The Doctor In The TARDIS

To the best of my knowledge there has been no word on if/when The Master is to reappear other than speculation. And Simms himself has said his time in the part ended with 10. So who would you consider is a serious contender to take over the role and how do you imagine The Moff would bring about his resurgence into the show?

Simm did say he would come back to regenerate though.


But I think Tim Curry would be great as an insane Master.

I'm bored of insane Master :P  Someone like Sean Pertwee or Iwan Rheon would be cool.

Iwan Rheon is too young I think, but in a few years could be brilliant. He does unhinged really well

Yeah, far too young for now bless him, but he's worth keeping an eye o for the future.

Is anyone going to have a stab at how he may be brought back?

(Love the idea of Sean Pertwee in the role btw. It's about time the man was in the show regardless imo 8) )

Maybe while being teleported back to Gallifrey something went wrong because of him being skeletal or whatever that was, maybe something like when the TARDIS tries throwing Jack off in Utopia, and the Master ends up stuck in the Time Vortex and the Doctor needs to save him?

I'm not sure they should bring the character back to be honest. I have only seen Jacobi/Simm and Delgado and while I thought Roger Delgado was absolutely brilliant in the two stories I saw, Simms master seemed to go horribly wrong. They should only bring him back if they can restore some of the greatness that the Master had throughout the Classics, otherwise they should leave the character be

Useful foil the Time Vortex  ;)

I have to admit I was never convinced the copy we saw get zapped in with the Time Lords was actually the original. I had some bizzare notion that he got to Donna ( don't ask me how) and is being hidden again.

Lame I know but it was my way of getting Donna back too  :P


I think it's safe to say that he WILL be back - it's more a question of when and how. If it's Simms Master you have the problem with then I wouldn't be put off because aside from shooting a regeneration scene I doubt Simms will be that involved. And as we know The Moff has a very different take on things to RTD.  :)

I still regard Delgado as the definitive Master, but I did enjoy Simm in the original trilogy, although I thought it got a bit silly in The End of Time.  I can imagine the classic Master, suddenly young and full of life, acting in that sort of way.

Anyway, he was better than Eric Roberts 8)

Elma Fudd would have made a better Master than Eric Roberts!!

Delgado is my all time favourite. I liked Simm but the characterisation, especially in TEOT, was awful

I think it is probably inevitable that we'll see a reprise of the Master in some way. I think I agree with Mandy when she says that the Moff has a very different take on things to old Rusty (look at the iDaleks). Moff states that he likes things "..threatening to do evil" so I wonder (and this is pure speculation and guesswork) if we won't have the Master as some more shadowy figure rather than the dramatic, charismatic and energetic Simm (who was after all a mirror image of DT's Doctor). Perhaps an older actor to counterpoint Matt Smith's youthful aspect?

Personally speaking (and I shall call the therapist as soon as I'm done writing) I think the Master would work really well as a woman - I'm thinking very much of a Servelan in Blake's Seven style. This is an individual opinion and I am aware this goes against the grain for many - but watch Blake's Seven seasons 1 & 2 and I think you'd be able to see how it works.... Someone like Alex Kingston would play it really well....;)

Strangely enough I would have no problem with The Master being a woman ( and just writing that sounds oh so wrong :P ) BUT...and it is a big but....if that happened it would open the door for The Doctor being a woman and that for me is totally unacceptable.  >:(

Yes- I appreciate the contradictions of such a thought process  ;D ;)

In terms of DW continuity/lore (for whatever that's worth) it does seem that Time Lords tend to stick with their original gender.  On the other hand, the absence of control from Gallifrey could have upset all kinds of things, and this could be one of them, so... it would be interesting.

I personally don't think that Time Lords can change their gender and would hate to see any character do so

I definitely think an older actor needs to take on the part next. John Simm was an excellent villain, but he simply wasn't at all believable as the Master to anyone familiar with the Classic series. He portrayed the passion of the character very well, but had none of the calm genius about him that made him feel as threatening as Delgado's original Master. I have a long list of people I'd be fine with seeing in the role, including Bill Nighy, Sean Pertwee, Patrick Stewart, and Sir Ian McKellan (a pipe dream more than anything, but would still be amazing).

I think the best and least goofy way of bringing back the Master would be when they finally - and inevitably - restore the Time Lords and Gallifrey. We all know it's bound to happen eventually. The whole "Lonely God" thing has run its course, I think, and is now in danger of becoming tired. They need to either restore the war to the Time Vortex, remove it from history altogether, or have the Doctor dragged into it all over again. When they do that, the Master can be freed from the Time Lock and allowed to roam free once again.

I wouldnt really agree with this at all. The character evolves and changes with each regeneratation just like the Doctor. He was very different to the ones who came before, but then the same can be said of Matt Smith when you compare him to the First or Sixth Doctors. I think the story was what made the character seem worse rather than the actual characterisation or portrayal. I am familiar with the classic series and I would say he was believable as the Master, he was just given a stupid story.

I agree, although I don't think his original story was so stupid (just bits of it)

Ian McKellan a pipe-dream?  Maybe - but they did get Derek Jacobi.

I like the idea of an older, more refined, sinister Master, but the only Master I have seen is Simm.  What about Jeremy Irons?  He plays a good villain.

He does, but I think he might be a bit intense for the Master.  He needs to have a light, ironic touch.

I agree. Irons would be brillant as a one-off baddy though  8)

the master will return, the only reason he was never killed as originally planned was due to the car crash that sadly took roger delgado from us, he is as synonimous with doctor who as the daleks or the cybermen.

they won't bring him back as a woman the rani is in the wings if they want a timelady.
maybe they could rest him and use the meddling monk first, maybe save the master for the 50th anniversary.

and to play him well Alan rickman springs to mind, but may not work because of the snape association.

but James Nesbitt however well he was magnificently dark in Jekyl......

This might be too much of a cliche and pandering but I'll tell you what, Mark Shepperd absolutely rocked my socks as Canton 3. I might have seen it in another thread here (apologies for not crediting, its my ageing mind) but wouldn't he be a treat as the Master

Yea, now you mention it I think he would be brilliant as the Master.

Gary Oldman. I want him in the show.

As the Master, as the 12th Doctor, as a homeless guy on the street, I don't care.

He needs to be in the show.

Nobody fancy seeing Jonathan Pryce as The Master again?
 ;)

Seriously though, that part would be perfect for Sean Pertwee (dream casting).

The way I see it, if they can get Jacobi & Gambon, they can get anyone, provided the script is right.

What about Robert Carlyle? He's free now, right?

You know what, a totally left field thought just occurred to me.
Pierce. Brosnan. How against type would that be?

Trouble is (absolute pie in the sky I know) but I'd love Brosnan as the Doctor. I can actually see how amazing he'd be in my mind. It'll never happen so I'm happy to play it out in my head. But how fantastic would he be!

I cant see Brosnan as either, tbh. I don't get the fuss with the guy. He cant act for toffee

I think Brosnan would be awesome - he would play the Doctor in just the right way. I'm not going to get too heated though because it is the most unlikely thing in the world. There is probably more chance of casting an actual time lord as the Doctor

Well we did already have one Bond on board. Maybe they could get Brosnan VS Dalton in a Time-Lord-Off :P

I still wouldnt want Brosnan though :P

Whilst I accept, technically, that Dalton was Bond, he was no Pierce Brosnan. Me and Exterminate need to clear off to the Leisure Hive to slug this one out ;)

Well you never know. I expected Dalton be awful but (spit aside) he was ok. Perhaps Brosnan would surprise me

I think Sir Ian McKellen would make an absolutely brilliant Master, personally. He does both the English gentleman and diabolical maniac very well, and I think a name like his attached to the series would bring back even the must butthurt and snobby of angry Tennant fangirls.

I think Doctor Who is now big enough to have any actor that takes the fancy of the casting department. 

Looking at who has been in it recently, we have big names like Katherine Jenkins, Alex Kingston, Michael Gambon, Timothy Dalton, Derek Jacobi, Hugh Bonneville, Kylie Minogue, Suranne Jones, John Simm, Michelle Ryan, Meera Syal, Anthony Head, Lee Evans, Mark Gatiss, James Corden, Bernard Cribbins, June Whitfield, Maureen Lipman, Pauline Collins, Tony Curran, Sophia Myles, Ardal O'Hanlon, Sophie Okonedo, Annette Crosbie, Nina Wadia, Fenella Woolgar, Felicity Kendal, Sarah Lancashire, Hugh Quarshie and that's just off the top of my head...

So, for the Master, Hugh Grant would provide a new twist (which we should get with a new regeneration) but not sure he could pull off 'confident timelord'.  OK, maybe that idea was caused by it being too early in the morning after a sleepless night, and not having had a coffee yet - ignore Hugh Grant...

I also love the Tim Curry idea already mentioned, I think he'd be perfect.

Sir Ian McKellen would probably be too old for a Master fresh from regeneration, and even Pierce Brosnan possibly couldn't pretend to be a young Master brimming to vitality and confidence.  The Bond reference, however, put me in mind of Daniel Craig - could he do it, possibly...?

Failing that, Vin Diesel or Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson could add a whole new dimension to the character, and I don't mean just an American accent...

Except Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson can't act. It would be Eric Roberts all over agian.

I like the Ian McKellan idea. I don't think he is too old. He seems like he is still very capable and there is no reason why the actor has to be young.

As for Hugh Grant, I can't imagine him playing the Master, but he was offered the part of the Doctor when it was returning in 2005, but he turned it down at the last minute and it went to Christopher Eccleston instead. He has since said that he wishes he had taken it now. I think he would be better suited to the Doctor role than the Master, but I wouldnt particularly want him in either

And McKellan showed when he appeared in a soap of all things that he is prepared to do anything. Sadly he's going to be very busy for the foreseeable future with The Hobbit but I'm loving that idea.

As I also love the idea of Alan Rickman - think he's great in whatever he does.

Another passing thought I had is Rupert Graves - possibly best known at the mo as Inspector Lestrade in Sherlock he does in fact more often play the bad guy. He's another actor I like so I just thought I'd throw him into the mix.

I hadn't even thought of Alan Rickman. He would be amazing as the Master.

Completely agree with this.

How about Rowan Atkinson, then he can be the only man to have played The Doctor AND The Master...?  ;D

My Wife just suggested that the next Master should be female, and played by Joanna Lumley, which would certainly be interesting...

It's as good a choice as any, but I wouldnt want a female Master

No, definately not a female Master. Or female Doctor for that matter. I don't understand why so many people would want to see that. I think it would be awful.

I like the ideas for Ian McKellan and Alan Rickman. I think both would be wonderful. I also think Mckellan would make a wonderful Toymaker if they ever brought the character back

I hadn't thought about McKellan as the Toymaker, but there is something about him reminiscent of Michael Gough.

I know it is probably type-casting (and I don't suggest for a moment that he dons his "Lucius Malfoy Silver Wig"). But I do think Jason Issacs would do a real job opposite Matt Smith.

Jason Isaacs would be very cool. He should definately wear the wig too :P

That would be absolute genius casting. I bet he would do it, too. He did Corrie a few years back.

Just thought I would give this thread a little boost - not, perhaps for series 7, but as we approach the 50th anniversary celebrations, it is almost inconceivable that the Master will not return in some form or another..... or is it?

Given the scale of guest star that the show now seems to be able to attract, Jason Issacs as the Master now seems eminently achievable...

But just for the "hell" of it, what about Mark Shepperd? What if Canton were to "do a Tremas"? Or would it be too similar to his role as Crowley? (I personally think it would)

Benedict Cumberbatch an obvious choice but ... too obvious?

Who could play the Doctor's Arch Enemy and confound and delight in the way the John Simm did with David Tennant? Or do we want a return to a more "elegant" Master - who could be the suave and debonair villain?

I think Jason Isaacs would be perfect as a suave debonair Master, but I suspect he might want something else after so many years as a suave debonair villain in HP.

I think you're right - Issacs suffers from the same fate as Mark Shepperd. Essentially they have been playing a version of the Master in their "day jobs".

I wonder if some "off the wall" casting isn't needed - perhaps Peter Firth (Harry Pearce off Spooks) might work?

If we were going with off the wall castings I think Eddie Izzard would make an interesting choice. Just saying

That is exactly the type of idea I like :) the best casting for the Master is the unexpected one. And while we're at it....

What about Lara Pulver? I imagine a female master would add a wonderfully different dynamic!

Oh haven't you heard? She's the next Doctor after Matt leaves ;D

PP's Post (http://www.thedoctorinthetardis.com/index.php/topic,485.0/msg,76935.html)

I don't think I'd be a big fan of a female Master, mostly because I'd like the new Master to have the beard again. However, the Doctor did say that the Corsair changed genders, so I suppose it's possible, but I feel like it just wouldn't feel right.

On the note of people who would play a good Master, I think we need to go for a more unknown actor. From what I've seen, they seem to be the golden actors that we remember.

I can see the appeal of an unknown (although Roger Delgado, Anthony Ainley were experienced, reputable actors and John Simm was a household name) and it certainly worked with Moriarty in Sherlock. If anyone can find an unknown Master, it will be Moffat who seems to have something of a golden touch with casting (e.g. Matt Smith, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Scott, Lou Brealey)

True. I wouldn't put it past Moffat to already be on the hunt for a new master, even if he won't appear for awhile. He tends to be prepared for these things.