PLAYWRIGHT and artist John Byrne has said casting his former long-term partner Tilda Swinton as Doctor Who would be a move of “genius”.

Byrne’s endorsement for the Scots Oscar winner came as she is the bookies favourite to replace Peter Capaldi, who departs the Tardis at the end of the forthcoming season.

Insisting he does not have any insider knowledge of the next Doctor’s identity, Bryne added: “I honestly don’t know if she is going to be Doctor Who.

“I went into an antique and interiors shop the other day in Edinburgh, and the very nice lady said, ‘Well, are the rumours true?’. I said, ‘Is what true, what rumours?’ She said, ‘The rumours Tilda is going to play Doctor Who.’ “ I told her I had no idea it was even a rumour. I hadn’t heard it, but it had been in that day’s newspapers. I had to laugh because it’s very, very funny and a genius choice if she does get the part.’ “You would watch Tilda as Doctor Who, but as to the likelihood I haven’t a clue.”

Byrne’s comments come amid calls to give the part to a woman or a black actor for the first time. Among those calling for a change is David Harewood, who starred in Homeland. He said he thinks the next Doctor Who will not be another white man.

He said of Swinton: “She’s extraordinary anyway so I think she would be great.”

Swinton, 56, won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in the film Michael Clayton.

She is no stranger to fantasy roles, having been in the Marvel-based movie Doctor Strange last year.