Doctor: Who's next?

David Tennant, the current Doctor Who

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The BBC is searching for a new Time Lord after David Tennant confirmed he would step down from Doctor Who at the end of next year.

Tennant will star in all four specials planned for 2009, which begin filming in Cardiff in January, with his swansong set for broadcast on BBC1 next Christmas.

Last night, Tennant was named best actor at the National Television Awards, which also named Doctor Who most popular drama.

Following Tennant's move, Doctor Who will now return with all-new principal cast and crew when the fifth full series since its 2005 revival is broadcast in spring 2010.

The series will be the first under new showrunner Steven Moffat, who takes over from Russell T Davies. Producer Phil Collinson and executive producer Julie Gardner are also leaving the series for new roles within the BBC. Gardner will be replaced by Piers Wenger, who will also assume her role as head of drama at BBC Wales.

As well as a new Doctor, the BBC is also set to cast a new companion after Catherine Tate's departure at the end of this year's series.

Tennant paid tribute to his colleagues after he announced his move at last night's National Television Awards.

"I'd always thought the time to leave would be in conjunction with Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner who have been such a huge part of it all for me," he said.

"Steven Moffat is the most brilliant and exciting writer, the only possible successor to Russell, and it was sorely tempting to be part of his amazing new plans for the show. I will be there, glued to my TV when his stories begin in 2010."

Tennant added that he did not want to outstay his welcome.

""I have loved every day of it. It would be very easy to cling on to the Tardis console forever and I fear that if I don't take a deep breath and make the decision to move on now, then I simply never will. You would be prising the Tardis key out of my cold dead hand."

Tennant will next be seen in the role during the BBC's annual telethon Children in Need next month. The show will include a two-minute preview of this year's Christmas special, The Next Doctor, in which Tennant will be joined by Daniel Morrissey and Dervla Kirwan.