The Ulster actor is one of the front-runners for the role with bookmakers William Hill offering odds of 6-1.

Saturday's night penultimate episode of the current series ended on a cliffhanger, with the Dr, played by David Tennant, apparently embarking on his 10th regeneration.

This prompted renewed speculation that Tennant is to quit and that Nesbitt will replace him.

The rumours that the Coleraine-born star of Jekyll and Murphy's Law would take over began to surface last summer and at the time, Nesbitt said he had not been approached.

Speaking to Graham Norton on tonight's show, Nesbitt tells him that he is not the next Dr Who.

"I know nothing about that. I wouldn't put a lot of money on it," he says.

"I would find it very hard to follow David Tennant but my daughters would worship me forever because they're obssessed by it."

Nesbitt was linked with the role after starring in the BBC drama Jeykll, which was written by Steven Moffat. Moffat is taking over from Russel T Davies as the chief writer of Dr Who.

Robert Carlyle is the favourite to be play the next Doctor with William Hill offering 2-1 odds.

Other hot tips include Jason Stracham, Alan Davies and John Simm.

The Graham Norton Show airs tonight at 11.20pm on BBC2.