Hollywood’s Neil Patrick Harris is tipped to play retro villain The Toymaker when he guest stars in Doctor Who next year.
Showrunner Russell T Davies has revealed that Harris’s eerie character will be “the greatest enemy the Doctor has ever faced”.
And speculation is rife that he will morph into the warped shop-owner who appeared in the third run of the classic series back in 1966, played by Michael Gough, the actor who later became Bruce Wayne’s butler Alfred in the Batman films.
The character, also known as the Celestial Toymaker, was a mysterious being from outside of space and time who liked to play games.
He rendered William Hartnell’s first Doctor invisible for two episodes - a ploy which allowed the actor to go on holiday, with Hartnell having pre-recorded his lines as audio only.
The Toymaker had a number of living toys as his servants, including a clown called Clara, played by Carmen Silvera, who went on to become Edith in ’Allo ’Allo!
A shop with the name Mr Emporium has been spotted on location in Bristol, complete with a sign which claims the proprietor is the "Toymaker of the Year”. The shop appears to sell magical items, games and tricks.
There were plans to bring back Gough as the Toymaker in 1986 but the story, due to be set at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, was scrapped after then BBC1 controller Michael Grade axed the series for 18 months.
In a stern-looking image posted by the actor in character, he is dressed in clothes from a bygone century including an apron containing a variety of tools. Another shows him wearing a top hat and tails.
One fan declared: “He’s playing the Celestial Toymaker, 100%. He’s gotta be! The apron, the tools, the look – it can’t just be me who sees it, right?
Fellow fan James Johnson agreed: “I am convinced it is The Toymaker - his reality-warping powers to throw trials and games feels suitably ‘special’."
A BBC spokeswoman declined to comment.
American actor Harris appeared in last year’s hit Channel 4 drama It’s a Sin, created by Russell T Davies.
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Posting a picture of himself looking like an evil scientist from the past, the actor said: “My current gig. Never looked more dashing. Thank you for inviting me into your Whoniverse - I’ll try my hardest to do my worst. This Doctor has no idea what’s in store. And even if he does… Who cares? Ha ha ha HA ha-ha-ha!”
The scenes will form part of next year’s 60th anniversary specials for BBC1, which involve David Tennant with sidekick Catherine Tate. It is not clear when new Doctor Ncuti Gatwa will make his first appearance after Jodie Whittaker bows out in the autumn.
Four-time Emmy winner Harris shot to fame in 1989 at the age of 16, when he played the title character in medical sitcom Doogie Howser, MD His other film roles include How I Met Your Mother, Gone Girl, The Matrix: Resurrections and this year's The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.
In It’s a Sin he played Henry Coltrane, a character working on Savile Row who introduced Callum Howells's Colin to London.
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