Dr Who: 11th Doctor Matt Smith at series premiere

Hayley at the Doctor Who premiere

New Timelord Matt Smith greeted fans at a premiere of the first episode of the new Doctor Who series in Cardiff.

He was joined by his co-star Karen Gillan who plays his travel companion Amy Pond.

In the episode shown at Thursday's premiere, called the Eleventh Hour, the newly-regenerated 11th Doctor crashes the Tardis on Earth.

The new 13-part series will hit our TV screens at Easter, and it's had good reviews from the critics.

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Both Smith and Gillan said they have already had a positive reaction from fans too.

Gillian said: "We've had lots of lovely letters."

Matt Smith is the 11th and youngest-ever actor to play the part and he intends to keep going as long as he can.

He said: "To my mind it's the best part in British television... I'm fortunate to have it and I'm going to keep it."

He first hit our TV screens in 2006 in an adaptation of Philip Pullman's The Ruby in the Smoke, which also starred former Doctor Who companion Billie Piper as Sally Lockhart.

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