As much as everyone wants to know who will be jumping into the TARDIS next, it’s also worth taking a few minutes to consider who will be playing the Doctor’s oldest friend and rival, The Master. Doctor Who is in one of the weirdest spots in the series’ history, with no real indication of what comes next, but we do know there will be a Christmas special in 2026.

And while the questions about casting and showrunners all hang in the balance, along with how Doctor Who will be broadcast to the world outside the UK, there is still a lot of life left in the show, particularly when it comes to the powerful Time Lords who regenerate to take on new life when their bodies become exhausted.

One of the absolute best things to come out of the Christopher Chibnall era of Doctor Who was Sacha Dhawan’s take on The Master, and while it would be disappointing to see him replaced just a few years later, with so many changes behind the scenes, it seems likely that he may be replaced ahead of The Master’s next appearance.

Sacha Dhawan

That being said, I thoroughly believe that Sacha Dhawan would be fantastic returning to play The Master in future episodes of Doctor Who, and I am not ready to let go of the dream that he will be back. Dhawan has expressed his desire to return, and in Classic Who, some actors played The Master opposite multiple different regenerations of the Doctor.

In more recent times, John Simm did get a chance to play The Master opposite both David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor and, later, against Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor, so there is no real reason why Dhawan couldn’t reprise the role in the future. That being said, we need to prepare for the eventuality that this won’t be the case.

Andrew Scott

If Dhawan can’t return for whatever reason, then another fantastic option who could also deliver the manic and chaotic energy required for The Master is Andrew Scott. Notably, Scott played Moriarty opposite Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock, and his performance has been lauded as one of the best in that role ever to appear on-screen.

Scott also has a Doctor Who connection through Sherlock, as the series was created by Steven Moffat, who was showrunner for Doctor Who during both Matt Smith and Capaldi’s tenures, and Mark Gatiss, who is another prolific Doctor Who writer. Scott absolutely has the ability to play The Master, but it remains to be seen if he would be interested in taking on a role that may have so much overlap with Moriarty.

Hannah Waddingham

Hannah Waddingham is one of the most incredible British actors to have broken into the mainstream in recent years. Waddingham is a tall, at times imposing figure who knows how to put her physicality to use in a way that exudes power and allows her to control a room.

This is a vital skill for a character like The Master to possess, and one that Waddingham could easily bring to the role. In recent years, she has also showcased her range and ability to play both villain roles, along with romance, drama, comedy, and more. That versatility could also contribute to her excelling in this part, and make her take on The Master something entirely her own.

T’Nia Miller

T’Nia Miller is an acclaimed British actress who has recently found a lot of success in Netflix shows from Mike Flanagan. Shows like The Haunting of Bly Manor, and The Fall of the House of Usher have seen Miller step into commanding, powerful character performances that have gained her recognition globally and established her as an extraordinary rising talent.

It would certainly be a distinctly different interpretation of the character than what has come before, but when it comes to Doctor Who, that is the beauty of the idea of regeneration and rebirth for these Time Lords. They change and transform, with often dramatic changes to their personalities as time goes by.

Matt Smith

An idea that has been toyed with for a long time but never actually tackled in Doctor Who is to have a former Doctor step into the role of The Master. This would open the door to some fascinating storylines, as The Master could take advantage of the familiar face and even reconnect with old friends of the Doctor.

And if anyone were to take on this role, it has to be Matt Smith. Yes, David Tennant, Capaldi, and many of the others have excelled at playing villains on stage and on screen, and Smith’s accolades as a villain are not unique to him. That being said, Matt Smith’s range and versatility to embrace characters that fall anywhere on the spectrum of evil is absolutely extraordinary.

With that, it would be fascinating to see Smith tackle the role of The Master, a thing which Smith has also expressed interest in doing. And the show has built on the idea that regenerations can sometimes be influenced by faces Time Lords have seen, which means there is no good reason for The Master not to be able to regenerate into one of the Doctor’s previous forms.

Dev Patel

Dev Patel is an extraordinary actor who has evolved massively across his career. From playing a small and unimposing man in Slumdog Millionaire, his breakout role, to becoming a leading action anti-hero in Monkey Man, his transformation has been astonishing.

His range is incredible, allowing him to slip into playing unassuming characters that blend into the background, a skill which The Master could certainly make use of, to commanding a room and taking charge. Patel is an ideal performer who could shine in a role like this, though he could just as easily shine as the Doctor. But sometimes, it does feel as though both those characters exist as opposite sides of the same coin.

Sean Pertwee

Sean Pertwee has an important connection to the world of Doctor Who that would make his appearance as The Master extra special. He is, in fact, the son of Jon Pertwee, the man who played the Third Doctor from 1970 to 1974. Now, Sean Pertwee has made it clear in the past that he would not want to tackle the role of playing the Doctor, though he would appear in some cameo or tributary role to his father.

Appearing as The Master could be a perfect compromise, because it’s not a role that requires the actor to appear in every episode, but it would give him a link to the series, and allow him to explore and honor his father’s legacy in a whole new way.

Helen McCrory

Finally, Helen McCrory possesses the perfect balance of charm, mystery, and intrigue that would make her an ideal candidate to play The Master. Throughout her career, McCrory has shown incredible versatility in comedy, drama, and darker roles. She has also had a strong presence in stage plays, where she has notably played Lady Macbeth, an incredibly dark and twisted role that is fitting for someone who might play The Master.

McCrory appears to have similar energy to Michelle Gomez to an extent, though her performances tend to be slightly less manic. With that, she could present herself as a fascinating and threatening Missy, and certainly explore the complexities and depth of the relationship that exists between this character and the Doctor.

Ultimately, it’s highly unlikely that there will be any news about who is playing The Master in Doctor Who until there is more stability for the show in terms of a new Doctor, release date for the next season, a showrunner, and a means to be distributed worldwide, but regardless, The Master remains a core part of these stories, and one worth bringing back as soon as possible.

Release Date

2005 – 2022-00-00

Directors

Graeme Harper, Euros Lyn, Douglas Mackinnon, Jamie Magnus Stone, Charles Palmer, Rachel Talalay, Joe Ahearne, James Strong, Jamie Childs, Saul Metzstein, Toby Haynes, Wayne Che Yip, Nick Hurran, Richard Clark, James Hawes, Daniel Nettheim, Colin Teague, Keith Boak, Azhur Saleem, Adam Smith, Andrew Gunn, Nida Manzoor, Lawrence Gough, Paul Murphy

Writers

Steven Moffat, Russell T. Davies

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  Jodie Whittaker

  The Doctor

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