Sign up to FREE email alerts from Mirror - celebs Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Matt Smith has revealed he is planning to quit Doctor Who next year, to avoid burning out.

The 29-year-old said 14-hour days filming the sci-fi classic for 10 months a year has started to take its toll and leaves him with no time for other projects or to see friends.

In an interview he told how it would be impossible to stay in the role for seven years like Tom Baker did in the 70s, with the extra pressure today’s high-octane episodes bring.

Matt, who started in 2009, added: “I don’t think you can sustain it. Tom Baker did it in different circumstances.

"I couldn’t do this for seven years. I’d be run into the ground. I don’t think you can sustain it.

“And your life outside of it is ... I don’t know. I hope I don’t sound too ­pessimistic.

"It’s just I don’t think my body or my life or the people around me could sustain it.”

And he told Empire magazine he hoped to “have a film to talk about” soon.

He has already been to America to discuss job options and hopes to land a big screen role next year.

A BBC source said: “We still hope show boss Steven Moffat can persuade Matt to stay a little longer, but the working hours are starting to take their toll and his role as the Doctor is closer to the end than the beginning now.”

Show producers are now working on ideas for a Doctor regeneration when Matt bows out in the 2013 Christmas special.

A source said: “Next year is the 50th anniversary so it seems right to have a ­regeneration.

"Matt is a ­brilliant Doctor so we will keep him for the run but a Christmas regeneration would be incredible and guarantee huge ratings.”

Matt, who is back on screen tonight for a new five-part series of Doctor Who on BBC1, also admitted the Time Lord role was the perfect audition for other parts as it showed off a number of sides to his acting.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

He said: “He constantly allows you to reinvent him. That’s what’s interesting about this year.

“It’s like a Shakespearian tragedy, Doctor Who. There’s a theatre to it.

"Because every day you’re either facing the end of the world, or the loss of the person you love the most, or the ­invasion of the most appalling creature or alien that you can ever imagine.”

The BBC do not discuss contracts but recently Matt confirmed he was signed up until November 2013 which covers the whole of the anniversary year.

He told friends: “You do an 11-day fortnight and the workload is ­incredible. It takes up 11 months of the year with promotion as well.”

* Doctor Who's back tonight! Here's all you need to know about the Time Lord's seventh series and the opening episode Asylum Of The Daleks