Big news for us “Doctor Who” fans today. British actor, Matt Smith, has been chosen to take over for David Tennant as the Doctor in 2010.

Matt Smith has been named as the actor who will take over from David Tennant in Doctor Who – making him the youngest actor to take on the role.

At 26, Smith is three years younger than Peter Davison when he signed up to play the fifth Doctor in 1981.

Smith will first appear on TV screens as the 11th Doctor in 2010.

He was cast over Christmas and will begin filming for the fifth series of Doctor Who in the summer. Tennant is filming four specials in 2009.

Smith was named as Tennant’s replacement in Saturday’s edition of Doctor Who Confidential on BBC One.

He said: “I feel proud and honoured to have been given this opportunity to join a team of people that has worked so tirelessly to make the show so thrilling.

“David Tennant has made the role his own, brilliantly, with grace, talent and persistent dedication. 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.”

Piers Wenger, head of drama at BBC Wales, said that as soon as he had seen Smith’s audition he “knew he was the one”.

The 11 Doctors
Peter Davison
1. William Hartnell (1963-1966)
2. Patrick Troughton (1966-1969)
3. Jon Pertwee (1970-1974)
4. Tom Baker (1974-1981)
5. Peter Davison – pictured (1982-1984)
6. Colin Baker (1984-1986)
7. Sylvester McCoy (1987-1996)
8. Paul McGann (1996)
9. Christopher Eccleston (2005)
10. David Tennant (2005-2010)
11. Matt Smith (2010 – ?)

“It was abundantly clear that he had that ‘Doctor-ness’ about him,” he said. “You are either the Doctor or you are not. It’s just the beginning of the journey for Matt.

“With Steven Moffat’s scripts and the expertise of the production team in Cardiff behind him, there is no one more perfect to be taking the Tardis to exciting new futures when the series returns in 2010.”

Source: BBC News: New Doctor Actor is youngest ever

The news is, of course, extremely bittersweet for me, because out of all the Doctors, David Tennant is so far and beyond my favorite. It’s never easy seeing different actors step into the roll, but for some reason, I think this is going to be hardest. Just thinking about it now brings tears to my eyes. Silly? Maybe, but we all have our favorite and he’s mine.

He’s also my son’s, who is not taking this news very well. When I told him that there was going to be a new Doctor, he balled up his little left fist and demanded to know the mailing address to the BBC because he was going to write an angry letter. That’s my boy. Even now, as I showed him a video of Matt Smith, his little eyes became sad and he started telling me that it wasn’t fair, that the 10th Doctor was his favorite, and that it’s going to be “so sad Mommy, when he regenerates!!!”. Again, that’s my boy. Oh and have I mentioned that he’s growing out his sideburns so he can look like David Tennant? He’s 10 years old and he’s growing sideburns. Lord, help me. I have such a cool kid.

Tennant will always be the Doctor to me, but I’m going to try my best not to compare the Matt Smith to him. Us fans will have to trust the judgment from the powers that be.

I wonder, if I wrote a lengthy tear-stained letter to Tennant, begging and pleading for him to say, if he would? Please? Pretty please? With sugar on top?

Matt Smith’s Wiki Page