AN UP-and-coming south Essex actor may be poised to step into the well-worn shoes of science fiction’s most famous time traveller.

Russell T Davies, the man behind the successful TV comeback of Doctor Who, has revealed he would love to see History Boys actor Russell Tovey in the role of the Time Lord.

Although the current Doctor, David Tennant, is not expected to quit any time soon, Davies has said he thinks Billericay boy Tovey would make a teriffic Doctor one day.

If Tovey does land the role, it wouldn’t be the 26-year-old’s first run-in with the Tardis and its occupants.

The former pupil of the Shenfield School, Brentwood, pupil’s was in last Christmas’s episode of Doctor Who. He played Midshipman Frame, appearing alongside pop princess Kylie Minogue. Since then, the acclaimed stage and screen actor has hinted he would be happy to return to the ratings-busting sci-fi series.

Tovey first came to the attention of producers and critics when he played Rudge in the 2006 British film The History Boys.

He was picked for the role after playing the same part in the West End stage version, two years earlier.

Tovey’s career has since blossomed, with a run of recent stage roles and appearances in the TV comedy Gavin and Stacey – which, ironically, is partly set in Billericay.

Hollywood now beckons, but the actor says he is still proud of his roots.

He admitted: “I would like people to appreciate the beauty of Essex. I’m from Billericay and some people think Essex is just one big shopping centre. We’ve had some bad people representing it.

“But parts of Essex are beautiful and full of history.”

Tovey’s growing fanbase also includes a few famous names. After appearing on Broadway, Tovey ran into Dustin Hoffman jogging outside his New York hotel. The superstar praised the star-struck Tovey and invited him to jog with him around Central Park.