Matt Smith to stay for Series Eight

Matt Smith has told a newspaper he intends to stay with Doctor Who for the 34th series of the show, the eighth since the return in 2005.

Smith told The Sun's TV Magazine he is currently on a break from the show making a film in Detroit, but will be back in costume during the summer to shoot the 2013 Christmas Special, before he starts work on Series Eight at the end of this year, or the start of 2014.

Smith has already completed work on the 50th Anniversary episode due to be show in the the Autumn.

The actor told the magazine he understood all the speculation over his departure. The climax of Series Seven can been seen this weekend in the UK, North America and Australia.