Speaking on BBC Breakfast right now, Matt Smith has just spelled out his outstanding commitment to Doctor Who: they start filming in February for 14 new episodes, comprising “a full series”, a Christmas special, and a 50th anniversary special.

That’s 50th anniversary special singular, rather than a little mini-series, as some had speculated.

He was not explicit about these being his final episodes, but he could be seen to be clearly and deliberately ducking that question.

Before his slot was up, Smith told a little anecdote about seeing David Tennant and Peter Davidson at Steven Moffat’s birthday party on Saturday and being suddenly struck when he spotted them, thinking “There’s Doctor Who! And there’s Doctor Who!”

Regarding the ongoing Children in Need costume auction, Smith suggested that his costume might look a little different next year, once again, and reminding us that he’s keen it will “evolve.”

"I was open-minded but I decided after my experience on the first series that I didn't want to do any more," he said.

"I didn't enjoy the environment and the culture that we, the cast and crew, had to work in.

"I thought if I stay in this job, I'm going to have to blind myself to certain things that I thought were wrong."

...In an initial statement announcing his exit in March 2005, the BBC said the actor was afraid of being typecast and had found the series gruelling.

The corporation later accepted the statement was incorrect and that it had not spoken to Eccleston before releasing it.

End of the line for the Ponds
Friday, December 16, 2011 - Posted by Marcus

Doctor Who Showrunner Steven Moffat has announced that the next series of Doctor Who will see the departure of Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill when the story of Amy and Rory comes to an end.

Speaking at the press screening of the Christmas Episode, The Doctor The Widow and The Wardrobe, Moffat confirmed that the duo will rejoin the Doctor in the TARDIS for Series 7/33 of the show, but that sometime during the series the couple's story will come to a heartbreaking end.

Moffat teased that he wouldn't say when, and certainly not how, the couple would leave, but that it would happen during the series and then their story would be over.

Matt Smith was asked if he would be sad to see Gillan leave.
A new companion, who has yet to be cast, will be joining the Doctor.

The press launch was held in Studio One at Television Centre in London, where so many episodes of the Classic Series of Doctor Who were recorded. It was attended by a specially invited audience, including several MP's including Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls and, reportedly, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne.