Matt Smith is to leave his role as Doctor Who, the BBC has announced.
Smith, 30, has played the role for the past four years but will appear in just two more shows – the 50th anniversary special in November and this year's Christmas edition.
Smith was the youngest actor to play the Doctor when he took over the job from David Tennant at the age of 26.
Before he turned to acting, he was a promising young footballer in Leicester City's youth academy.
Speaking about his departure from the show, he said: "Doctor Who has been the most brilliant experience for me as an actor and a bloke.
"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.
"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 11, 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."
The Time Lord will regenerate once more in the festive show and there is rumour that the new Time Lord may be a woman.
The BBC also faces another problem as it has been stated in previous shows that the Doctor can only regenerate 12 times. As Smith is the 11th
The show's producer Steven Moffat said he would miss Smith: "Every day, on every episode, in every set of rushes, Matt Smith surprised me: the way he'd turn a line, or spin on his heels, or make something funny, or out of nowhere make me cry, I just never knew what was coming next."
Matt was a 15-year-old from Northamptonshire when he played for Leicester City's under 15s and 16s teams.
After his injury, a teacher encouraged him to join the National Youth Theatre, which led eventually to a drama degree.
Leicester City Academy director Jon Rudkin said back when Smith first took on the role of Doctor Who: "Matt was a smashing young lad who could have had a big future in the game if it had not been for a back injury cutting short his attempts to become a professional when he was 16.
"His attitude was always first class and his parents were very supportive.
"A lot of young lads have come through our academy in the past 10 years, but Matt was one who stood out.
'Great kid'
"He was a great kid to have around the place and we were all devastated for him when he had to pack it in."
