Matt Smith to leave 'Doctor Who'

After the BBC announced the official 8^th season pick-up for Doctor Who, and Matt Smith saying he was staying, the actor has announced he’ll depart the title role in the upcoming Christmas Special to air on December 25, 2013.

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.

Now the search is on to find his replacement, with show runner Steven Moffat sayin:

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!

Another big question will be if Moffat will be staying with Who as well, as like Matt Smith, the Christmas episode would be the best time to depart. Months ago, when the idea of Moffat possibly leaving surfaced, Luther creator Neil Cross was rumored to be the one to fill in the slot if Moffat was leaving. The writer, of course, poo-pooed the idea. Cross, who also wrote two episodes in Doctor Who’s seventh season, The Rings of Akhaten and Hide, went on to run Crossbones, an NBC “limited run” series scheduled for midseason next year. Production on the show in now on, and by the time Doctor Who goes back into series production in February, Cross should be available. 

2013 is a gap season –the next season will not begin into the fall of 2014- so Moffat can work on Sherlock, his other BBC series. He’s mentioned more than once, while enjoying the work, he’s tired and spends a lot of time away from his family. This upcoming Christmas episode is a perfect time to leave as well.

As for who will take on the role of the Doctor is unknown, of course. Still the producers have time, as the Christmas episode will not begin filming until late August or early September. But I bet the months leading up to that filming will be fun.

Let the rumors begin.