Billie Piper tips Helena Bonham Carter to be the next 'Doctor Who' lead

Watch: Billie Piper has an idea for the next Doctor Who lead

Former Doctor Who star Billie Piper reckons Helena Bonham Carter would be the perfect choice to play the 13th incarnation of the Doctor.

Piper told Total Film Magazine that Carter's "madcap energy" would be a great fit for the role of TV's most famous time-traveller, once Jodie Whittaker relinquishes the keys to the TARDIS.

Read more: Piper left "jaded" by early experiences of fame

But the 38-year-old star said there's little chance of her ever returning to the show herself in the role of companion Rose Tyler.

Piper played Rose in the first series of the show's revival in 2005 and departed in the emotional series two finale, before returning for three episodes in series four and in numerous cameos — including as part of the 50th anniversary special The Day of the Doctor.

"I couldn't [return]. It's so much work," she said. "It's the face of a family show and that's a lot of responsibility that I'm not comfortable with."

Piper then offered her opinion on who should be the next Doctor, suggesting Carter.

"Helena Bonham Carter. She's got that madcap energy. She's a ruddy powerhouse," said the actor, who is making her movie directorial debut with this month's drama Rare Beasts.

Read more: Whittaker worried she was doing Doctor Who wrong in first scenes

Doctor Who is currently filming its 13th series since it was revived, with rumours suggesting that this could be Whittaker's swansong as the Time Lord.

The 38-year-old performer took over the role from Peter Capaldi in 2017, becoming the first woman to play the Doctor.

Whittaker will be joined in the new series by returning companion Yaz, played by Mandip Gill, as well as comedian John Bishop as new character Dan.

The show bid farewell to previous companions Tosin Cole and Bradley Walsh in this year's New Year's Day special, with Whittaker confirming she got very emotional on set.

She said: "On a personal note, I feel absolutely devastated. Just purely knowing it was the last scenes between myself and those actors – both of them had to carry me to my trailer.

“I've not cried like that for such a long time."

Read more: Catherine Tate denies rumours of Doctor Who return

Ratings for the 12th series of Doctor Who showed a considerable dip, with an average audience of 5.4m viewers tuning in each week — the lowest average of the revived series.

Watch: Jodie Whittaker hasn't looked at another acting job since Doctor Who