2.
His most famous role to date is probably as spin doctor Malcolm Tucker on The Thick of It.
3.
But he also played Sid's dad on Skins.
4.
As well as the compelling Randall Brown in The Hour.
5.
He's also been in Prime Suspect.
6.
And Dangerous Liaisons.
7.
He's won an Oscar - in 1995 for Live Action Short Franz Kafka's It's A Wonderful Life.
8.
As a young man, he was the lead singer in a punk group called The Dreamboys. Craig Ferguson was the drummer.
9.
The pair are still good friends.
10.
Unlike Ferguson, he has no desire to move Stateside.
11.
He's pretty acerbic in real life.
12.
He already has Doctor Who connections, having starred in spin-off series Torchwood.
13.
He also made a guest appearance in Doctor Who episode "The Fires of Pompeii."
14.
But above all he's a Doctor Who fan.
15.
As his William Hartnell impression shows.
16.
He's already got the lingo down.
17.
In fact, it seems like he was always destined to play the Doctor.
18.
He had been considered for the role of the Doctor previously, but the timing wasn't right, writer Steven Moffat revealed.
19.
He's got 11's seal of approval.
20.
Fans have been celebrating the annoucement.
21.
And are eagerly anticipating certain scenes.
22.
Like, really eagerly.
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