Revealed! The new Doctor Who

By Ruth Doherty on Monday 5 January 2009

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Matt Smith, news, Marie Claire

The new Doctor Who has finally been announced: and he’s the youngest ever at 26-years-old.

Matt Smith is set to step in to David Tennant’s shoes and become the 11th Time Lord.

He may be of a tender age, but the young actor has been widely praised for his handful of stage and TV roles, three of which were alongside the former Doctor Who assistant, Billie Piper.

Smith studied drama and creative writing at the University of East Anglia in Norwich.

After graduation, he attracted acclaim on BBC2's Party Animals and, in ITV's Secret Diary of a Call Girl, he was a client of Billie Piper's prostitute character.

Some critics have, however, suggested he is too young to convey the Doctor’s world-weariness, with one writing on the BBC message board: ‘Toddler in the Tardis! He is far, far, far too young. What is this obsession with going younger and younger?'

But Matt is over the moon at landing the role in the 46-year-old series. Admitting he's 'flabbergasted', Smith said: ‘It's an iconic part of our culture.

'The challenge for me is to do justice to the show's illustrious past, my predecessors, and most importantly, to those who watch it. I really cannot wait.’