The identity of Doctor Who’s 13th Time Lord will be revealed later, with speculation that it could – for the first time – be a woman.
A trailer featuring the number 13 in different locations was aired during the tennis on BBC One on Friday.
It finished with the caption: “Meet the 13th Doctor after the Wimbledon men’s final, Sunday 16th July.”
The actor will succeed Peter Capaldi who took the role in 2013 and will leave in the 2017 Christmas special.
Capaldi made the announcement about his decision to quit during an interview with BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley in January.
The Glasgow-born star said: “I feel it’s time to move on. I feel sad, I love Doctor Who, it is a fantastic programme to work on.”
Phoebe Waller-Bridge – the star of hit comedy Fleabag – has been one of the favourites to become the first female Doctor.
Former companion Billie Piper told the BBC it would “feel like a snub” if the role went to another man – but would Phoebe be able to squeeze the Tardis in around time on the Millennium Falcon now she’s started filming the new Star Wars Han Solo movie?
The bookies, meanwhile, remain confident the role will go to a Broadchurch actor.
Both Jodie Whittaker and Olivia Colman have been the subject of much speculation, especially as incoming show boss Chris Chibnall was Broadchurch’s writer.
David Tennant – otherwise known as the 10th Doctor and Coleman’s Broadchurch co-star – told the BBC he thought “she’d be great” in the role, but added: “Whether that’s in her sights at the moment, I suspect probably not.”
Former Death in Paradise actor Kris Marshall, Sherlock’s Andrew Scott and Ben Whishaw – who plays Q in the James Bond films – also make the list of contenders, should bosses go for a more traditional casting.
