The BBC has announced the name of the actor who'll take over the lead role in Doctor Who next year, following David Tennant's departure this year. Let's just say that it's not who we expected.

26 year-old Matt Smith will be the eleventh Doctor, starting in 2010's fifth season along with new executive producers Steven Moffat and Piers Wenger. The announcement was made on a special episode of the BBC's Doctor Who Confidential series, although noted rumormeister Rich Johnston broke the news via Twitter an hour earlier.
Smith, who's starred in television adaptations of Philip Pullman's

The Ruby in the Smoke

and

The Shadow in the North

alongside Billie Piper, has been known more for his stage work in the past, appearing in The History Boys and Swimming With Sharks (alongside My Own Worst Enemy's Christian Slater) in London's "glittering" West End.
Smith came out of nowhere to become the bookie's favorite for the role just today, which tipped many off that the role was his. How does Smith feel about taking on such an iconic role? Excited, and baggy-eyed, apparently:

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