Famed photographer, Rankin, has just confirmed he has photographed the new actor to play The Doctor, ahead of tonights Live unveiling on BBC One.

Rankin tweeted the news on Twitter this afternoon, but also let slip that the actor is male (not that we doubted it):

"Just photographed the next Dr Who for tonight's announcement. Let me know what you think of the photo? He's going to be an ace Dr."

Some further detective work on Rankin's 'recently followed' list on Twitter, lists DWO's own choice to take over the role, Aneurin Barnard (The White Queen, We'll Take Manhattan). It could very well be a coincidence, however.

All will be revealed tonight at 7pm!

+ Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor airs in the UK on Sunday at 7pmBST on BBC One.
+ Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor airs in the USA on Sunday at 2pm ET on BBC America.
+ Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor airs in Australia on Monday at 4am EST on ABC1.

+  Follow @DrWhoOnline on Twitter!

[Source: Twitter]

The BBC have quashed the recent rumours circulating online that an announcement on the casting of the 12th Doctor is due imminently.

The rumours, which began via Science Fiction magazine; Starburst, stated:

"Sources have indicated that a Sunday newspaper is intending to scoop the BBC by announcing the name of the new Doctor this weekend. And in order to pre-empt the scoop, the BBC look set to announce the name tomorrow evening, just a single short week since the announcement of Matt Smith’s departure, and hardly time enough for that bombshell of a news story to sink in.

[UPDATE]

Starburst's sources have now come up with three names, apparently the front-runners in the bidding to be the new Doctor. Whether it's one of these three that has in fact been chosen to play the part, we cannot be sure. We can't really be sure that these three are in the running at all - but that's what we've been told! One thing that's guaranteed, however, is that this new "information" will get people talking!

The three names are: Domhnall Gleeson, Daniel Kaluuya, and Dominic Cooper."

BBC Publicist, Jenni Pain, tweeted the following this morning denying the rumours:

"For all those wondering, there is no #doctorwho announcement planned today"

This was then further echoed by the @BBCOne Twitter channel:

"@bbcdoctorwho fans, contrary to rumours there is no #DoctorWho casting announcement today."

Also via Twitter, Doctor Who DVD Director, Ed Stradling appeared to have official word from Steven Moffat on the rumours:

"Steven Moffat says this morning "I haven't a clue who it is, we've barely started." So no #doctorwho announcement this evening I fear!"

The DWO View:

The BBC will keep the casting of the 12th Doctor as close to their chests for as long as possible. Over the next few days, weeks and possibly months, you will no doubt hear a multitude of names - male and female - thrown into the ring, but as with Matt Smith, the BBC are likely to cast someone who possibly hasn't even been mentioned yet. Watch this space!

+  Follow @DrWhoOnline on Twitter!

[Sources: Twitter; Starburst]