Matt Smith believes Chris Chibnall will be a great 'Doctor Who' showrunner.
Matt Smith
The former Eleventh Doctor is sure Chris will be a fantastic replacement for the outgoing boss Steven Moffat because he understands "the legacy" of the BBC One sci-fi series - on which he has worked on as a writer numerous times since it returned to TV in 2005.
Matt told Digital Spy: "I don't know him that well but I think he's a brilliant writer, I think he understands the show, the history of the show, the legacy.
"Steven pretty much is 'Doctor Who', but the show will always endure and there's a wonderful writer coming in and as always, it's about regeneration and reinvention of things."
Steven has been the executive producer and lead writer of 'Doctor Who' for the last six years after taking on the job from Russell T. Davies in 2009.
'Broadchurch' creator Chris will take over the key to the TARDIS in 2017 after Steven's final series.
Matt, 33, is "sad" Steven is leaving the programme because he thinks he's done great things with it and he'll always be grateful he cast him in the titular role.
The Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' star - who took over the part from David Tennant - confessed: "I'm sad he's leaving 'Doctor Who'. He's done so much for it and so much for me.
"He has done so much for the show and I feel very privileged that I got to work with, what I think, is the greatest writer - one of the greatest writers to have been involved in that show ... I'm excited to see what he does next."
Tagged in David Tennant Matt Smith Steven Moffat