Speaking to CultBox on the set of ‘The Day of the Doctor’ in Cardiff earlier this year, the actor commented: “Oh, I love Billie [Piper]! It’s great having a big gang: Jenna [Coleman] and lovely Ingrid [Oliver] and Jemma Redgrave’s back and Johnny Hurt, who just has to move his eyes and you’re totally engrossed with him. He’s got a really interesting character.”

Smith added: “You need a bit of a starry cast… I think the fans sort of want a bit of glitz and glamour to it.”

Discussing working with guest star John Hurt, he joked: “I just think ‘I’ve got to stop moving around like a lunatic’… oh, I can’t, he’s just better than me. Maybe one day I’ll own something close to it. He’s a brilliant actor. I watch him with great admiration and he’s a lovely, charming man. He works tirelessly hard. He’s in his 70s and you wouldn’t know it.”

‘The Day of the Doctor’ will air at 7.50pm (GMT) on Saturday 23 November on BBC One.

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