David Tennant to make US TV debut

Tennant will be seen in three more Doctor Who specials

David Tennant is to make his US television debut as the lead role in a pilot for a comedy legal drama.

The former Doctor Who will star as a top Chicago lawyer who suffers from panic attacks and coaches his clients to represent themselves in court.

The NBC hour-long show is titled Rex Is Not Your Lawyer.

Tennant has played the Doctor for the past five years but announced he was leaving last year. He will be replaced by actor Matt Smith next year.

Successful stint

David Semel, who directed the pilot for successful TV series Heroes, will direct the pilot.

Tennant's last episodes as the Doctor will be screened at the end of this year or early next year.

"I think it's better to go when there's a chance that people might miss you, rather than to hang around and outstay your welcome," he said.

Tennant was the 10th actor to play the Doctor.

In a sign of his popularity, he was voted best drama performer in a public vote at the National Television Awards.

He has been named most popular actor at the same ceremony for the past two years.

Tennant made his name in TV dramas such as Blackpool and Casanova.

He started his career in theatre and in recent months has returned to the stage with well-received performances in Hamlet and Love's Labour's Lost for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

He has also starred in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and will also appear in St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold.