Eccleston, coming down from on high

Within hours of SF’s Stephan Logan blogging a mention of the 9th Dr Who, Christopher Eccleston, the actor announces he won’t stay with the role for a second series, so all bets are on for the tenth incarnation. Who will be the next Doctor Who?. Isn’t it time the Dr were regenerated as a woman? Or, perish the thought, someone from within a minority group?