David Tennant announced at last night’s National Television Awards where he picked up the award for Outstanding Drama Performance that he is to quit as The Doctor after four specials in 2009. Tenannt started work on the show in 2005, replacing Christopher Eccleston in the the newly revamped series. He said that with Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner leaving it felt like a “natural stepping off point” but added that “What became very difficult was when it was announced that Steven Moffatt was taking over because I’m such a fan of his!” The BBC website carries the full interview.

The announcement can be seen in the following video, filmed at the National Television Awards.

With the Christmas special being called The Next Doctor even more speculation is likely to arise in the coming months and with Russell T Davies having tipped both Russell Tovey who played Midshipman Frame in last year’s Christmas special Voyage of the Damned and Harry Lloyd who played Baines in Human Nature and The Family of Blood.