Doctor Who: Peter Capaldi To Replace Matt Smith As 12th Doctor

Oscar-winning British actor Peter Capaldi was named as Matt Smith's successor in a special live broadcast last night

Peter Capaldi was named as Matt Smith's Doctor Who successor, in a special live broadcast last night.

The Oscar-winning British actor, who won praise for his role in BBC comedy The Thick Of It, described himself as 'a lifelong Doctor Who fan,' and said it was an 'amazing privilege' to be awarded the role of the 12th incarnation of the Time Lord.

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Now he says he 'can't wait to get started,' after his new part was revealed in front of a 400-strong studio audience last night.

In an interview with show host Zoe Ball, Capaldi gushed: 'Being asked to play The Doctor is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and delight. I can't wait to get started.'

Speaking of his audition for the hugely contested part, he explained: 'It was quite hard because even though I'm a lifelong Doctor Who fan, I haven't played him since I was nine in the playground.

'So an adult, I downloaded some old scripts and practised those in front of the mirror.

'I think Malcolm has been banished from the mirror by this Doctor Who, who certainly would not put up with any of Malcolm's language or attitude.

'I think Doctor Who is an extraordinary show.'

Capaldi was reportedly just one of 10 people who knew of the Doctor's identity before the live show, such was the secrecy of the appointment.

During the evening, the audience were shown a letter the the actor, aged 15, wrote to the Radio Times about a Doctor Who special episode.

'May I congratulate you on your excellent Dr who Special,' it read. 'The Dalek construction plans will no doubt inspired [sic] many a school to build their own Daleks. Who knows, the country could be invaded by an army of school Daleks!'

Departing Doctor Who Matt Smith, who was the youngest actor ever to take the role, wished Capaldi luck and branded him a 'canny choice' as the 12 Doctor Who.

'I just want to wish my successor all the best and just say good luck and good on you for getting it, because I know he is both a huge fan of the show and a really nice guy,' he said in a recorded message during the live broadcast.

'The casting of it made me really excited genuinely, and as a fan I think it's a really canny choice, so good luck mate, it's going to be a thrill.'

Peter Capaldi will film his first Doctor Who scenes this autumn.

What do YOU think of the new Doctor Who? Is Peter Capaldi the right choice to replace Matt Smith? Or did you have your eye on someone else? Let us know in the comments box below...

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