Matt Smith leaving lead role in BBC's 'Doctor Who'

LONDON (AP) ? Who will be the new Who?

The BBC says Matt Smith is stepping down from the lead role in long-running sci-fi series "Doctor Who," spurring intense speculation about his replacement.

The broadcaster said Sunday that Smith will leave after a November episode to mark the show's 50th anniversary, and a Christmas special.

The titular Doctor is an extra-terrestrial Time Lord who can regenerate into new bodies. Smith is the 11th actor to play the character since the series began in 1963.

Smith, who took over the role from David Tennant in 2010, said playing the Doctor had been "the most brilliant experience for me as an actor and a bloke."

Smith's tenure has seen the show gain new fans in the United States, where it is shown on BBC America.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-06-02-Britain-Doctor%20Who/id-6467b39e0bf24548b23390c36abbcc15

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