actors Richard E. Grant and James Bolam — and Denise Welch.
Wasting no time, Denise reposted a screenshot of the speculation on her Instagram Stories and boldly declared, “I definitely think this job should be mine,” tagging Doctor Who creator Russell T Davies in the post.
While Denise and Russell haven’t worked together before, they both serve as patrons of Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre — a shared connection that could help make her dream a reality.
The BBC’s Director of Children’s and Education, Patricia Hidalgo, underscored the importance of the new direction, saying: “Everyone is welcome at CBeebies, including the Doctor. This much-loved franchise entertains millions around the world, so it’s only right our younger audience gets to experience the wonder of the Doctor in a new format.”
