Breaking News: Matt Smith to leave Doctor Who

The BBC has announced that actor Matt Smith is to leave Doctor Who at Christmas.  He has just recently completed filming the Doctor Who Fiftieth Anniversary Special, where he stars alongside David Tennant and John Hurt.   He will make one more episode, the 2013 Christmas Special before he bows out by regenerating into the Twelfth Doctor.

Matt Smith said: "Doctor Who has been the most brilliant experience for me as an actor and a bloke, and that largely is down to the cast, crew and fans of the show. I'm incredibly grateful to all the cast and crew who work tirelessly every day, to realise all the elements of the show and deliver Doctor Who to the audience. Many of them have become good friends and I'm incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the last four years. 

Having Steven Moffat as show runner write such varied, funny, mind bending and brilliant scripts has been one of the greatest and most rewarding challenges of my career. It's been a privilege and a treat to work with Steven, he's a good friend and will continue to shape a brilliant world for the Doctor.

The fans of Doctor Who around the world are unlike any other; they dress up, shout louder, know more about the history of the show (and speculate more about the future of the show) in a way that I've never seen before, your dedication is truly remarkable. Thank you so very much for supporting my incarnation of the Time Lord, number Eleven, who I might add is not done yet, I'm back for the 50th anniversary and the Christmas special!

It's been an honour to play this part, to follow the legacy of brilliant actors, and helm the TARDIS for a spell with 'the ginger, the nose and the impossible one'. But when ya gotta go, ya gotta go and Trenzalore calls. Thank you guys. Matt."

Matt Smith arrived in Doctor Who in the second part of The End of Time broadcast on New Years Day 2010.  He has stayed with the show for three years, which ironically is the duration many of the lead actors of the original Doctor Who series remained with the programme.

Everyone here at the Doctor Who Bar wishes Matt Smith all the best for the future.

However as to the future of Doctor Who itself, just who will be taking over when Matt leaves?  Ben Daniels has been mentioned.  We won't find out until Christmas. :-)