People on these boards were generally appreciative of That Face so I assume everyone is please about Matt Smith's unexpected rise to megastardom. He was good in the plays I saw him in at the National - what was he like in The History Boys?

I am SO happy for him. He was absolutely fantastic in That Face and in Chatroom/Citizenship - he was good in History Boys too but it's not that much of a part. He will be a great Doctor. I'm so unimpressed by all the idiots screeching "WHO IS HE? HE'S TOO UGLY / YOUNG / NON-FAMOUS." ew ew ew.

Is this the same Matt Smith who was in the frighteningly boring Tess of the D'Urbervilles in 1999? It's difficult to tell from the headshot in the programme.

No - he was still doing his A-levels in 1999! Here's his cv.

I think he'll be finding Doctor Who messageboards very scary right now though hopefully Steven Moffat will explain to him that every single new cast-member gets exactly the same reaction!

Am I the only person who thinks he's developed Flock of Seagulls hair?

http://www.retroland.com/retrotalk/userfil...ldmikescore.jpg

Mike Score clone or no, I think it will be great casting. Congrats to him!

Is it really that much of a surprise for those of us who saw him at the NT? He was one of the standouts in a good cast as Lockwood and he matched that with his performance in Party Animals on TV. I expected him to do well. I'm a little surprised he's taken the role (because it is so mainstream) but not at all surprised he was offered it.

Plus he's a mini David Tennant so a safe bet.

Yes, it's completely baffling that a 26 year-old unknown would take the highest profile role on British tv that will catapult him into international fame. What possible motive could he have for that?

I would have personally preferred a more controversial casting lets have our first black Dr or woman Dr! the producers yet again are taking a slightly comfortable and easy option! but I will be interested to see how he copes!

I can do without a woman Doctor. If they want to give us a Time Lady, do a spin-off, but while the Doctor may be capable of regenerating into anyone at all, it's nice to have gender consistency at the very least. As for a black Doctor, it'd be FAR too easy to do it right now, but for years and years and YEARS students would be writing essays about Doctor Who and Barack Obama.

I mean, it's not a post for an elected official or anything, where putting a woman or a different nationality in is a huge leap of excitingness; it's one person who changes his face every now and then. Why *shouldn't* his gender and colour remain consistent?

People have been drawing comparisons to how back in ye olde days, they followed the most popular doctor with the youngest Doctor (sorry I can't remember names or numbers; did Peter Davison come into it somewhere?), so taking that into account, this seems a fairly logical step.

Someone said they hoped there'd be more sweetness, light, and whimsy with this new season. They are aware Stephen Moffat's in charge now, right? XD

Matt was also very good in Swimming With Sharks. I saw him in The History Boys when it toured to Glasgow. Didn't get to see him in That Face. Saw him on tv in The Sally Lockhart Mysteries with Billie Piper. I think he's great casting as the Doctor.