The Doctor Regenerates - Matt Smith to Leave Doctor Who

It's a sad day for Whovians. According to the BBC, after four years, Matt Smith is leaving Doctor Who after the Christmas Special. 

There have been rumors circulating for months and at one point, we thought we had confirmation that he was going to be around for at least some of the 2014 season, but now we know that is was all a ruse. 

Matt Smith issued this statement: 

"Doctor Who has been the most brilliant experience for me as an actor and a bloke, and that largely is down to the cast, crew and fans of the show. I'm incredibly grateful to all the cast and crew who work tirelessly every day, to realise all the elements of the show and deliver Doctor Who to the audience. Many of them have become good friends and I'm incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the last four years.

Having Steven Moffat as show runner write such varied, funny, mind bending and brilliant scripts has been one of the greatest and most rewarding challenges of my career. It's been a privilege and a treat to work with Steven, he's a good friend and will continue to shape a brilliant world for the Doctor.The fans of Doctor Who around the world are unlike any other; they dress up, shout louder, know more about the history of the show (and speculate more about the future of the show) in a way that I've never seen before, your dedication is truly remarkable. Thank you so very much for supporting my incarnation of the Time Lord, number Eleven, who I might add is not done yet, I'm back for the 50th anniversary and the Christmas special!It's been an honour to play this part, to follow the legacy of brilliant actors, and helm the TARDIS for a spell with 'the ginger, the nose and the impossible one'. But when ya gotta go, ya gotta go and Trenzalore calls. Thank you guys. Matt."

I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to miss Smith. I didn't like him at first, but I realized his Doctor was just what was needed after David Tennant left. So thank you Matt Smith for your quirky, mad, bow-tie loving, fez wearing Doctor.