[on his knowledge of past Doctor Who (2005)):] I'm very aware of the rich history of Chris [Christopher Eccleston] and David [David Tennant], and I've gone back and watched a lot of those episodes. And the previous history? I have to be honest, I can't claim to have watched the show in its entirety or have been a follower as avidly as some people are - and that's what I'm realising, that people love this show, people are avid, avid fans of it, and know it, and know its history and are part of it. I can't claim to know it as well as that, but I'm going to make it my business to do so, and fall into it in as much depth as I possibly can. [February 2009]

[on being the youngest actor to play The Doctor] I think the whole issue of me being the youngest has worked in my favour. I think there's an interesting contradiction of having a young face and an old soul. There's something funny about it, and it also allows you to reinvent being old. It's interesting because, when I first took the part on, obviously there was a bone of contention for some of the diehard fans.

As a character, the Doctor is excited and fascinated by the tiniest of things. By everything. By every single thing. That's what's wonderful about him as a character. It's why children like him, I think. Because he doesn't dismiss anything. He's not cynical. He's open to every single facet of the universe.

[on why he had no intention to become the longest serving Doctor Who] Tom Baker did it for seven years but he did it in different circumstances. I couldn't do this for seven years. I'd be run into the ground.

What struck me about Lis [Elisabeth Sladen] was her grace. She welcomed me, educated me, and delighted me with her tales and adventures on Doctor Who. And she also seemed to have a quality of youth that not many people retain as they go through life. Her grace and kindness will stay with me because she had such qualities in abundance and shared them freely... I will miss her, as will the world of Doctor Who and all the Doctors that had the good pleasure to work with Lis Sladen and travel the universe with Sarah Jane.

[on Trevor Eve's criticism of the BBC for spending so much money on a "children's programme" such as Doctor Who (2005)] If we all listen to Trevor Eve, then we're in trouble. Thank you very much, Trevor, we appreciate your opinion, but that's ridiculous. Doctor Who (2005) is brilliant. That's why it attracts some of the best writers in the country, and some of the best actors. Trevor, try telling that to Sir Michael Gambon. Show me any other series that can tackle this many big issues, appeal to this broad a range of people, and still have a laugh along the way and I will say, 'You can't.' That's what I'd say to Trevor Eve. At least we're never predictable. At least we're inventive. This whole show is testament to Steven Moffat, and his ambition and his scope, and that's a privilege to be part of. It's as simple as that.

[on Peter Capaldi] If I had to pick someone, I'd pick him. Cos I think he's great. And weirdly enough, after The Eleventh Hour, he came up to me in the street and said "Ah, mate, well done, I watched your episode last night, it was brilliant, I think you're really good". And I really needed that. I needed a sort of boost and I never forgot it.

I'll miss playing a character that can bounce from A to Z like that and that is the cleverest in the room but also the silliest in the room. You know, just being the Doctor, he's the Doctor. What a character. Of course there's always a part of you that goes "I never want to go". There are no parts like this. I think it's a good time for me to move on and we've got the 50th anniversary. It's the biggest year in the show's history and I'm playing the part and I pass it on with a smile to the next guy and say "Good luck, buddy. You're going to have to work hard".

[on Doctor Who (2005)] There was a backlash when I was cast. I was 26 and I was unknown. And people went "That is not Doctor Who". I always knew I wanted it to be quite physical and I wanted the comedy to be quite physical and I knew I wanted him to feel very clever but at the same time to not quite understand the human race.

At university I had a big coloured scarf and people would often say, 'All right, Doctor Who (1963)?' And, I thought, I rather liked that notion.

As we get older - perhaps I'm just speaking for myself - we can get too cynical.

As a kid, I knew all of the dinosaurs. It's one of those tragedies that I've forgotten what dinosaurs are cool.

Apparently, as a kid, I used to eat spiders. Maybe there's some Freudian significance behind that.

Any actor worth his salt has a responsibility to reinvent himself from part to part.

Actors, movie stars, rock stars, I can meet them with no worries - but with footballers I go weak at the knees. All of them.

If I was making a tea advert, I would want to communicate about tea is that it can console you, it can start your day, there is the warmth and the ritual, and you can share it; you make someone a cup of tea and you offer it to them.

I think that, if the world was a bit more like Comic-Con, we'd all be a little happier.

I just love vampires.

I am terribly clumsy, so there is a plethora of walking into lamp-posts, falling over, dropping things, and ruining sofas.

I'm not handsome enough to be James Bond. Maybe a villain, though.

I'd like to do a play in New York.

I was always aware of Doctor Who (1963), but I didn't grow up with it.

I used to read Gore Vidal books and think I was cool.

I used to love ninja movies. That was my thing.

I thought Skyfall (2012) was a sumptuous film.

I think Jennifer Saunders would be great in Doctor Who (2005).

I think expectations of Doctor Who (2005) should always be high, because it's a show that must always progress and get better and better.

I got injured when I was a kid, and it prevented me from becoming a footballer.

I am a terrible sleeper.

I am a fancy dress grump, to be honest.

I am a fan of a bright sock. They're bold.

I always steal a pair of socks on every photo shoot I do. It's my thing.

For clothes, I like Dover Street Market and Acne. For vintage, I go to Mint just off Seven Dials. For shoes, it's Church's and Russell & Bromley.

Even now, I'm very superstitious, in silly ways. I always put my left boot on first. Or on set, I always tie my bow tie from right to left.

I quite like the idea of family. That's probably the greatest achievement in the world. I've got a lot to achieve workwise - I'd love to direct - but family would be good.

I constantly watch The Simpsons (1989) and an English cartoon called The Raccoons (1985) and Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985). I was obsessed with ninja films, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987), I used to love that as well.

I asked for a piano in the TARDIS, but it hasn't happened. I'd love to see The Doctor rock up and play, but it'd have to be done in an inventive and silly way.

Every two weeks on Doctor Who (2005), the set is completely different, the world is different and there are new actors coming in. So, it's constantly surprising, and it's a pressure that you relish, actually.

Time travel is such a magic concept.

There is a history of footballers in my family; my granddad played for Notts County and my dad played at county level.

The storytelling in Doctor Who (2005) is quite universal.

Spiders - the way they move freaks me out. It's so malevolent.

Some people don't need to work hard because they are so talented.

Police boxes, tweed blazers and bow ties feel quite English, but I think that is one of his virtues, one of the strengths of Doctor Who (2005).

Overnight ratings are dead. It's just not the way TV is sold any more.

No, I'm not religious. At all. I'm an atheist.

It seems like there's a real appetite for science fiction in the States.

I've always loved dinosaurs.

I'm not hugely technical with things, but I guess that the thing I use most is my iPhone, on a practical level.

So many more people recognise you and want to take up a moment of your time for a photo or a hello. You try to deal with it with grace and a degree of humour, because what's the alternative?