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Actor David Tennant, star of BBC period drama Casanova, has been officially named the new Doctor Who. <br />Tennant, 33, will become the 10th Time Lord when filming starts on the new series in Cardiff this summer. <br /><br />He is taking over from Christopher Eccleston, who announced he was quitting last month after only one series as the Doctor. <br /><br />Tennant, who will star alongside assistant Billie Piper, said he was "delighted, excited and honoured". <br /><br />Other actors linked with the time-travelling role had included Bill Nighy, Eddie Izzard, Richard E Grant, David Thewlis and Alan Davies. <br /><br />Tennant said: "I grew up loving Doctor Who and it has been a lifelong dream to get my very own Tardis. <br /><br />"Taking over from Chris is a daunting prospect - he has done a fantastic job of reinventing the Doctor for a new generation and is a very tough act to follow. <br /><br />"I'm also really looking forward to working with Billie Piper who is so great as Rose." <br /><br />Tennant also said he was "chuffed to bits" to be reunited with writer and executive producer Russell T Davies, who also wrote Casanova. <br /><br />Tennant, from West Lothian, has also appeared in BBC shows Blackpool and He Knew He Was Right and the Stephen Fry movie Bright Young Things. <br /><br />He also voiced a role in the 2003 internet episode of Doctor Who, Scream of the Shalka. <br /><br />Mr Davies said he had already started writing Tennant's first adventure in the Tardis. <br /><br />"Regeneration is a huge part of the programme's mythology, and I'm delighted that new, young viewers can now have the complete Doctor Who experience, as they witness their hero change his face." <br /><br />'Great actor' <br /><br />He said Eccleston reinvented the role of Doctor Who so it appealed to the UK's best actors. <br /><br />Julie Gardner, BBC Head of Drama, Wales added: "Christopher Eccleston has given an exceptional performance as the ninth Doctor. <br /><br />"David Tennant is a great actor who will <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis: </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>