One of the most iconic roles on British television is up for grabs once more, as Matt Smith has announced he will no longer be playing Doctor Who.

The 30-year-old made history as the youngest Doctor ever to appear on the show when he took over from David Tennant four years ago at the age of 26.

Yesterday, Smith announced that he would appear in only two more episodes; the 50th anniversary special in November and this year’s Christmas special.

In a statement, Smith said the show had been: "the most brilliant experience for me as an actor and a bloke, and that largely is down to the cast, crew and fans".

He paid tribute to the loyal fans of the show, who often engage  in cosplay, saying; "The fans 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 have never seen before.”

A BBC spokesperson has said that the search for Smith’s replacement is now “wide open”, and admitted that the role had not been offered to anyone and the producers have not settled on a suitable candidate.