New 'Doctor Who' star to be announced Sunday

LONDON, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- The next actor to play the Time Lord on the classic British television series "Doctor Who" will be announced on a live program Sunday, the BBC said.

Zoe Ball will serve as host of the half-hour show, which will feature interviews with the new star, as well as current "Doctor Who" lead Matt Smith and the science-fiction show's executive producer Steven Moffat.

"The decision is made and the time has come to reveal who's taking over the Tardis," Moffat said in a statement. "For the last of the Time Lords, the clock is striking 12."

Smith has played the show's title character since 2010, but he announced in June that this year's Christmas special would be his last "Doctor Who" adventure.

Peter Capaldi, Ben Daniels, Rory Kinnear and Ben Whishaw are among the names being floated in the media as Smith's possible successor.