diff --git a/datasette/hookspecs.py b/datasette/hookspecs.py
index f7e90e4e..9c44a266 100644
--- a/datasette/hookspecs.py
+++ b/datasette/hookspecs.py
@@ -49,6 +49,11 @@ def extra_template_vars(
     "Extra template variables to be made available to the template - can return dict or callable or awaitable"
 
 
+@hookspec
+def load_template(template, database, table, columns, view_name, request, datasette):
+    "Load the specified template, returning the template code as a string"
+
+
 @hookspec
 def publish_subcommand(publish):
     "Subcommands for 'datasette publish'"
diff --git a/datasette/templates/base.html b/datasette/templates/base.html
index 84708325..5fed49e5 100644
--- a/datasette/templates/base.html
+++ b/datasette/templates/base.html
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@
     <script>{{ body_script }}</script>
 {% endfor %}
 
-{% if select_templates %}<!-- Templates considered: {{ select_templates|join(", ") }} -->{% endif %}
+{% if templates_considered %}
+<!-- Templates considered:
+{% for template in templates_considered %}{{ template.name }}{% if template.used %} (used){% endif %}
+{% endfor %}-->
+{% endif %}
 </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/datasette/views/base.py b/datasette/views/base.py
index 06968e03..a4a85620 100644
--- a/datasette/views/base.py
+++ b/datasette/views/base.py
@@ -113,15 +113,39 @@ class BaseView:
 
     async def render(self, templates, request, context=None):
         context = context or {}
-        template = self.ds.jinja_env.select_template(templates)
+
+        # Give plugins first chance at loading the template
+        break_outer = False
+        plugin_template_source = None
+        template_name = None
+        for template_name in templates:
+            if break_outer:
+                break
+            for plugin_template_source in pm.hook.load_template(
+                template=template_name,
+                database=context.get("database"),
+                table=context.get("table"),
+                columns=context.get("columns"),
+                view_name=self.name,
+                request=request,
+                datasette=self.ds,
+            ):
+                plugin_template_source = await await_me_maybe(plugin_template_source)
+                if plugin_template_source:
+                    break_outer = True
+                    break
+        if plugin_template_source is not None:
+            template = self.ds.jinja_env.from_string(plugin_template_source)
+        else:
+            template = self.ds.jinja_env.select_template(templates)
         template_context = {
             **context,
             **{
                 "database_color": self.database_color,
-                "select_templates": [
-                    "{}{}".format(
-                        "*" if template_name == template.name else "", template_name
-                    )
+                "templates_considered": [{
+                    "name": template.name,
+                    "used": template_name == template.name
+                }
                     for template_name in templates
                 ],
             },