When did the search for Matt Smiths successor start in earnest?

Who first suggested Peter Capaldi?

Who knew hed won the role, and when?

What did he get up to in the months he knew, but couldnt tell?

And who had to tell a few porkies so you can keep the secret safe?

Capaldis story as the Doctor really started though, when Matt Smith decided to vacate the role…

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3rdJanuary 2009: Matt Smith is officially announced as the next Doctor.

It was something that we talked about a while ago as well, in rough terms.

Certainly by this time, Matt Smiths departure was an open secret inDoctor Who.

Its kind of always been the plan, really,Smith toldVulture in 2013.

Me and Steven, we talked about it and obviously those conversations are private and should remain that way.

We were all having those discussions, as soon as I joined.Jenna Coleman confirmedin 2013.

Its been a strange thing cause its something Ive known since I started.

2012-2013: Steven Moffat asks Mark Gatiss for a list of recommendations to replace Smith.

And he said: Hes top of my list.

26thof February 2013 Peter Capaldi is announced as playing Cardinal Richelieu in The Musketeers.

Filming for series one ofThe Musketeerstook place in the Czech Republic between May and October 2013.

A life is going to change, andDoctor Whowill be born all over again.

When those words were circulated, did Moffat already know who that someone was going to be?

Regular readers will know however, that this statement did not prove to be our most tragically hubristic.

Its going to be a long, long search.

Kinnear isnt the only one.

Only much later in proceedings did the speculation arrow fall on Capaldis name.

One false move and the shows over.

Unless we have an insane plan, well announce a new Doctor within days of finalizing the new Doctor.

Because its very very hard to keep any kind of a secret.

So we couldnt deflate that.

But I think well go public pretty fast.

Hes not a bad actor, is Steven Moffat.

(start the video around 8:10 to see Smiths convincing performance).

Did we have sneaky insider knowledge and were trying to put you all off the scent?

Er, sadly not.

You retweeted it over 1200 times.

21stof August 2013: Simon writes 3,000 words on the One Direction movie

Andherethey all are.

Did they go for the two-course set menu?

Was it followed by coffee and mints?

25th of December 2013: Peter Capaldi appears in theDoctor WhoChristmas special,The Time Of The Doctor.

He wasnt pleased with his kidneys.

27thof January 2014: Peter Capaldis costume as the Doctor is revealed

And here it is.

After that: No clue.

We bet its exciting though.