In a special episode of Doctor Who Confidential broadcast today, the BBC announced that 26-year-old actor Matt Smith has been cast as the Eleventh Doctor. Filming on Season 5 (when Smith takes over from David Tennant) begins in the summer of 2009.

Smith is the youngest ever actor to be cast in the role.

Steven Moffat, who will take over as executive producer and head writer of the series in Season 5, says of Smith: "The Doctor is a very special part, and it takes a very special actor to play him. You need to be old and young at the same time, a boffin and an action hero, a cheeky schoolboy and the wise old man of the universe. As soon as Matt walked through the door, and blew us away with a bold and brand new take on the Time Lord, we knew we had our man."

Watch Smith in a Q & A session: