A Netflix and Doctor Who star has said he would love to emulate Hollywood pair Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney by taking over his beloved Blackburn Rovers.

Matt Smith, who starred as the eleventh Doctor and also played a young Prince Phillip in Netflix hit series The Crown, said he dreams about buying the Ewood Park club “on a daily basis”.

Smith, 41, who has also starred in HBO Game of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon and film Official Secrets, said he would buy the club “in a heartbeat” if he was able to pool together a group of fellow actors willing to take the plunge.

Smith’s dream of taking over Rovers would emulate the buying of League Two club Wrexham by Hollywood A-lister Ryan Reynolds and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia creator and star Rob McElhenney.

The chat came amid ongoing concerns around Rovers club funding due to legal proceedings in India involving owners Venky’s, amid restrictions placed upon the company by the Indian Government.

Lancashire Telegraph: Actor and avid Rovers fan Matt SmithActor and avid Rovers fan Matt Smith (Image: PA)

Under their ownership, Wrexham secured promotion from the National League, and currently sit in the promotion places in their first season back in the Football League.

Appearing on the BBC Headliners podcast, host Nihal Arthanayake explained how Smith had inherited his love of Rovers from his father David, who is from Blackburn, and while not growing up in East Lancashire has followed the club since he was a child.

He told Nihal he was a “lifelong” fan and while “they have put me through a lot of pain I will love them all the same”.

Nihal said: “You’ve got some famous friends, would you ever consider getting together and buying Blackburn Rovers with some Hollywood A-listers?”

Lancashire Telegraph: Matt Smith said it would be a dream to emulate Rob McElhenney, left, and Ryan Reynolds, who own WrexhamMatt Smith said it would be a dream to emulate Rob McElhenney, left, and Ryan Reynolds, who own Wrexham (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

Matt said: “I dream about it on a daily basis. If I could buy Blackburn Rovers and I had the money I would do it in a heartbeat.”

When asked who the famous person was he knew, so he could ask them to “do a Ryan Reynolds”, Matt said: “He’s got a billion quid in the bank, that’s how he’s managed to do it.”

Nihal suggested Tom Cruise as a possible business partner, but Matt said he doesn’t know him, and isn’t sure Cruise “is looking to invest in the North East”. [We know you meant North West, Matt, so we’ll let you off].

Timothée Chalamet was also suggested but again Matt doubted if he would be interested in Blackburn.

He went on: “We’ve got a great history, and it’s a wonderful club, and I’m very proud to be a Blackburn fan.”

He said he doesn’t get to Ewood Park as much as he wishes, but did say he goes to away games in and around London, such as Millwall and Watford.

Nihal suggested other famous fans he could speak to, including rugby union legend Bill Beaumont and snooker legend Stephen Hendry, superbike icon Carl ‘Foggy’ Fogarty, and fashion designer Wayne Hemingway.

Nihal suggested getting a consortium together and Matt said he “wished he could as I’d love to see that club restored”.

They guessed the club might be available for £20 million, but Matt did note it is a “hiding to nothing owning a football club”, and stopped short of commenting on current owners Venkys.

He ended by saying: “You heard it here first, I’m going to try and stick in a bid.”