Smith's 'Dr Who' debut attracts 8m

Matt Smith's debut as the Time Lord last night attracted an average of 8 million viewers, reports the BBC.

At 27, Smith is the youngest actor to take on the role and replaces David Tennant, who brought his four-year run as Doctor Who to an end on New Year's Day.

The new 13-part series is being led by TV writer Steven Moffat after Russell T Davies stood down as the show's producer and chief writer.

Antony Wainer, of The Doctor Who Appreciation Society said Smith brought a new eccentricity to the role. "He brings back genuine madness to the role of the Doctor - Matt's Doctor is bonkers," he said.