TARDIS Key For Five Years?

According to media rumours, Matt Smith has signed up for three season wit the option for a further two years to play the Doctor, according to The SUN. He will be paid £200,000 per year. This is still less than current Time Lord David Tennant who will be handing over the TARDIS key by 2010. The pay deal comes as the BBC begins to trim the huge pay deals it uses to attract to stars amid the economic climate and the controversy over Jonathan Ross.

Producers were said to be keen to keep Matt as long as possible after David announced he is to quit after three series at the height of the show’s popularity — with 12 million regular viewers. He is filming four one-offs this year.

An insider said: “Bosses don’t want Matt doing a David and leaving when things are going great.”

Matt signed in December as the 11th Doctor and is working on his first series, which airs next year.