And the new Doctor is...

This guy. [Link]

...Matt Smith?

Yes, apparently. Putting an end to all the rampant speculation, the 26 year old will be taking over the role of the Doctor in 2010.

IMDB on Matt Smith. [Link]

The Times on the new Doctor. [Link]

The mantle has been passed to the relatively tender shoulders of Matt Smith who, at 26, becomes the youngest doctor in the show’s 45 year history.

Smith will begin filming in the summer and first appear on the nation’s screens in the role in 2010.

The previous youngest doctor was Peter Davison who was signed up to play the fifth Doctor in 1981.

Smith’s predecessor, David Tennant, is to begin shooting four special episodes later this month after surgery on his back. They will be broadcast later this year and the last episode will go out in early 2010.

Smith said: "I've got this wonderful journey in front of me where I've got this six months to build this Time Lord - and that's such an exciting prospect."

I remain skeptical, yet hopeful.