No TARDIS trip for Saunders says Doctor Who writer

6:58pm Saturday 22nd December 2007

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Twickenham comedian Jennifer Saunders will not replace Doctor Who's David Tennant according to the show's writer.

Some national newspapers had tipped the Absolutely Fabulous star to become the series' first female Time Lord.

The Sun had a reported that a source had told them the 49-year-old was in the running for the lead role.

But rival paper the Daily Mirror quoted writer Russell T Davies saying the story was pure invention.

Davies, who made his name with controversial Channel Four show Queer As Folk, told the paper he had neither approached Saunders nor spoken to her.

Fellow comic Catherine Tate, who is playing the Doctor's new companion, Donna, in show's fourth series has suggested David Tennant would be hanging up his key to the TARDIS.

Speaking to Jonathan Ross on his Radio 2 show she suggested the next series would be Tennant's last, and she too would be stepping down at its end.

Pop princess Kylie Minogue will be starring alongside Tennant in the Christmas Day special Voyage of the Damned due to be screened on BBC One at 6.50pm.

Other favourites for the role of the next Doctor include Cold Feet star James Nesbitt and Rhys Ifans.

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