Peter Capaldi announced as the next Doctor Who

The BBC announced Peter Capaldi as the next to play the Doctor, the titular character on the long-running sci-fi show "Doctor Who," beginning in the revived show's eighth season.

In a live broadcast hosted by Zoe Ball, Peter Capaldi, best known for his role as spin doctor Malcolm Tucker in the comedy series "The Thick of It," was introduced to the fans.

Capaldi was the leading pick in the betting odds to take over the role. He had made an appearance in the revived show's fourth season episode, "The Fires of Pompeii" and an extended role as civil servant John Frobisher in the "Doctor Who" spinoff series, "Torchwood: Children of Earth."

Matt Smith, in the role as the Eleventh Doctor, will depart the show following this year's Christmas special.