The British hit series Doctor Who will have to find a new Doctor next season, as the 11th Doctor, Matt Smith exits the series.
BBC announced today on its official blog page that Matt Smith, star of Doctor Who since debut as the Doctor in 2010, will be leaving the show following this year’s Christmas special. The Christmas special, scheduled to air on November 30th is in honor of the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. After the special, season 8 will feature the new Doctor, the 12th of the series since its origination, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Though how Smith will exit the series remains secret, he made sure his sentiments about the show, his experience, and his fellow cast members are known to everyone. "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,” Smith stated, according to BBC. He continued to portray his immense gratitude for those mentioned above, especially show runner Steven Moffat, who he deems will “continue to shape a brilliant world for the Doctor.”
Moffat, in response, showed equal love to Smith as he described the joy it was to work with Smith, "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."
Certainly, Smith’s dedicated fans will miss him, but those true to "Doctor Who who acknowledge and accept the regeneration of the Doctor, are sure to show the new one the same enthusiasm Smith was once received with.