John Simm is hinting about a return to "Doctor Who," possibly as early as 2010, so is The Master close behind?

"I'm not, by the way, ruling out a return to 'Doctor Who' in the future," Simm told The Daily Record. "It's too exciting of a show to be a part of for me to do that."

People may have thought Simm was moving on from "Doctor Who" when he told the British newspaper that his popular role on the series made his 7-year-old son Ryan popular in a way that might have not been the most comfortable at his school.

"I'd take him to school in the morning and I'd feel like the Piped Piper with this huge gaggle of kids around me in the playground," Simm said. "He was a bit freaked out by all the attention and I'm sorry it happened that way."

Simm was the second actor to play The Master in the revived series, as Derek Jacobi originated the new role in early 2007 only to hand it off to Simm in a regeneration sequence.

Not that Simm needed "Doctor Who." The prolific actor born in Leeds has had a number of roles in well-received productions over the years, including playing the first Sam Tyler in the original British version of "Life On Mars," which helped lead to an American series of the same name starring Jason O'Mara.

Simm also is filming a television series "Seven Days" that is slated for 2012, and the film "Skellig," based on the David Almond book, according to Internet Movie Database.

The Master died in the third season finale of "Doctor Who," and was even given a warriors cremation by The Doctor reminiscent of what Luke Skywalker did for Darth Vader in "The Return of the Jedi." However, it seemed the door was left open for The Master to return in a quick cutaway scene that showed someone picking up the Time Lord's ring from the funeral site.

"Doctor Who" returns at Christmas for its annual holiday special, and then will do a series of specials throughout 2009 before returning full-time in 2010 with a new showrunner and a new Doctor.

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