The Doctor Who Christmas Special will be the last appearance for Matt Smith as the Time Lord.
“When ya gotta go, ya gotta go and Trenzalore calls,” Smith said referring to the prophecy about “the fall of the Eleventh.” In the season finale, “The Name of the Doctor,” the Doctor went to Trenzalore and visited his own grave, a destroyed TARDIS from an apparently not-so future war.
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The finale also revealed a forgotten Doctor (John Hurt). That would make Smith the Twelfth Doctor and the next incarnation the Thirteenth Doctor. “The Deadly Assassin,” established a 12 regenerations limit, or 13 incarnations limit, but it’s been circumvented in the past by the Doctor’s archenemy, the Master. In fact, the Doctor’s death could mean a whole new beginning as a Time Lady.
Executive Producer Steven Moffat was the writer for Doctor Who and the Curse of Fatal Death, a Doctor Who parody that featured a female Doctor who was the Thirteenth Doctor. Moffat even hinted at the possibility of a female Doctor. “It is a part of Time Lord law that it can happen,” he said. Perhaps most telling of all, he used gender neutral words to describe the Smith’s successor, who has yet to be cast.
“Of course, this isn’t the end of the story, because now the search begins,” he teased. “Somewhere out there right now – all unknowing, just going about their business – is someone who’s about to become the Doctor.”
Matt Smith statement:
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.
Steven Moffat statement:
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!
Jenna-Louise Coleman statement:
I could not have imagined coming into the show without Matt as my Doctor, holding my hand, really, quite literally. I totally lucked-out in having a creative, generous, clever, and lovely fella to work alongside day after day.
I feel so privileged to have been part of Matt’s reign, to have to been companion to what is and what I think always will be one of our greatest Doctors.
He is so in love with the show, he works tirelessly hard, surprises me every day, always creating and discovering something new about the Doctor. A true gent, a leading man and a very special friend.
I know it will be a very difficult goodbye for me, but I for one can’t wait to see where his career takes him next. And of course with the same welcome I was brought in with, I look forward to welcoming the next Doctor. BUT it’s not over till it’s over. See ya at the big 5-0!
