Celebrities

Denise Welch Says She’s Ready to Be the Doctor and Her Pitch Is Brilliant

Published on June 24, 2025

Denise Welch has made quite the move, charmingly pleading with the BBC herself for a voice role in the new animated Doctor Who series aimed at preschoolers. The BBC has confirmed it’s developing a CBeebies spin‑off of the Time Lord, slated for broadcast between 2027 and 2029, and is currently on the hunt for a production partner and a Doctor’s voice.

Denise reshared a Reddit post on her Instagram Story suggesting she’s among the shortlist, which reportedly includes beloved CBeebies names like Justin Fletcher (Mr Tumble), Andy Day, and presenter George Webster—alongside big‑screen stalwarts such as Richard E. Grant, James Bolam, and, of course, Denise herself. “I definitely think this job should be mine,” she quipped, tagging Doctor Who creator Russell T Davies in the post, reported the Express.

It’s the first time the iconic Doctor has been given their own CBeebies‑only adventure, completely separate from the flagship live‑action show. Patricia Hidalgo, the BBC’s director of Children’s and Education, explained: “Everyone is welcome at CBeebies, including the Doctor… our younger audience get to experience the wonder and magic of the Doctor in a brand‑new format”.

Denise’s request comes at a turbulent time for ITV’s Loose Women, which recently announced cuts affecting over 220 roles. Her co‑star Nadia Sawalha described the shake‑up as “brutal”, noting that many behind the scenes are losing their livelihoods “out of the blue”. Against that background, Denise’s bold self‑nomination feels equal parts cheeky and savvy—why not put yourself forward where the opportunity arises?

While Denise and Russell T. Davies haven’t worked together before, they do share ties as patrons of Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre since 2019—an overlapping footnote that makes her appeal even sweeter. No one’s confirmed whether the shortlist is any closer to being finalised, but the underlying message is clear: the BBC wants roles that carry that inclusive “Doctor can be anyone” message.

Behind the scenes, suppliers are being invited to pitch their animation concepts, character designs, and tone—aiming to capture Doctor Who’s spirit without the fright-factor of the classic format. Expect TARDIS adventures that are fun, friendly and light on the sci‑fi scares, all the while embedding gentle messages of empathy and exploration for tiny viewers.

In chasing the part, Denise has tapped into something sweetly full-circle: she’s a familiar face for daytime TV fans already, and many will undoubtedly smile at her plea to join a legacy beloved by generations. Whether or not she lands the role, she’s brought some much‑needed levity to an otherwise gloomy week for her Loose Women colleagues.

As the BBC heads into late‑2025 looking to confirm production partners—and then cast the Doctor’s voice—fans young and old will wait eagerly to see: will a CBeebies legend like Justin or Andy get the gig, or will Denise’s playful boast land her a ticket aboard the TARDIS?

Until then, Denise’s showdown‑style approach to the Doctor Who casting is proving exactly the kind of spirited self‑belief we needed to see. And if nothing else, she’s certainly got our attention for the most unexpected job pitch of the year.