Matt Smith was unveiled as the new Doctor by the BBC over the weekend. He becomes the 11th Time Lord since the programme first aired in 1963.
26-year-old Smith will replace David Tennant at the helm of the Tardis, and is due to appear on our screens in 'Doctor Who' in 2010.
Smith is the youngest ever Doctor and although relatively unknown, has appeared in Alan Bennett's play 'The History Boys' at the National Theatre in London, and alongside Christian Slater in 'Swimming with Sharks' in the West End.
He said he was delighted to take on the role. He said: "I've got this wonderful journey in front of me. I've got six months to build this Time Lord and that's such an exciting prospect."
Smith was unveiled live on BBC1 and with the broadcast beamed live on BBC big screens nationwide.
He added: "I feel proud and honoured to have been given this opportunity to join a team of people that has worked so tirelessly to make the show so thrilling.”
Tennant announced in October last year that he would be stepping down from his role as the Doctor at the end of this year.
The fifth series of the much-loved sci-fi hit will also have a new lead writer and executive producer with Bafta award-winning writer Steven Moffat taking over from Russell T Davies.
Moffat will be joined by Piers Wenger, who will be the new executive producer for BBC Wales making the show.
Four 'Doctor Who' specials featuring Tennant will run in 2009 into New Year 2010 before Smith appears on screens.
Tennant told the Doctor Who Confidential programme: "It's funny really, as I begin the end of my connection to all of this I do feel a bit of jealousy of Matt who's kind of just about to start and has got all off this ahead of him and it's a very exciting journey to go on."
