Doctor Who?

Who? Who is this Matt Smith bloke who has become the 11th Doctor. The appointment was announced earlier today by the BBC and, despite brave attempts to tell us he will be a brilliant Doctor, most of us still don't know who he is or what he he done.

Let's see. Name: Matt Smith. Age: 26. Career history: Appeared in Alan Bennett's play The History Boys at the National Theatre in London. He wasn't even in the film, just the play, so he comes from an almost-exclusive threatre background. He appeared alongside Christian Slater in Swimming with Sharks in the West End. And although the BBC didn't mention it he also played a posh teen with an unhealthy obsession with his mother in the stage production The Face.

I suspect the message boards are already filling up with comments from Whovians about why Smith is wrong for the role. Too young, not enough TV experience, not different enough from the previous two Doctors, etc etc. Hardcore fans, lamenting the loss of David Tennent, may already be making solemn vows never to watch the programme again.

We all have our favourites and, I suspect, young Mr Smith will quickly develop his own fan base. Give him a chance, Doctor Who fans, and let him succeed or fail on his own merits but don't dismiss him outright before he makes his debut.

My own favourite is Doctor Number Two Patrick Troughton (which gives away my age) but I would have missed some great stories if I had walked away in a huff when Jon Pertwee became Doctor Number Three.