Eddie Izzard as the Doctor?

Would popular transvestite comedian Eddie Izzard make a good Doctor? Tom Baker thinks so. In an interview on the Teletext website Baker notes the following: "I think Eddie would be good as he's so strange, he looks like he has secrets. There is a benevolent alien quality to him." Baker goes on to stated that former Sun Page Three girl Melinda Messenger would be a great companion: "Melinda would be good as she can scream and has bosoms. It doesn't really matter if she can act." Tom would like the opportunity to play the Master in a new production; "I want to play the villain instead of the goodie," Baker says. "Then the Doctor could say lines to me like, 'You look very familiar'."
          Update: Forget being Tom Baker's favorite... the former Fourth Doctor says that Eddie Izzard is the next Doctor, although it's more than likely to be in jest. Tom, speaking on BBC London News this evening, said in a three-minute interview that he was "sworn to secrecy" but then later outed Izzard (see next news item) as the new Doctor. In response to Richard E. Grant playing the role on TV, Tom said "Oh Christ, no, not Richard E. Grant"; then, he stated that it would be Izzard. Again, we'd like to stress that it's very likely Mr. Baker was being clever rather than legitimately announcing Izzard being the Doc. You may be able to find the video of it here.
          We've been told that one other fan news site is suggesting that it will be Paul McGann reprising the role, but Outpost Gallifrey has been told that it will likely be "a new actor" by several sources.