Putting an end to the rampant speculation that’s been surrounding his future in the Tardis, David Tennant has now confirmed that he’ll be quitting as Doctor Who in 2009. That means that he’ll be filming the special episodes planned for next year, and once this Christmas’ The Next Doctor is shown, he’ll have four more turns at the controls of the Tardis before handing them over to someone else. The last of his episodes will be shown in early 2010.

Tennant made the announcement on the eve of his victory at this evening’s National Television Awards. He was quoted as saying that “I’ve had the most brilliant, bewildering and life-changing time working on Doctor Who. I have loved every day of it. It would be very easy to cling on to the Tardis console for ever 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.”

This makes Steven Moffat’s job for season five all the more challenging. Moffat, who is in charge of the show’s next full season in 2010, must now find 13 episodes, a new assistant and a new Doctor.

Let the betting begin…