Matt SmithAfter months of speculation, the Beeb have announced Matt Smith as David Tennant's Doctor Who replacement.

But, rather than jumping for joy, we were left kind of puzzled by the choice.

Err... Matt who?

But really, we shouldn't have been surprised by the casting of a 26-year-old unknown: Doctor Who bosses have long taught us to expect the unexpected. After all, who would have thought back in 2004 that pop princess Billie Piper would turn out to be a good actress, let alone one of our favourite companions of all time?

More to the point - from what we've seen, Matt's actually got some talent to go along with his youthful good looks and scruffy 'do.

His credits include a West End début alongside Christian Slater in Swimming With Sharks and a lead part in the acclaimed BBC drama Party Animals.

He's even got history with our aforementioned fave companion. Matt acted alongside Billie in the BBC adaptations of The Ruby in the Smoke and The Shadow in the North, and also appeared in Secret Diary Of A Call Girl as one of Belle's (ahem) liaisons.

"The Doctor is a very special part, and it takes a very special actor to play him," said new executive producer Steven Moffat.

"You need to be old and young, 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."

So 2010 will herald the age of the 11th Doctor - the youngest Time Lord ever. But is the young actor ready for what's in store?

"I'm just so excited about the journey that's in front of me," said Matt. "I feel proud and honoured to have been given this opportunity.

"David Tennant has made the role his own, brilliantly. I hope to learn from the standards set by him.

"The challenge for me is to do justice to the show's illustrious past, my predecessors, and most importantly, to those who watch it. I really cannot wait."

Honestly, neither can we. In the meantime we'll make do with checking out Matt's past form with this clip  of his 2007 appearance in Secret Diary Of A Call Girl:

Hmm, we can't help but wonder who'll join Matt in the Tardis for 2010. Could a reunion with Billie be in store?