LOCAL star Olly Alexander is rumoured to be in the running to become the next Doctor Who.

The Years and Years singer and actor from Coleford has been widely tipped to be next in line for the Tardis by some well-known affiliates of the popular BBC Sci-Fi series.

Olly, 30, recently starred in the acclaimed Channel 4 drama It’s a Sin, which was set among the LGBTQ community at the time of the HIV/Aids epidemic.

His stock as an actor has soared since the series aired and the show’s creator Russell T Davies, who also revived Doctor Who back in 2005, has been reported as saying that Olly would be perfect for the iconic role when current doctor Jodie Whittaker steps down.

And now actor John Barrowman, who plays Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who as well as its spin-off series Torchwood, has also backed Olly to become the next doctor.

He told ITV’s Lorraine: ‘Olly would be amazing – he’s quirky, he’s fun, he’s a lovely actor and I think he would make a wonderful Doctor.’

Olly, who grew up in the Forest of Dean and went to Monmouth Comprehensive School, has himself been quizzed by interviewers on the subject, telling Capital Breakfast: ‘I mean, if I was do you think I’d be able to tell you?’

He went on to say that his ‘lips are sealed’ before adding that ‘it would be amazing’ to play the role.

Doctor Who itself has links to the area, with local attractions such as Puzzlewood, Clearwell Caves and Beechenhurst having been used as filming locations several times over the years.

Olly’s own professional career began in the film Summerhill released in 2008, and his next film Bright Star was nominated for an Academy Award.

His next big acting break came in 2013, when he starred alongside Ben Whishaw and Judi Dench in the West End play Peter and Alice.

Meanwhile, he had launched Years and Years with Mikey Goldsworthy and Emre Turkmen, who took the pop world by storm in 2015 with No 1 single King and chart-topping album Communion.

In 2019, they realised a dream by playing the Glastonbury Festival, where Olly’s call for equality and gay rights was widely praised.

He has also appeared on the celebrity version of Channel 4’s Gogglebox alongside mum Vicky Thornton, who lives in Coleford and is a co-founder of Coleford Music Festival.