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It has been announced that Matt Smith will be leaving Doctor Who with the 2013 Christmas special. Speculation that the actor would be leaving the role has been mounting since he took a role in How to Catch a Monster, written and directed by Ryan Gosling. It is also known that he harbours ambitions to direct and to develop his career in movies.

Smith has already completed his work on the November 50th anniversary special, alongside Tenth Doctor actor David Tennant and John Hurt, introduced at the climax of the season finale The Name of the Doctor as playing “The Doctor”.

Smith said: “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…”, referring to his companions Amy Pond (Karen Gillan), Rory (Arthur Darvill) and Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman, who is confirmed as appearing in 2014’s series eight alongside the new, Twelfth Doctor).

Doctor Who’s current showrunner Steven Moffat said: “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 11. Thank you Matt—bow ties were never cooler.”

The guessing games will now begin as the hunt starts for an actor (or actress) to play the Twelfth Doctor. Moffat said: “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.”