Matt Smith speaks about his love for Doctor Who and whether he’d be up for returning to the show a decade after leaving.
Matt Smith, known for his run as the Eleventh Doctor, has teased a return to Doctor Who.
In a new BBC interview, Matt Smith addressed his Doctor Who role. He was asked about previous comments he’d made that suggested he was regretting taking on the role of The Doctor, concerned about the adverse effects that might have on his career. Smith clarified that he now feels the exact opposite about his involvement with the show, describing himself as “foolish” for making those comments at the time. That’s because he now sees no drawbacks to forever being associated with Doctor Who, remarking how proud he is to have been a part of the franchise in such a big way.
“I was young and sort of foolish. I’m still foolish, I’m just older,” Matt Smith explained. “I thought, ‘Well, would I just always be Doctor Who?’ And then I realized, actually, always being Doctor Who is amazing. It’s a great thing. It’s still one of the great pleasures of my life. I’m so, so proud of that show.”
When asked directly if he would consider returning to Doctor Who one last time, reminiscent of David Tennant’s recent return to the series, Smith added, “Never say never. Never say never!”
Matt Smith Wasn’t Invited to Appear for the 60h Anniversary Specials
As the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith starred on Doctor Who from 2010 to 2013, at which point he was succeeded by Peter Capaldi. After Smith’s exit, he did reappear in a flashback scene aired in a 2014 episode, though it had been filmed during the production of his final season. There were some fan hopes that he would make a special appearance in the 60th anniversary specials, though Smith said at the time that he hadn’t yet gotten a call about a return, though he teased he’d be up for it.
“Like, who knows?” Smith previously said about the rumors of his return for the 60th anniversary, per CNET. “I mean, look, I’m pleased Russell [T Davies is] back. I think he oversaw one of the great 10 years of Doctor Who. He’s a great guy, he’s a brilliant writer, I think he manages to get in the cultural zeitgeist, which is what that show needs to do. It’s an exciting move for the show, so, I’m sure one of his scripts would be just brilliant. I haven’t heard and no one’s picked up the phone yet.”
The role of The Doctor is now played by Ncuti Gatwa, who serves as the 15th incarnation of the character. Gatwa’s first full season is set to arrive in May. Meanwhile, Matt Smith can also be seen in the upcoming second season of House of the Dragon this summer.
