Doctor Who: Tilda Swinton is bookies' favourite to be next TV Time Lord

The next Doctor Who could be played by a woman for the first time as Tilda Swinton is the bookies' favourite to replace Peter Capaldi.

The Oscar-winner starred in the movie adaptation of another famous doctor, Marvel's Doctor Strange, alongside Benedict Cumberbatch last year.

Now the 56-year-old British actress, whose other films include We Need To Talk About Kevin and Michael Clayton, is the frontrunner in the betting, according to Ladbrokes.

Her odds of 7/2 put the Hollywood actress ahead of stars such as Kris Marshall, Olivia Colman, Maxine Peake and Ben Wishaw.

Sky Bet has her equal favourite with Marshall on 3/1.

Betting opened after Capaldi announced he would leave the show at the end of the tenth season, which begins in April.

The Thick of It star, who took over the Doctor role from Matt Smith, said it was a "privilege" and "cosmic" to play the TV Time Lord.

His departure coincides with that of writer and executive producer Steven Moffat.

Moffat has suggested Doctor Who could, at some point, be played by a woman.

"I think the next time might be a female Doctor. I don't see why not," he said.

After that, fans reacted with excitement on social media, asking for the next Doctor to be a woman.

"Whovian punters are becoming increasingly convinced the next Doctor will be female," said Ladbrokes spokeswoman Jessica Bridge.

"And fingers are currently pointing towards Swinton."

Capaldi's final performance as the Doctor will be in the Christmas 2017 special episode.

Joanna Lumley played the Time Lord in a Comic Relief sketch The Curse of Fatal Death in 1999.