Former Doctor Who star Karen Gillan has weighed in on the debate over who should play the next Time Lord, nominating a “ginger guy” to step in.

The red-headed actress said she was disappointed by recent reports that Peter Capaldi would not be succeeded by a woman in the role, so she based her idea of the dream Doctor on hair colour.

She told the Press Association: “I was hoping that it was going to be a female but apparently that’s not happening any more, so at least a ginger guy would be good.

“I know that’s what the Doctor has always really wanted and the Tardis really needs some ginger in it.”

Karen Gillan (Ian West/PA)Karen Gillan (Ian West/PA)

The Scottish actress played Amy Pond opposite Matt Smith’s Doctor in the hit series’s fifth season in 2010.

She spoke about the show’s future while attending the Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2 premiere at London’s Eventim Apollo on Monday.

Immersing herself in another sci-fi franchise for the big screen Marvel adaptation, she plays mysterious part-bionic character Nebula.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2 opens in UK cinemas on Friday.