June 1st, 2013
479 comments
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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
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Deb
June 12th, 2013 - 3:58amJust a common whovian since the 70’s when Tom Baker dragged his scarf across terrains local and universal. WHOm ever the next Dr. is I will embrace his chosen attire and his desire to save the universe from ourselves. I will most certainly miss Matt and the signature bow ties. My thanks for his years of being THE DOCTOR.
Anonymous
June 9th, 2013 - 12:33amReally hopes he regenerates into Cheryl Cole.The only way there going to get viewers back.
Anonymous
June 9th, 2013 - 12:31amI’d love Jenna Coleman to return to Emmerdale.Jasmine would fit right in with the Debbie storyline atm but I doubt she’d go back even though Emmerdale has some good storylines going at the moment.maybe she will return to her roots soon.
Anonymous
June 9th, 2013 - 12:25amA One-off spectacular.Preeya Kalidas stars in Bollywood Carmen:Live,on BBC Three,Sunday 9pm
TheWhomobile
June 8th, 2013 - 9:16amPeople keep saying how Doctor Who is racist for never having cast a black/Asian man in the role but yesterday when some friends and I were discussing the next doctor a black man said it wouldn’t be right for the Doctor to become black or female. It goes to show people are worried about offending these people when they are not being offended at all.
RYCBAR123
June 15th, 2013 - 10:29pmI believe that as long as The new Doctor is a man, I have no qualms with what he looks like or what race he is. But that’s my opinion.
Dalek: the Supreme
June 18th, 2013 - 1:43pmI’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, what’s wrong with a black Doctor? He’d still look like a human, and if he was a good actor, then by all means cast him! It’s a girl I have a problem with playing the Time Lord, I bare nothing against girls but gender switching is way too awkward and disturbing for a family show. I just want a good actor who can look over a thousand years old.
Sandra
June 8th, 2013 - 1:09amI’d rather see Moffat leave!!!!
karl
July 1st, 2013 - 4:21pmi second that sandra.
if we get a 3rd, do we get to keep matt?
Dazza
June 7th, 2013 - 6:44pmI now believe it’s going to be either Ben Daniels, or Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Both would suit the role very well, but people in the supposed know, have said Ben Daniels has got the part. No idea how correct they are. But they were 100% spot on about Smith getting the part at least a month before anyone else knew.
time and relotive dimens
June 7th, 2013 - 5:42pmi want johnny depp to be the next doctor
suleiman
June 8th, 2013 - 11:54amI really like Matt smith as the doctor and John hurt is going to be the next doctoor
im no longer going to be here
June 7th, 2013 - 4:36pmeve de leon allen is following me on twitter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
š
Alex
June 6th, 2013 - 3:50pmWhy cant the doctor be normal people like you or me? We might be really good at it…
Dalek: the Supreme
June 6th, 2013 - 11:11pmThey need to choose the best possible actor to play the Doctor. They can’t just choose a random person who might not be a good actor.
Scott
June 5th, 2013 - 7:12pmI don’t know if this is just me being stupid and not hearing about it before but has anyone seen Paul McGann has been listed as appearing in the 50th anniversary as the Doctor on IMDb!
the astronaut of death
June 5th, 2013 - 7:35pmI doubt that dr who magazine witch only publishes official news said their will be no more old doctors reappearing
and IMDb are not very relible
Anonymous
June 5th, 2013 - 6:17pmIf the producers have any sense and want more viewers then they will replace him with Sheridan Smith
Dalek: the Supreme
June 13th, 2013 - 1:08amI’m guessing you haven’t read the hundreds of thousands of comments that they would rather stop watching then see the Doctor regenerate into a woman, then.
Anonymous
June 5th, 2013 - 11:59amI think that doctor who has become too politicly correct.
No I am not racist Im just stating my opinion
most of the historical stories have to have a black or asian person other wise watchdog groups will moan and they have to pretend that the nasty parts of history never happond
Donāt let censors ruin doctor who
Sebatron
June 5th, 2013 - 1:24amI’m hoping for Ben Whishaw
NOMATTWILLNOTLEAVE
June 5th, 2013 - 10:24amNO MATT BETTER
NO MATT CANT LEAVE NOW
June 5th, 2013 - 10:25amNo plz matt cant
gah matt is better
Earthbound Dr
June 4th, 2013 - 11:44pmBrilliant job Matt you will go down as one of the greats in my book along with the first 4 Drs and David T. The 12th Dr has big boots to fill.
Galifreyan Bod
June 4th, 2013 - 4:14pmOh go on then, another choice of mine would be Matthew Grey Gubler…
Gauling
June 4th, 2013 - 2:37pmThe new Doctor will probably be someone relatively unknown like Matt Smith was at the time of his casting. Someone will come through the door and absolutely nail the audition and will get the job.
Doctor 3
June 20th, 2013 - 1:30amWon’t that be a good thing, I mean you want a doctor to be unknown- adds to the mystery…
GregV
June 4th, 2013 - 3:47amI think the BBC is planning a big Doctor Who global release movie. Just look at the huge piles of money Disney is making from Marvel comic book movies, the successful reboot of Start Trek and the coming Starwars movies. The executives at BBC are looking at this and saying to each other āhey wait a second, we can do this tooā. They are going to do a big Doctor Who movie in the near future because itās the only thing that makes sense. Given this fact Iām predicting the next doctor will be a big high dollar movie actor who can ātake the show to the big screenā! Iām really going to miss Matt Smith and I think he would be fantastic in a movie. However, thatās not how executives think. Given all these facts I think the next doctor will be Daniel Day-Lewis! I realize that a 3 time Oscar winner sounds crazy but he makes perfect sense if a movie is coming!
Liason Ice
June 4th, 2013 - 7:01amRobert Downing Jr would be an awesome Doctor. Also he would be able to do it on the big screen AND it would be mixing it up with an American Doctor.
I still want Benedict Cumberbatch or Andrew Lee Potts though
Galifreyan Bod
June 4th, 2013 - 12:05pmAs long as the source material is treated with reverence then a big screen version may be what the franchise needs. (But do not do a Peter Cushingesque Doctor. I hate those versions, but quite liked the Dalek ship tho…) Anyhoo a big movie may be the only way to release Jim Parsons from Big Bang to be the Doctor…
Anonymous
June 4th, 2013 - 12:45pmJason Flemyng as the Doctor, and if not, Ben Daniels. You clearly have no imagination if you keep suggest benedict cuucumber, who for several reasons is a terrible choice š
Anonymous
June 4th, 2013 - 1:34pmDo you have any proof of this
GregV
June 4th, 2013 - 7:17pmI don’t have any inside information but I don’t need it. There is tons of public non roumour information to back up my movie theory! I recently read that movie director Peter Jackson has met with Steven Moffat about directing an “episode”. Born yesterday, I was not!
Anonymous
June 5th, 2013 - 7:09amCool
Mels
June 6th, 2013 - 5:16amMovie rumours have been flying around for years and will likely continue as long as the show is on the air. Raising money/funding a movie (talking millions here), casting, writing etc takes many, many years – and this is presuming that they are trying to get one made in the first place (which I don’t think they are at this stage, unless someone with the funds has approached the BBC).
GregV
June 6th, 2013 - 10:02pmWhat if they already made a stealth move? According to the official press release the 50th Anniversary Special is going to be feature length, shot in 3D on Cinema type equipment and will be shown in theaters (all be it a limited release) and it stars a big time movie actor (John Hurt). The release date is even November 23rd, right ahead of the critical Thanksgiving Holliday on the US. This is one of the most common times of the year for a US movie release. Coincidence? I think not! The only fact that I canāt fit into my theory yet is Matt leaving, but Iām working on it.
drjakeyoung
June 6th, 2013 - 10:42pmHugh Lorry would make a great doctor!
GregV
June 6th, 2013 - 11:11pmI totally agree with Mels (post above). Getting a movie made is all about money/funding. Thatās why I think a Doctor Who movie is coming very soon. Itās easy to get funding for a movie if the subject matter is currently hot and successful. Remember all the vampire movies and TV shows that came out of nowhere soon after the huge success of Twilight? So the question is. What is the hottest movie subject in the last 2 or 3 years? Thatās an easy one, itās hero/science fiction movies. Doctor Who fits that category nicely, so funding for a Doctor Who move should be easier to get than it ever has been! I highly suspect the BBC will look for a financial partner to split the cost and risk of a movie with. Marvel was producing many of its movies in partnership with Sony Pictures before Disney bought marvel. Sony Pictures has got to be looking hard for a new partner right now!
GregV
June 8th, 2013 - 12:34amIn picking Daniel Day-Lewis as the next Doctor I started with my movie thesis (see above). So, why did I pick Daniel above other experienced movie actors? He was Born and raised in London and he has a home in Ireland, so check all the pre-requisite boxes. Everything I have read about Daniel says he is very discriminating in the rolls he chooses. An Iconic roll like Doctor Who might just interest him. Most importantly, Daniel has a long history of working with the BBC! Does anyone else agree with my pick? What do you think?
MaxP
June 4th, 2013 - 12:40amOne name – Richard E Grant.
RORY DOCTOR RIVER POND
June 4th, 2013 - 6:25pmbut he was the great intelligence! Now that would be another crazy moffat silly notion! He’d do it as well.
MaxP
June 5th, 2013 - 3:33amAnd Colin Baker was the Time Lord guard Maxill before becoming the 6th Doc. It’d be explained by the GI having an (unintended) influence on the 11th Doc’s subconcious so that the 12th Doc is more edgier, (which is exactly the reason I read somewhere once as to why the 6th Doctor looked like Maxill.) But really I just watched Scream of the Shalka for the 1st time and thought he was great and that it’d be great if that story could be canon again!
Dalek: the Supreme
June 3rd, 2013 - 11:04pmWell, as sad as it is to see Matt Smith leave, I do hope the Twelfth Doctor is played by Tony Shalhoub or Rowan Atkinson. I’ve seen a few episodes of Monk and Tony Shalhoub was amazing in the role, and his performance just seemed very Doctorish to me. Rowan Atkinson played the Doctor before in a comic relief special, but he was amazing in the role and he has the eccentric part down if you look at Mr Bean as well as the darker corners if you look at certain parts of Blackadder.
MaxP
June 4th, 2013 - 12:52amalways thought Rowan should have taken over after McCoy back in the day, it’s a crime against the very universe itself that he never got to have a proper serious go at it.
Dalek: the Supreme
June 4th, 2013 - 3:01pmAlong with Matt Smith, Tom Baker, Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, Sylvester McCoy, Nicholas Briggs, and a few others, he’s one of my favorite actors š
UnitedGamers2013
June 3rd, 2013 - 9:47pmBill Nighy as Professor Black in Vincent and the Doctor. He will play the 12th doctor. I think he nearly played the 11th
outnumbered
June 3rd, 2013 - 9:26pmwhat if john hurt will be the new dr
NO MATT CANT LEAVE NOW
June 5th, 2013 - 10:28amno john hurt is the ninth incarnation of the doctor who took a different name and tried to forget what he had done
outnumbered
June 6th, 2013 - 2:31pmsorry were is this info
i missed that
or is that a guess
Anonymous
June 3rd, 2013 - 8:54pmGood Suggestions for Dr 12, but how about…
Andrew Simpson
Christian Cooke
NO MATT CANT LEAVE NOW
June 5th, 2013 - 10:29amnu-huh
MATT SMITH STAYS OR THERE WILL BE TROUBLE MY END
the mr master
June 3rd, 2013 - 8:01pmi wonder WHAT will make him regenerate
i hope its daleks
the astronaut of death
June 3rd, 2013 - 8:05pmI have a feeling it is the silence
olletsoc
June 3rd, 2013 - 8:36pmi think they will return to Trenzalore, and we will see the real Fall of the Eleventh.
The Darke Horde
June 3rd, 2013 - 8:41pmI think he will die saving everyone on earth
olletsoc
June 3rd, 2013 - 9:15pmwhy does it always have to be about Earth? i’d prefer something more original than that.
Dalek: the Supreme
June 3rd, 2013 - 10:12pmI just hope it’s a good death (NOT an offscreen fall like Colin Baker!) and well written (NOT like the “I don’t wanna go” subplot like David Tennant!)
galloping dalek
June 3rd, 2013 - 10:17pmhe is probrably going back to trenzalor so he might regenerate there at the fall of the eleventh and the question will be asked… Doctor who Doctor who DOCTOR WHO
tracyduh
June 7th, 2013 - 10:38amWill he perhaps face his worse fear from the episode of the bldg. w/rooms containing each of their worse fears before he regenerates? Amy walked into a room of weeping angels as her worse fear and that did indeed end up being her final downfall…we never got to see what was behind his fear door.
Anonymous
June 3rd, 2013 - 7:34pmI think that doctor who has become too politicly correct.
No I am not racist Im just stating my opinion
most of the historical stories have to have a black or asian person other wise watchdog groups will moan and they have to pretend that the nasty parts of history never happond
Don’t let censors ruin doctor who
Dalek: the Supreme
June 5th, 2013 - 12:20pmSo because of a relatively tiny problem, you think Doctor Who is getting ruined? Sorry, that sounds a little ridiculous.
drjakeyoung
June 5th, 2013 - 12:24pmanonymous i think you are right there!
Anonymous
June 5th, 2013 - 7:09pmlet historical stories be acurate
Anonymous
June 3rd, 2013 - 7:28pmI think newWHO is too politicly correct. No I am nit racist I am against racism but Im just saying the show has become to politicly correct. Historical stories are no longer factual like in oldWHO and there always have to be ethnicly diverse
Please don’t let the censors ruin dr who
the astronaut of death
June 3rd, 2013 - 7:25pmI think we should not find out who the 12th doctor is until the regeneration
olletsoc
June 3rd, 2013 - 7:33pmdoubt it because they will have to film Series 8. i think we’ll find out in the 50th. there will be a reveal show i think.
NO MATT CANT LEAVE NOW
June 5th, 2013 - 10:31amyeah normally they do
AND INTRODUCING_____________AS THE_____th DOCTOR
Ash
June 3rd, 2013 - 7:11pmI just started watching Dr. Who with the 2005 series (9th Doctor) and loved it from the start! I’m 38 and remember seeing some of the episodes here in the US on PBS television and not being that impressed. I have to say the new series that started in 2005 really took things to a new level. All the previous being stated I have went back and watched some episodes from the past “Classic” seasons and really like those as well, while the costumes etc.. are not nearly as good. So far David is my favorite Dr. and will be tuning in to his other series on the BBC to continue watching his work. In the mean time I will be sad to see Matt go he is a bit quirky and has done a great job!
I think as I have watched the series that it looks like the actors that have been chosen as the Dr. have been getting younger. Maybe it’s just me. If they are not I’ve always been impressed with Kevin McKidd. He did some great work on several shows here in the US of which i really liked the Journeyman series.
MasterKasterborous
June 3rd, 2013 - 7:24pmI think that the costumes in the classic series great and sometimes out do the new series stuff.
Anonymous
June 4th, 2013 - 7:17pmOoh yes Kevin McKidd is a good choice IMO.
Dalek: the Supreme
June 5th, 2013 - 12:23pmThere are some cases like the 2013 TARDIS, “Cold War” Ice Warriors, and Paradigm Daleks where I prefer the New Series design to the Classic one, but I’ll still take the Haemovores and the Cybermen of the 60’s and 80’s over the Slitheen and the Absorbaloff anyday.
dalek eternal
June 3rd, 2013 - 6:58pmid personally like colin morgan to pkay the doctor even though i hes been it before i think hed be a great doctor r id also like the guy who plays arthur in merlin dont know his real name or phillip glinsiter aka the gene genie and if its true that matt is now the twelth doctor phillip gleister would be great as the valeyyard
MRULTIMATEWHOVIAN
June 3rd, 2013 - 6:36pmI actually want Ben Whishaw (Skyfall) to play the next Doctor!
Anonymous
June 3rd, 2013 - 6:38pmThat would be so cool
Booboo the third
June 3rd, 2013 - 6:39pmSorry that was me
Scott
June 3rd, 2013 - 6:58pmI loved him in the hour, he would be brilliant
Sebatron
June 4th, 2013 - 6:00amI can see him as the doctor
NO MATT CANT LEAVE NOW
June 5th, 2013 - 10:33amI personally cant
I wish benedict cumberbatch would be the doctor but I know that is never gonna happen