As he finishes his fourth year playing the enigmatic Doctor, Matt Smith and the BBC announced that he is officially leaving the show at the end of 2013. He will most likely depart during the annual Christmas Special.
Matt Smith is going out on top. Having won a BAFTA — Britain’s highest acting accolade for the role — after four years as the Doctor is a pretty good run by anyone’s estimation, with Tom Baker only topping that at a little over 6 years.
Now the “Who’s The Next Who” game can begin. According to lead writer and show runner Stephen Moffatt:
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.
Who do you think it will be or what type of Doctor would you like to see next? Benedict Cumberbatch? Martin Freeman? Danielle Radcliffe? Tom Hiddelston?
Should Moffat break with tradition and cast a non-white, non-male, and/or non-brit? Morgan Freeman? Helena Bonham Carter?
Tell us what you think in the comments section below.
Some reactions from the Twittersphere:
Has there ever been a female Doctor Who or is it Whoess?
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) June 2, 2013
People keep saying this “Tom Hiddleston” should be the next Doctor Who. Who’s he? Never heard of him.#smirk
— Blogtor Who (@BlogtorWho) June 2, 2013
Whovians Lament Matt Smith’s Exit From @bbcdoctorwho on.mash.to/18GD8ZV
— Mashable (@mashable) June 2, 2013
Didn’t like him in the role at first; boy, was I wrong. He turned out brilliantly. // Matt Smith to leave Doctor Who: bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwh…
— Trammell (@trammell) June 1, 2013
Regardless of what happens, I’m officially throwing my Doctor endorsement behind @rufushound, the first inked Doc since Pertwee. #DoctorWho
— Ken Plume (@KenPlume) June 1, 2013
Yes, Matt Smith is leaving Who and I will miss him but this is the nature of the show! nerdist.com/2013/06/breaki… #chinup #NoTearsNow
— Chris Hardwick (@nerdist) June 1, 2013
My fez is off to Matt Smith. Well done, old man. Well done. #DoctorWho
— Phil Plait (@BadAstronomer) June 1, 2013
Thank you, Matt Smith. It was an honour and a delight to write scripts for you: you never did what I expected. bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwh…
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) June 1, 2013
Okay, Okay. I’ll do it. It’ll be fun being the first ‘American’ Doctor.
Hugh Laurie. Sense of humor and can also pull off the gravitas of the ancient without BEING ancient.
Yummy Brian Cox would be brilliant.
Simon Guerrier is the perfect Brit for the job 🙂
Tom Hiddleston or Helena Bonham Carter ;D
mmmmmm. Helena Bonham Carter and Alex Kingston as The Dr. and River. That would be all kinds of lovely. And the TLO Style Posts would be To Die!
I’m hoping it’s Ruth Wilson. She played Alice Morgan on Luther and would be great as the first female Doctor.
Personally, I’m throwing my vote behind Rosamund Pike.
John Hurt. Look at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000457/?ref_=sr_1
that listing is only relevant for his parts in the the last episode of series 7 and the 50th anniversary special. If he’s supposed to be the ‘missing’ 8th (or was it 9th?) doctor then he can’t come after the 11th can he?
It’ll be a cold day in hell before they cast a non-Brit in the role…
I’d vote for Bill Nye the Science Guy. Smart, quirky….he’d need to work on his British accent though…