Exclusive: Matt Smith turned down for 'Inbetweeners'

Matt Smith unsuccessfully auditioned for The Inbetweeners prior to landing his iconic Doctor Who role, DS has learned exclusively.

The show's writer Iain Morris revealed that Smith made it down to the final two in the audition process for lead character Will - later won by actor Simon Bird - but was turned down because of his good looks.

"We auditioned literally 1000 people - including Matt Smith who is the new Doctor. And I'm sure Dominic Cooper at one point too!

"He was brilliant - down to the last two for Will, I think. I think he was a bit too dashing! That's why he'll be brilliant in Doctor Who - he's got something sort of heroic about him."

Morris added: "He had the humour, but what I think Simon Bird has got is a sort of vulnerability and so when he's doing these terrible rants at people, you know he's the loser! Whereas there's something very leading man and heroic about Matt Smith."

The Inbetweeners was recently recommissioned for a third series, which is due to air in 2010 on E4.