Outside Choice For New Doctor Who Actor Reportedly Exiting Current Role

Published Sep 2, 2026, 9:00 PM EDT Faith Roswell is a Senior Writer on Screen Rant's Classic TV team. Since earning her degree in Creative Writing over a decade ago, Faith has written articles on film and TV from a variety of different angles. Faith now combines her knowledge of psychology with her love of monster movies to give more insight into what makes the best ones. You may have read her Screen Rant lists and features covering horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, or read her Amazon Top 10 book, "Movie Monsters of the Deep." Faith has had an extensive career as a writer, appearing on BBC live radio, researching true crime for Rotten Mango podcast, and writing for publications including Mental Floss, Atlas Obscura, and The Daily Jaws before beginning here at Screen Rant. With Doctor Who's regenerating main character being one of the biggest sci-fi TV icons of all time, the actors taking on the role are often the subject of scrutiny. Though Doctor Who has been affected by several problems and is currently on hiatus, this does not mean that the show will never return. It is one of the most successful TV reboots ever made, and it may not surprise fans to learn that the search for the next actor to play The Doctor is still ongoing. Now, an outlier for the part might just have seen their schedule open up. The actors who have played The Doctor have been extremely varied, and the character's combination of eccentricity, wisdom, and hidden dark side is a difficult balance to strike, regardless of how experienced the actor is. Peter Capaldi was already famous when cast in the role, while David Tennant was lesser-known before his interpretation of the character made his career. Now, in what is either an interesting coincidence or well-planned timing, an underdog candidate for the next Doctor, Pierre Counihan-Moullier, is reportedly leaving his current role in 2027, which would line up perfectly for The Doctor's return. Pierre Counihan-Moullier Would Be A Perfect Sixteenth Doctor Pierre Counihan-Moullier joined EastEnders in 2025 to play the older version of Oscar Branning, who was given more mature storylines as the character aged. In typical soap opera style, Oscar's life was far from smooth, with the character getting involved with gangs and a love triangle, but what set Counihan-Moullier apart in the soap was his comedy and sarcastic humor. After EastEnders' Branning family was, in some viewers' opinions, sidelined, Oscar's reintroduction brought attention back to the family, with Counihan-Moullier being an instant fan-favorite. Pierre Counihan-Moullier was shortlisted for Best Soap Newcomer in 2026's TV Choice Awards. With such a relatively recent and successful start, it would usually be assumed that EastEnders would want Oscar to stay for a considerable amount of time, but this has not happened. While Counihan-Moullier has been confirmed for EastEnders' New Year's episode, he will be leaving the soap next year, which appears to match the timeline for Doctor Who's return. Though still a newcomer with four TV acting roles, one of which was unnamed, it is a testament to his potential that he has often been fan-cast as the next Doctor. Fan casting can be inaccurate, but the arguments for Counihan-Moullier being a perfect Sixteenth Doctor are compelling. Doctor Who has many emotional moments and his experience in one of the UK's best soaps highlights his skill at being sincere while also humorous, and playing Oscar proves that he can put his own spin on an existing character, which is essential for any actor playing The Doctor. The possibility that he has been cast in this role is currently no more than speculation, but it is plausible, especially given Doctor Who's long history with soaps. Doctor Who & EastEnders Have A Long History Together Not only has Doctor Who often cast soap actors in key roles, but the show has crossed over with EastEnders before. In the two-part charity special "Dimensions in Time," which raised money for Children in Need, several versions of The Doctor are trapped in EastEnders' iconic Albert Square, where they interact with some of the soap's fan-favorite characters. Of all the Doctor Who comedy and charity specials, this is one of the best, combining two shows that could not be any more different. If Counihan-Moullier is really being considered, or even cast, in Doctor Who, he continues a long tradition. EastEnders veterans June Brown, Colin Salmon, and Bonnie Langford have all appeared in Doctor Who, but EastEnders is not the only soap that has actors in common with the sci-fi classic. Before becoming Ruby Sunday, companion to the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa,) Millie Gibson was best known for playing Kelly Neelan in Coronation Street. As a young and popular soap actor who then moved onto a major role in Doctor Who, it is easy to see how this could parallel a potential career journey for Counihan-Moullier, whose experience could make him a great choice for the lead character. Doctor Who Release Date 2005 - 2021-00-00 Network BBC Cast Jodie Whittaker The Doctor