ONE of the biggest small screen roles has been put back on the market this week - and a Bolton name could be in the running.

Maxine Peake is among the ever-growing list of stars who have been tipped to take on the lead in BBC sci-fi show Doctor Who.

Peter Capaldi is stepping down from his role as The Doctor after the Christmas Special this year.

The announcement came earlier this week and since then fans, the media and bookmakers have been speculating who will be taking up the keys to the TARDIS in his place.

Calls have been made to replace him with a woman and making many of the shortlists is Maxine.

The Westhoughton-star of both stage and screen even had her name put in the hat by a BBC list which praised her as “a hugely versatile actress who would bring both steel and wit to the role”.

It would not be the first time the Shameless and Silks actress has taken on a gender-swap role.

She won huge praise from critiques for her portrayal of William Shakespeare’s Danish prince Hamlet at Manchester’s Royal Exchange in 2014.

Fans have already begun backing her. On Twitter, John Fidler wrote: “Moving past my disappointment at Peter Capaldi leaving Doctor Who to start campaigning for Maxine Peake to be next. Accept no substitutes.”

Jason Ward added: “ I’ll say what we’re all thinking: if Maxine Peake isn’t the new Doctor Who then we have to ask serious questions about ourselves as a nation”.

While Aaron Eastwood on Facebook said: “I’d LOVE that. She’s stellar. Also heard Rupert Grint mentioned. That intrigues me...”

Bookies have Maxine down with a 16-1 chance of becoming the first female Doctor, Maxine, but she has some very tough competition to see off first.

Joining her on the shortlists are Broadchurch actress Olivia Colman, who is currently tipped as first choice for the job, as well as Harry Potter and Beauty and the Beast star Emma Watson, and Captain America’s Peggy Carter, Hayley Atwell.

The men are not out of the running yet either as stars like David Harewood, Eddie Redmayne, Colin Salmon and Tim Roth have also been named among the favourite choices.

Peter Capaldi, who first stepped into the Tardis in 2013 made his leaving the announcement on Jo Whiley’s BBC Radio 2 show.

He said: “One of the greatest privileges of being Doctor Who is to see the world at its best.

“From our brilliant crew and creative team working for the best broadcaster on the planet, to the viewers and fans whose endless creativity, generosity and inclusiveness points to a brighter future ahead.

“I can’t thank everyone enough. It’s been cosmic.”

Doctor Who: Who could replace Peter Capaldi?

Ben Whishaw - Q in the James Bond films

The IT Crowd's Richard Ayoade 

Former Doctor Who star Billie Piper

Broadchurch's Olivia Colman 

Penny Dreadful and The Casual Vacancy actor Rory Kinnear

Homeland and Supergirl actor David Harewood 

Sacha Dhawan, from An Adventure in Space