June 1st, 2013
479 comments
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
The Doctor Who Site
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Merchandise
Flickr
YouTube
Mat in Swansea
June 2nd, 2013 - 7:10pmMegan Fox, or slightly more seriously Olivia Coleman. Either way I’d never miss an episode!
The Darke Horde
June 2nd, 2013 - 7:04pmhes leaving eastenders soon as well
UnitedGamers2013
June 2nd, 2013 - 7:04pmShe is the bbc confirmed it
Alex
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:59pmThey should do most attractive companion poll on this site some when, could be interesting.
Alex
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:58pmMcCoy was a legend, no doubt about it. Still Karens more attractive.
bob
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:53pmi would like it if amy and rory return with the new doctor to see how they interact…… I DONT WANT MATT TO GO!!!!!!!
Gallifrey Driving Services Limited
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:49pmI agree he could be a good doctor but id rather see him as the master or another villain.
Gallifrey Driving Services Limited
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:45pmAs I grew up watching Dr Who and been a whovian all of my life the best years to me were William Hartnell Patrick Troughton and jon Pertwee and of course Tom Baker.
John Hurt would be a good 12th Doctor ?
olletsoc
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:44pmdon’t get me wrong, Karen is really nice looking, but there’s just something about Jenna…her legs i think 😉
Some bloke
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:43pmI wouldn’t like it. I’m not racist or anything, but I just think, if you change the doctor too much, it just won’t feel right. Doctor Who is quintessential british show, and if you start bringing in colour and descendants from other countries, then it wouldn’t feel like doctor who anymore, even if they are officially british. (sorry for offending anyone, I was trying to convey it without being racist. If anyone could correct me, then correction is welcome 🙂 )
Professor When
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:41pmAgreed ollectsoc! Karen was too… pouty…
olletsoc
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:38pmI have a really great person in mind who could be the 12th Doctor….Steve John Shepherd.
He would suit the role perfectly, he’s very dark and mysterious and has a kind of unearthly edge about him. You’ll know what i mean if you watch him in EastEnders as Michael Moon.
I’ve said before that Steve could play the Master, but i’d love to see him as the Doctor, it would bring out a little darkness to the character. it would be brilliant.
olletsoc
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:34pmi know it’s going off point, but i think Jenna is more attractive than Karen.
matt9982
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:25pmI know I think mcoys brilliant 🙂
im no longer going to be here
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:22pmyes yes yes
Alex
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:18pmInteresting opinion mate, The first Dr.who I watched was the Five Doctors and then Remembrance of the Daleks. Both great classic stories! McCoy is the best in my book, I don’t understand why people weren’t fond of him.
Anonymous
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:14pmAs long as the programme stays British (ie the BBC don’t sell it off to an American production company like they did with Torchwood) than I don’t care where the actor is from.
Anonymous
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:12pmIt’s down to opinion….I grew up with Tom Baker and I think Matt Smith is the best Doctor to date. Chris was OK…maybe he would have developed more had he not thrown a lovie strop…..David was quite good in the part but I really didn’t like the stories….quite lame….but that is just my option.
James O’Neill
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:11pmI’m American too. An American actor playing it AS BRITISH would be ok, if otherwise right for the part. Consider the reverse, Hugh Laurie as House, it was years before I found out he wasn’t from New Jersey!
Cyberlord
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:09pmI really hope they are. Matt was great especially considering everyone hated him when he first started because he “Wasn’t David Tennant”
Anonymous
June 2nd, 2013 - 6:05pmProviding it was for the reason that the actor is the best for the job and not just to fulfil some token political correctness gesture…same goes for the female argument.
Alex
June 2nd, 2013 - 5:56pmIt’s possible. I don’t how I would feel.
Alex
June 2nd, 2013 - 5:55pmI grew up to chris and david, matts episodes just got worse to me. Didn’t know if Stephen or Matt did it, but something had to give – it seems matt did. Somebody please get rid of Jenna Louise Coleman, bring back Karen Gillan – attractive, good actor and suited the role well.
paul c
June 2nd, 2013 - 5:52pmHere is something nobody has considered…. what if the next actor to be granted the role is asian? or Black?
Would people be ok with something like that happening? personally i think it would be a fresh change and maybe one day that could happen?
paul c
June 2nd, 2013 - 5:50pmapparently she is staying for series 8 from what i hear, it will hopefully allow the writers to develop her character more with a new doctor
Alex
June 2nd, 2013 - 5:46pmRichard Hammond
Alex
June 2nd, 2013 - 5:45pmHope not
Alex
June 2nd, 2013 - 5:45pmSame with me Mr Master. Grew up to chris and david, matts episodes just got worse to me. Didn’t know if Stephen or Matt did it, but something had to give – it seems matt did. Somebody please get rid of Jenna Louise Coleman, bring back Karen Gillan – attractive, good actor and suited the role well.
the mr master
June 2nd, 2013 - 5:42pmdo you think clara will stay with the 12th
Alex
June 2nd, 2013 - 5:40pmI agree, Dr who is british and that what makes it good! More episodes should be set in modern day England. (or wales, Scotland or NI)