Danny Dyer confirmed to be leaving 'EastEnders' sparking 'Doctor Who' speculation

Danny Dyer is confirmed to be leaving EastEnders, sparking rumours he is to be the new star of Doctor Who.

The 44-year-old actor has played Mick Carter in the soap since Christmas 2013 and the BBC have confirmed he is stepping down from the role after nine years when his contract comes to an end later this year.

An EastEnders spokesperson said: “Danny will be leaving EastEnders when his contract comes to an end later this year.

Read more: Jodie Whittaker 'glad' new Doctor Who lead hasn’t been cast yet

"Danny has made Mick Carter an iconic character, which we shall always be grateful for, however we won’t be saying goodbye just yet as there’s still quite some time - and plenty of explosive drama for Mick - to come before he departs Walford.”

They added: "Danny’s decision to leave the show is purely because he wants to try different roles.”

Jodie Whittaker, 39, confirmed last year that she is to step down as the 13th incarnation of The Time Lord in long-running BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who.

There has since been much speculation as to who will replace her as the new Doctor.

Fans on Twitter have taken the announcement of Dyer's exit from Albert Square as a clue that he will be moving to travel space and time in The Tardis.

One tweeted: "Danny Dyer leaving Eastenders... Doctor Who requiring a new lead. 2+2."

Another commented: "Is it merely coincidence that Danny Dyer quits EastEnders for a new unnamed show while the auditions for the new doctor who take place?"

And another shared: "Danny Dyer leaving EastEnders the same time they're casting for Doctor Who," alongside a clip of Dyer on gameshow The Wall saying, "Keep ya nut about ya."

Dyer's breakthrough acting role was in British indie coming-of-age movie Human Traffic in 1999.

Read more: Danny Dyer reveals he once had to smash a wardrobe after building it around himself

He went on to gain a 'hardman' image starring in films such as The Football Factory and The Business as well as hosting Sky TV documentary series Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men.

Dyer joined the cast of EastEnders in 2013 as Queen Vic landord Mick Carter, alongside Kellie Bright as his wife Linda. The Carter family have become a staple clan of the BBC soap, which has suffered flagging ratings in the past year.

Whittaker became the first full time female Time Lord in Doctor Who, which launched in 1963, when she took over from The Thick Of It actor Peter Capaldi in 2018. She has already filmed her final scenes, which are due to air later this year.

Dyer - who hosted BBC documentary I Believe In UFOs in 2010 - is a known sci fi fan who revealed he had built a life-size model of Star Wars character Yoda out of Lego during the first lockdown.

Watch: Danny Dyer's rise from indie movie debut to soap star