TV vet Peter Davison, Tristan in All Creatures Great and Small, is to be the new Dr Who.
He will be the fifth and, at 29, the youngest Doctor since BBC-1's legendary programme began 17 years ago.
Davison, who has a two-year contract, takes over as time lord of the Tardis from Tom Baker, who is leaving the role after seven years.
He will first appear next autumn and will be seen by 100 million viewers in 37 countries.
Last night at his home in Woking, Surrey, Davison said: 'I was speechless when I was asked because I'm comparatively young.
'I watched it from the beginning when I was 12-and I always enjoyed it because it combined science fiction with fun and never took itself too seriously. But I never, ever thought I'd be in it.
Davison is married to actress Sandra Dickinson, the sexy blonde in the St Bruno TV adverts. As the womanising, lazy Tristan in All Creatures Great and Small, he received more fan mail than stars Christopher Timothy and Robert Hardy.
But he would not be recreating the role in Dr Who. 'That would be silly,' he said. 'In a way it's be hard taking over from Tom Baker, but every Doctor has made the role his own. It'll be great fun to do.'
Although he rose to fame as Tristan, his big break was a starring role on ITV-in the drama series Love for Lydia. Then he wrote the signature tune for another ITV series, Mixed Blessings, which was issued as a single.
Dr Who's producer John Nathan-Turner said last night Davison was a natural for the role.
'He has the right combination of light humour, drama and realism. He is also very popular with children -and has a large following with female viewers.
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