Former Northampton School for Boys head boy Matt Smith, 25, was this evening named as the 11th Dr Who.
The fifth series of the much-loved sci-fi hit will also have a new lead writer and executive producer with Bafta award-winning writer Steven Moffat taking over from Russell T Davies.
Moffat will be joined by Piers Wenger, who will be the new executive producer for BBC Wales making the show.
Wenger, head of drama at BBC Wales, added: "With two hearts, a ferocious mind and over 900 years of experience behind him, it's not every 26-year-old actor who can take on a role like the Doctor but within moments of meeting Matt he showed the skill and imagination needed to create a Doctor all of his own.
"It's just the beginning of the journey for Matt but with Steven Moffat's scripts and the expertise of the production team in Cardiff behind him, there is no-one more perfect than him to be taking the Tardis to exciting new futures when the series returns in 2010."
Moffat said he knew Smith was perfect to fill Tennant's boots as soon as he saw him.
He said: "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."
