A News Flash for Dr Who Fan.

Mr A Miller of Napier NZ

The new Doctor Who has been unveiled as Scottish actor Peter Capaldi

The Glasgow-born star of TV show The Thick of It, whose appointment was shrouded in secrecy, was revealed as the 12th incarnation of the role on live television in the UK on Sunday.

Capaldi, who was the bookies’ favourite, is the first Oscar winner to take on the role.

“Being asked to play The Doctor is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and delight. I can’t wait to get started,” he said.

Ahead of the announcement, the identity of the doctor was apparently known to just 10 people, with bosses using the codename Houdini to try and keep it a secret.

Capaldi had emerged as a favourite with bookmakers suspending bets on him taking the role on Friday after his odds tumbled.

The Scottish actor, famous for his role as foul-mouthed Malcolm Tucker in political comedy The Thick of It, is a lifelong fan of the show and wrote a letter to the Radio Times about the Daleks when he was a teenager.