Danny Dyer eyes Doctor Who job as he reveals plan for 'working class alpha' role
Danny Dyer has told how he'd love to star in Doctor Who - while admitting he'd play the Time Lord as 'a bit mental'. The actor says that while he's never been asked to try out for the TARDIS role, he certainly wouldn't rule it out if he was.
'It's such an iconic thing to do,' he explained. 'It's almost – not on the same level – like James Bond. It's a character that's loved by so many. Again, it gives you an opportunity with Doctor Who, because of the nature of the work, to bring something left-field, something a bit mental, a bit stylised, which I love. I love the idea of it.'
Speaking ahead of the return of Sky's Mr Bigstuff this week, for which he earned a Bafta for best comedy performance earlier this year, Danny said no one would be surprised with how he'd play the Doctor, if he was ever given the chance.
'Well, he would be an incredibly working-class Dr Who,' he laughed. 'Yeah, maybe a bit alpha. What I do, really. You've hired me for a reason - I don't think you'd want me to come in and play Doctor Who, you know, really posh.'
He said maybe his down-to-earth, no frills approach is what the series has been missing. 'I don't think we've ever had a working-class Doctor Who, have we? Well, Jodie Whittaker, she brought a bit of that to it,' he said, confessing that he doesn't know much about the complicated history of the 62-year-old sci fi series.
'I know it's hard work, and some of the dialogue he's got, he's got big monologues, talking about s*** you don't understand.'
Other recent Doctors have included outgoing Sex Education actor Ncuti Gatwa, fellow Scot Peter Capaldi and English actor Matt Smith, who went on to play Prince Phillip in The Crown.
The bookies are forever slashing Danny's odds when the runners and riders for who will next steer the TARDIS are being considered. 'I'll be honest, no one's ever approached me about it. But I see things now and again, my odds have been slashed to this, that and the other - it's definitely something I would consider."
In Mr Bigstuff, the main cast will this time be joined by a raft of guest stars including two from EastEnders. One is Linda Henry, who played Queen Vic barmaid Shirley Carter for 16 years until leaving in 2022. Danny's character Mick thought Shirley was his sister until discovering she was actually his mum in 2014.
The second series of Mr Bigstuff will also feature Shaun Williamson, who played Albert Square's Barry Evans, plus actress Rula Lenska.
In the six-part comedy, Danny - who also stars in Disney's returning series Rivals - plays estranged elder brother Lee alongside Ryan Samson - who also writes the show - as his younger sibling Glen. The action picks up two weeks after the last one ended, with the shock news that the brothers' dad is not actually dead after all.
- Mr Bigstuff, Sky and Now, Thursday 24 July
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Doctor Who star hits out at fans over exit criticism and says 'it's unfair'
Doctor Who star Varada Sethu has hit back at fans who have criticised her exit from the BBC show and called it 'unfair' of them Doctor Who star Varada Sethu, has hit back at fans who have criticised her exit from the BBC show. The actress, 33, played companion Belinda Chandra in the long-running sci-fi programme throughout the fifteen series but left the show when the latest series wrapped up at the end of May. In the dramatic finale, the titular Time Lord (Ncuti Gatwa) sacrificed himself to bring their daughter Poppy back into a kind of reality where she only exists as Belinda's child, not his, so they said goodbye. Despite being met with mostly positive feedback, Varada has now claimed that it is 'unfair' for some fans to to have taken umbrage with the way she was written out, telling MTV UK:"I feel like the majority - it was so much love. Reactions that always make me laugh… it's a bit unfair because I think the writing was beautiful. It think it was tied up in a way that was perfect, I cannot think of a better way of completing that circle. "But it's always like, 'Oh, I can't believe I won't get to see Belinda'. It's a frustration that comes from people loving Belinda so much that they're like, 'I can't believe I don't get more.'" Varada, who previously starred in Star Wars: Andor before landing the coveted role of the doctor's companion, thinks that her character's story was 'beautifully tied up' despite the negative reaction it received from some viewers of the series. And just days after the finale had aired, she took to social media to insist that she had only had a positive experience on set. She wrote on Instagram: "Wow wow wow wow wow. I'm sooo late to the party (as always), but needed to take a few days to process this show, this finale and everything & everyone it has brought into my life, what it all means. My heart has doubled in size. I have felt so so full of gratitude and love, I still feel I haven't found the words to express it. It has been a true gift to know a woman like Belinda, I will never forget our journey together." Praising her co-stars, she continued by writing: "Thank you [Ncuti] for being my partner in crime, my beloved Doctor. You are unending, pure magic, what a privilege it's been to bear witness to it. Mom & Dad forever. My sweet angel [ Millie Gibson ], thank you for your kindness, for always lifting me up, you have stolen everyone's hearts!! I cannot wait to see what life has in store for you." Varada then expressed gratitude for some colleagues who worked behind-the-scenes. She wrote: "For teaching me and showing me love & support like I've never known before." She added in the post this week: "Thank you to every beautiful soul involved in this madness." She concluded: "And of course to the beautiful fans, thank you soooo much for embracing Belinda, for all the kind words, all the joy! I think I finally understand what you meant [ Russell T. Davies ] when you said my life would never be the same. I feel transformed. Thank you thank you thank you." Earlier this year, Ncuti addressed his own departure from Doctor Who. During the episode, titled The Reality War, the Fifteenth Doctor regenerated – showing Billie Piper in his place. In a video message shared by the BBC, Ncuti said: "It's a role that demands a lot of you physically and emotionally and mentally. The actors playing the Doctor are only actors playing the Doctor. Unfortunately, we are mere mortals." Ncuti, who also reflected on the experience elsewhere in the video, released on Saturday, added: "I would love to have the energy and the youth to be able to do this full time for the rest of my life, but my knees are telling me it's time." And in a statement, he said: "You know when you get cast, at some point you are going to have to hand back that sonic screwdriver and it is all going to come to an end, but nothing quite prepares you for it. This journey has been one that I will never forget and a role that will be part of me forever."
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Musician calls out 'appalling' artist pay as new label-led deal for artists announced
The Government announced label-led measures to raise the earning of songwriters and session musicians in the UK, but veteran violinist Jennifer Maslin and the Musicians' Union say the changes fall flat After the UK government announced new measures to boost the earnings of songwriters, session musicians and legacy artists, one veteran session violinist says she's not impressed. While the new deal is being touted by the Government as the 'best deal' for artists, Jennifer Maslin says the meagre increase is still far from a living wage. On July 22, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced a 'major boost for UK music creators' backed by major record labels including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group. The plans were put forward by the Creator Remuneration Working Group (CRWG) which is chaired by Sir Chris Bryant. The changes estimated by labels are expected to 'deliver tens of millions of pounds in new investment to support musicians by 2030'. The new measures also include a framework for legacy artists to renegotiate their contracts to increase their streaming earnings for existing work. Inside the AI music controversy clouding The Beatles' historic BRIT nomination Support for songwriters and composers includes a commitment to the payment of per diems and expenses for recording sessions, to ensure they are not left out of pocket. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and Musicians' Union have also agreed to raise session fees of up to 40 percent for pop sessions and 15 percent for classical sessions. Speaking to NME about the new measures, Sir Chris said: 'I honestly feel that this deal that we've struck here in the UK is the best deal there is in the world '. However session artists like Jennifer are unconvinced. Jennifer is a solo and session violinist in the UK with over three decades of experience. Speak to The Mirror she says the new deal is a step in the right direction but falls short, especially for classical musicians. "It's a great step forward that some recognition is finally being given to the appalling pay musicians are expected to live off.' Referencing Grammy-winning artist Raye and her infamous Ivor Novello Awards speech, Jennifer says: 'Raye was right that it's an insult songwriters are expected to work for free.' While she applauds Sir Chris' efforts to address the situation, Jennifer says that the £75 for songwriters in a gig economy 'with no pension or sick pay benefits' is still 'well under the living wage for a full working day'. She acknowledges that when it comes to recording session fees, 'things look brighter for pop session musicians though'. 'Let's hope we're now on the path to not being asked 'Is this your only job?' - and respecting being a musician for the training, artistry and dedication it requires,' she concludes. The Musicians' Union (MU) - the UK trade union which represents musicians in negotiations with employers, including major industry players - is also unimpressed by the new deal. MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl met repeatedly with the CRWG, however the union and Council of Music Makers as a whole 'remain disappointed that the labels have not addressed the key issues with music streaming economics '. For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror's Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox. Musicians' Union General Secretary Naomi Pohl told The Mirror: "We are grateful to Minister Chris Bryant for the pressure he has put on record labels, and the majors in particular, to improve terms for artists on older contracts.' However, she says that while session rates were increased: 'this doesn't address a lack of royalties for session musicians and we also want to see modern royalty rates for all signed artists. The fundamental problems with music streaming economics remain.' MU says it will soon launch a petition calling for copyright reform. According to Naomi: 'We have also secured an additional meeting with the Minister in September to discuss session musician remuneration specifically." The Council of Music Makers, which includes the MU, is seeking: a minimum digital royalty rate for all new and legacy artists; a rolling commitment to write-off unrecouped balances of signed artists after 20 years; rights reversion so artists and songwriters can reclaim their rights after a set period of time; streaming royalties for session musicians; and a right to contract adjustment. Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
The secret free games on Netflix, Amazon, Sky and phones your kids will love playing for hours – & even get them moving
There's even a hidden game on EVERY phone and laptop PLAY DATES The secret free games on Netflix, Amazon, Sky and phones your kids will love playing for hours – & even get them moving GAMING doesn't need to break the bank – or even cost a penny. Keep the kids entertained this summer with loads of free titles you've already got access to. You'll find that there are plenty of hidden games wrapped into Netflix, Amazon and even Sky telly. Your mobiles and gadgets have loads of great options for kids (and adults) too. And there's even a clever way to play console games like Fortnite on the TV without owning a console. Advertisement 17 There are loads of ways to enjoy video games – and Netflix is just the start Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun 17 You might have been missing a treasure trove of gaming goodies Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun FREE GAMES #1 – NETFLIX If you're paying for Netflix on any level of plan, you'll get a load of free games to enjoy. This is true even if you're getting Netflix for free as part of your Sky TV package. The easiest way to find them is to go to the main Netflix screen, and look for the Games tab at the top of the screen. Advertisement Just note that not all devices support Netflix games. If you're using an Apple TV streaming box for instance, you won't be able to see them. But I tried it with an Amazon Fire TV Stick and it was right there at the top. A load of games should surface, each with a listed genre, description, and an age rating. Some of them are even multiplayer, so you can play together. Typically, you'll click play on a game, and then use your smartphone as a controller. You'll be guided through it – it only took me a few seconds to get set up. It's as simple as scanning a QR code. Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit is meant for kids aged 10 and older, and is a fun adventure game where you help ghostly bears find peace. Advertisement A slightly more mature option for children aged 13 and older is Oxenfree. It's a supernatural thriller about pals who accidentally open a ghostly rift. It's all very Stranger Things, and is well-reviewed on other platforms. For more Arcade-style gameplay that gamers aged seven and up can enjoy, just try Centipede Recharged, Caverns of Mars Recharged, or Rocket. Amazon finally launches Luna streaming service in the US with free games for Prime members You don't need a telly either. There are lots of games that your Netflix membership will unlock on your phone, too. Just go into the Netflix app on your mobile, navigate to the Games section, and they'll re-route you to your App Store to claim premium titles without paying the usual prices. Advertisement But getting them on the big screen is definitely more fun, and works really well. 17 You can transform your phone into a games controller for free Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun FREE GAMES #2 – AMAZON If you're paying for Amazon Prime (and millions of Brits are!) there are two free gaming perks you'll want to know about. The first is that you get a monthly selection of free games to download. This list is available through the Prime Gaming website here, and refreshes every month with new titles. Advertisement The monthly games are released as batches each Thursday, so there's always something new to play. They can be worth hundreds of pounds each month. 17 Amazon gives away free games to keep forever every month if you have a Prime membership Credit: The Sun / Amazon Usually the games are PC, but sometimes they'll be for consoles or mobile, too. It'll be a different bunch of games every month, so you'll need to click Free Games at the top and then see what's on the list. Claim them before they vanish and then they're yours forever. Advertisement Each game will show a rating, so you can easily tell what's appropriate for your child or not. It's very likely that you'll find several child-friendly titles on the list each month. A better option if you don't have a gaming PC or console is Amazon Luna. This is like a "Netflix for games" that streams titles to you over the internet – meaning you don't need a physical Xbox or PlayStation. All you need is a joypad that can connect to your Fire TV, Fire Stick, or Samsung or LG telly. Amazon sells a Luna controller for £60, which I've tried and really liked – but an old Xbox or PlayStation joypad will work just the same. Advertisement 17 The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach tried out Amazon Luna and loved it Credit: Sean Keach Then just go to download the Luna app on your telly or streaming stick. It's free to install. Now normally you'd pay £8.99 a month to unlock the full library of Luna games. But if you have Amazon Prime, you can enjoy a selection of titles even without a Luna membership. That includes smash-hit shooter Fortnite, a cartoonish rival to the likes of Call of Duty that is a big hit with teens. In the UK, it's rated for kids aged 12 and older. Advertisement 17 Fortnite is available to play for free if you have Prime and a compatible telly Credit: The Sun / Amazon Fortnite is endlessly replayable, receives constant updates, and even hosts live music events with past stars including Travis Scott and Ariana Grande. Normally you'd need an expensive console to enjoy, but Amazon Luna will let you do it for free with Amazon Prime (or for £9 a month if you want the full roster of games). As a bonus trick, see if you're eligible for an Amazon Prime discount. Higher-education students or anyone aged 18-22 years old in the UK can claim Prime for half price (plus an extended six-month free trial). Advertisement TRY XBOX CLOUD GAMING TOO! There's a savvy option for dodging console cost, writes The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach... Buying a console is expensive. It might cost you north of £400 or £500 (or even £700 for the new PS5 Pro). A cheaper option is to try cloud gaming. Instead of owning a physical console, you simply sign up to an app and "stream" the games from an online library. It's a bit like Netflix. This was previously impossible. We used to need consoles to render the gaming visuals. But internet speeds are now so fast that they can be beamed straight to your TV, phone or laptop. One option is Xbox Cloud Gaming, which is included as part of the £14.99-a-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. It'll get you hundreds of top games that you'd normally need an Xbox for. All you need is decent internet, a game controller, and a screen. The app is available on loads of TVs, Fire Sticks, and via web browsers. Of course, you can also stick with Amazon Luna, which is much the same. This has a slightly smaller selection of games, but only costs £8.99 a month for Luna+. The big perk here is that if you already have Amazon Prime, there's a small selection of games you can play for free. That includes smash-hit shooter Fortnite. Picture Credit: Xbox FREE GAMES #3 – SKY TV If you've got Sky TV, you can access a load of free kid-friendly games very easily. They're available through the app, which you should be able to find on the apps rail. If you can't see it, just ask for it using your voice by hitting the microphone button on your Sky remote. The icon might say "Games by for you. 17 The app on Sky is an easy way to unlock free games on the telly Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun Advertisement Once you click it, you'll be transported to a special gaming hub full of fun titles for you to enjoy on the telly. They're all free, so don't stress about surprise payments. You will have to sit through some ads though. An obvious choice is Pac-Man, which is as fun today as it was in the 1980s. Tetris is on there too. I struggled to get off it and write this article. You play with the Sky remote, so there's no need to buy extra gear. This is also a bonus for kid-friendly gameplay, because it means most of the games have very simple controls. 17 Sky has loads of child-friendly games on offer Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun Advertisement SpongeBob Bounce is a great child-friendly option for fans of SpongeBob Squarepants – and it's easy to pick up. You can also find Sky games by going to the dedicated Games section in the Apps panel. There should be a Sky Kids rail that only shows child-friendly titles. Parents might like it too: you've probably watched enough to have a good go at Peppa Pig Quiz, by Nick Jr. 17 You might find that adults want to play too... Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun Advertisement FREE GAMES #4 – IPHONE, IPAD & ANDROID If your child has their own phone or tablet – or can borrow yours – then you're in luck. Mobile platforms are absolutely brimming with gaming freebies. The problem is that it can be a nightmare to find titles that are actually decent and child-friendly. What you want to download depends on the age of your youngster. 17 Wild Rift is a hugely popular game – and is perfect for young teens Credit: Riot Games Advertisement Earlier this year, I revealed five free mobile games that you can easily play for hundreds of hours. These are the best options for teens. Top of my list was Wild Rift, which is a battle arena game spun off from hit PC title League of Legends. This game has a 12+ rating, and usually involves online multiplayer (although you can totally silence online chatting). Second was Polytopia, which is a strategy game where you try to take over a colourful map by building a civilisation and conquering your enemies. 17 If you want your youngster to exercise their brain power, Polytopia is a brilliant strategy title Credit: Midjiwan AB Advertisement It has a 9+ rating on the iOS App Store, and is listed as having "infrequent cartoon or fantasy violence". It's a great game for honing your smarts, and it's very simple to pick up compared to other strategy games. APPLE ARCADE COULD BE YOUR SAVIOUR Here's an extra tip from The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach... Often free games can be a bit rubbish, stuffed full of microtransactions, and littered with ads. But forking out for every single game to avoid this is also a budgeting nightmare. Instead, think about trying Apple Arcade. It's a £6.99 a month subscription service from Apple that gets you access to over 200 games (with more added all the time). These games don't have any ads or in-app purchases, so you can be sure your child won't accidentally splash £1,000 on virtual coins. The games aren't all for kids, but there are some great child-friendly options, with my personal favourites including: Sneaky Sasquatch (4+) Hello Kitty Island Adventure (4+) Crossy Road+ (9+) Skate City (9+) If you turn on Family Sharing, you can also enjoy Apple Arcade on your own device. Up to six family members can share one subscription. Just head into the Arcade section of the Apple App Store to get started. It'll work across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. Picture Credit: Apple Third on the list is Kingdom Rush, which has a 12+ age rating. It's a tower defence game set in a medieval fantasy world where you build up your forces to battle waves of baddies. 17 Hearthstone is a virtual card game that's fun for the whole family Credit: Activison Blizzard Fourth on the list is Old School RuneScape, which is a whimsical medieval-esque fantasy adventure game. Advertisement It's 12+ on the App Store – but it's online-only, so you'll want to go in and set it up so your child can't speak to strangers. It only takes a few seconds. And fifth on my list was Hearthstone, which is a brilliant online card game where you collect virtual trading cards to battle with other players. It has a 12+ rating on iOS App Store, and has the option for closed multiplayer – so you could battle against your kids on it. They can also play against the computer and avoid totally online play. 17 For very young children, consider Lego Duplo World Credit: Lego If you're looking for mobile games for even younger children, there are great options too. Advertisement One popular option is Lego Duplo World, which has an age rating of 4+ on the App Store. It's a colourful app meant for very young kids where you play mini-games and build colourful creations in a child-safe environment. It's won a load of awards, has rave reviews on app stores, and it's very easy for a youngster to pick up. 17 Pokémon Go is a great way to get kids outdoors Credit: Niantic Another option that almost needs no introduction is Pokémon Go, which has a 9+ rating on the App Store. Advertisement It has an exploration element, where you walk around the real world to collect virtual creatures. This is a great way to get your kid moving – and you can explore together on long walks to track down rare Pokémon. For movement at home, you could try Just Dance Now. 17 Just Dance Now will get your youngsters moving at home Credit: Just Dance Now It has a very low age rating of 4+, and has very good reviews online. It's a dancing game where you can dance to a free song every day. You'll need to match the dance moves using your phone's camera to win – so there's plenty of movement involved. Advertisement WHAT DO GAME RATINGS ACTUALLY MEAN? Here are the official guidelines for PEGI ratings on game boxes... PEGI 3 Considered suitable for all age groups Should not contain any sounds or pictures that are likely to frighten young children A very mild form of violence (in a comical context or a childlike setting) is acceptable No bad language should be heard PEGI 7 Scenes or sounds that can possibly be frightening to younger children Very mild forms of violence (implied, non-detailed, or non-realistic violence) PEGI 12 Video games that show violence of a slightly more graphic nature towards fantasy characters or non-realistic violence towards human-like characters would fall in this age category Sexual innuendo or sexual posturing can be present Any bad language in this category must be mild PEGI 16 Tthe depiction of violence (or sexual activity) reaches a stage that looks the same as would be expected in real life The use of bad language in games with a PEGI 16 rating can be more extreme Use of tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs can also be present PEGI 18 The adult classification is applied when the level of violence reaches a stage where it becomes a depiction of gross violence, apparently motiveless killing, or violence towards defenceless characters The glamorisation of the use of illegal drugs and of the simulation of gambling, and explicit sexual activity should also fall into this age category And although it's not quite a game, you can turn the free Merlin app into one. It's an app that listens out for birds making noises nearby using your phone's microphone. 17 Merlin isn't technically a game – but you can easily turn it into one Credit: Cornell Lab And it'll identify the bird almost instantly, keeping track of them for you in a little log. You can go on lovely walks and turn them into a Pokémon style game where you see how many birds you can "capture" with Merlin. It'll even flag up when you've heard a rare bird. It's even more fun when you try to spot the bird making the noise. Advertisement Then once your child is a natural bird expert, you can see if they can work out the bird behind the song before checking Merlin. This is very educational, is a great way to get outdoors, and can be used over and over again. The app is age-rated 4+ on the iOS App Store, so it's very child-friendly – and easy to use too. And it works great in the garden if you just want to get them outside near home. Finally, if you want a fun and hidden video game to quickly entertain the kids on a mobile, try Google's hidden Dinosaur Game. It's built into the Google Chrome web browser, and is meant to entertain you when you've got no signal. Advertisement Stick Airplane Mode on to cut off your Wi-Fi and mobile internet, then try to load a web page up on Google Chrome. 17 Try unlocking this hidden game in Google Chrome Credit: The Sun / Google An error page should appear with a little dinosaur. Tap it and you'll start playing a hidden infinite runner game. Just tap the screen to make the dinosaur jump to clear obstacles. See who can get the best high score – and try not to fall out over it.
