We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Official – Matt Smith To Leave Doctor Who
Matt Smith To Leave Doctor Who
The BBC is today announcing that Matt Smith is to leave Doctor Who after four incredible years on the hit BBC One show.
Matt first stepped into the TARDIS in 2010 and will leave the role at the end of this year after starring in the unmissable 50th Anniversary in November and regenerating in the Christmas Special.
During his time as the Doctor, Matt has reached over 30 million unique UK viewers and his incarnation has seen the show go truly global. He was also the first actor to be nominated for a BAFTA in the role.
Matt quickly won over fans to be voted Best Actor by Readers of Doctor Who Magazine for the 2010 season. He also received a nod for his first series at the National Television Awards, before winning the Most Popular Male Drama Performance award in 2012.
Matt has played one of the biggest roles in TV with over 77 million fans in the UK, USA and Australia alone!
Matt Smith says: “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.”
Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer, says: “Every day, on every episode, in every set of rushes, Matt Smith surprised me: the way he’d turn a line, or spin on his heels, or make something funny, or out of nowhere make me cry, I just never knew what was coming next. The Doctor can be clown and hero, often at the same time, and Matt rose to both challenges magnificently.
“And even better than that, given the pressures of this extraordinary show, he is one of the nicest and hardest-working people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Whatever we threw at him – sometimes literally – his behaviour was always worthy of the Doctor.
“But great actors always know when it’s time for the curtain call, so this Christmas prepare for your hearts to break, as we say goodbye to number Eleven. Thank you Matt – bow ties were never cooler.
“Of course, this isn’t the end of the story, because now the search begins. Somewhere out there right now – all unknowing, just going about their business – is someone who’s about to become the Doctor. A life is going to change, and Doctor Who will be born all over again! After 50 years, that’s still so exciting!”
Having starred alongside three different companions, Amy Pond (Karen Gillan), Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill) and most recently Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman), Matt’s Doctor has fought Daleks and Cybermen, as well as Weeping Angels in New York. Regularly heard shouting ‘run’ and ‘Geronimo’, through Matt’s Doctor fans have been introduced to a new culinary combination – fish fingers and custard!
Matt’s spectacular exit is yet to be revealed and will be kept tightly under wraps. He will return to BBC One screens in the unmissable 50th anniversary episode on Saturday 23 November 2013 – TUNE IN!
Doctor Who is a BBC Cymru Wales production for BBC One
Von
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:19amDaniel Radcliffe would be great.
Matt Smithy
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:11amGreat… now what am I going to do with my name? I personally think he is leaving because he had a fall out with Steven Moffat, because previously he said “you would have to be stupid to leave on the gold year” and also said he was going to do next year as well… Still, sad you are leaving Matt! 🙁 good luck in the future.
Anonymous
June 2nd, 2013 - 5:29amI want mark gatiss to take over as head writer
Anonymous
June 2nd, 2013 - 5:27amI think that Moffat should be the one to go and replace him with someone who care’s about the show
Anonymous
June 2nd, 2013 - 5:19amIt would ruin the show
Sebatron
June 2nd, 2013 - 4:15amDear Matt Smith
I know it is a long shot of you seeing this but I want you to know that you were a brilliant Doctor. I am sad that you are leaving but thanks to you the next doctor will have a lot to live up to.
From Sebatron
Timewarp
June 2nd, 2013 - 2:51amTerribly sad to see Matt go
Also slightly disturbed to see some commenters so against the idea of the doctor being a woman. As long as the persona is the same, what’s the problem?
MrHonda
June 2nd, 2013 - 2:45amC’mon Hugh Laurie. Bring back Hartnell’s cane too.
poojoo
June 2nd, 2013 - 2:35amWell I have enjoyed Matt Smith. He has been fun. Now we need something more serious. The show seems to be to childish at times. I can’t think of anyone really to play number 12. I know people want Benedict Cumberbatch, but to be honest, I don’t. Yes, he is great at Sherlock but I don’t like him being the Doctor. It doesn’t feel right.
I do hope that Amy and Rory are in the Christmas special, they don’t have to be in the whole episode maybe just a cameo, the Doctor giving them a proper and final farewell. Just like Tennant did before he regenerated.
Maybe this will be the end for River. I think that they could fix her character, make her more like the ‘Silence in the Library’. I could see the end of 11 going round to River giving her the future sonic and asking her to say goodbye to Amy and Rory for him.
Silence Will Still Fall
June 2nd, 2013 - 2:32amMatt’s my doctor so i’m gutted about this news but i’m excited about who’ll take on the role next.
My choices for 12th doctor in order
1. Chris O’Dowd (Roy in the IT crowd)
2. Colin Morgan (Merlin)
3. richard ayoade (Moss in the IT crowd)
4. Andy Serkis (Gollum/Smeagol in LOTR)
5. Phil Davis (Most recently captain hatch in being human)
pathdw98
June 2nd, 2013 - 12:50amI am gutted. I loved Matt’s version of the Doctor.
I know it won’t be, but would love to see Jonny Lee Miller as 12.
Hope the Ponds and River make a cameo in his last story, just to say goodbye.
76 Totters Lane
June 2nd, 2013 - 12:43amHis last words should be something like “I’ve loved being me. I got to wear bow ties, stetsons and a fez. Musn’t forget the fez. Yes, I was very cool, wasn’t I?” Then he regenerates and the new Doctor looks at his bow tie and says, “I won’t be needing this any more” and takes it off.
CG
June 2nd, 2013 - 12:41amNooooo, but will Jenna-Louise be staying? I hope so!
The Eleventh
June 2nd, 2013 - 12:37amPart I
Thank you Mr. Smith! It has been a wonderful experience watching your tenure as the Doctor. Bow ties are and forever shall be…cool!
Part II
Let me start by saying I believe in Steven Moffat.
As fans we may not always agree with a show runners decisions but I believe for me we were really spoiled for series 5 thru 7 part 1. They are some of the absolute best of the new Who. Think about it. If you suddenly were given the reigns to the show do you think every episode you produce would be spot on? It’s really easy to say he’s ruined Who or 7 part 2 wasn’t great but that’s only because he helped elevate the bar for the show so high. He along with Mr. Smith helped create one of the most endearing and I’m sure enduring potrails of the Doctor. Doctor Who is built on change. Gearing up for the 50th I’m sure has been all consuming. We may not always like it but it’s a good lesson in being fluid. That said the fanboy in me will eternally miss our Eleventh Doctor.
Geronimo!
BisonTime
June 2nd, 2013 - 12:36amBut they have already confirmed series 8 for next year with Jenna still in the works
JJ
June 2nd, 2013 - 12:30amall I said is that I think Corrie is first/second favourite of my programmes and so is Doctor Who and that Doctor Who was first as solo, but since series 7 part 2, it isn’t. Just an opinion, not meaness. I also got band from Doctor Who TV just because I said that I thought the downrating on it was tight, wrong and mean, alos that love and monsters was one of my fave eps and that I wasn’t too keen on series 7 part 2 and that it did upset me and then I got blocked/banned and I am now really upset over it. Thank god this is a good site.
Cyberlord
June 2nd, 2013 - 12:22amCan I just say that I am deeply upset Matt is leaving. He put so much energy and life into the Doctor and even when episode story lines were dull or bad Matt gave his greatest performance, at first everyone hated him but now he is loved by all fans of Doctor who. I’m sad to see him go and to be honest I would love for him to return in some way. Matt Smith will always be my favourite Doctor.
olletsoc
June 2nd, 2013 - 12:14amit wouldn’t feel right having a woman as the doctor.
Anonymous
June 2nd, 2013 - 12:13amIt should maybe have a break and come back completely different with a new doctor and new format
Melico
June 2nd, 2013 - 12:09amShe would be so good as the doctor
joethewhovian
June 2nd, 2013 - 12:08amWhat about her?
Theta Sigma
June 2nd, 2013 - 12:08amMatt Smith has done brilliantly, I am less impressed with Me Moffat.
Anonymous
June 1st, 2013 - 11:58pmI doubt David Tennant will return.Broadchurch is returning so he will be more likely to return there for series 2
Melico
June 1st, 2013 - 11:52pm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!NICOLE SCHERZINGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hehehe
June 1st, 2013 - 11:51pmThey really need to get her on though she is such a good actress
videogamemad00
June 1st, 2013 - 11:50pmYes I saw those. Thanks for taking the time to reply to my comments 🙂
Anonymous
June 1st, 2013 - 11:50pmJo Joyner,David Tennant,Nigel Havers,Oliva Coleman,Suranne Jones,Christopher Eccelstone,Michelle Collins,Gillian Taylforth would be a good choice but she’s in Hollyoaks they need a big star to boost ratings
JJ
June 1st, 2013 - 11:48pmNot the Doctor, the next companion. Keith Lemon as The Twelth Doctor/The Thirteenth (Doctor’s real name) and Michelle Keegan as the Doctor’s ffffffffffffaithful companion, the Keegan.
Anonymous
June 1st, 2013 - 11:47pmIt would be nice if the public got a say though but I think everyone trusts Alesha would make the best decision
booboo
June 1st, 2013 - 11:46pmIndeed – “Who will be Who”, in this day of television wouldn’t surprise me