Matt Smith to return for new Doctor Who series

Smith will star in a Christmas special as well as 14 new episodes of the series

Matt Smith has signed on to appear in a new series of Doctor Who, the BBC has confirmed.

Fourteen new episodes of the sci-fi show, executive produced by Steven Moffat, have been commissioned.

However it is not yet known when the new episodes will be broadcast.

The corporation also confirmed there would be six more episodes of the current series to be screened later this year and a 2011 Christmas special starring Smith is planned.

Sam Hodges, head of communications for BBC One, fiction and daytime, tweeted on Tuesday: "#DoctorWho is returning. Fourteen new episodes have been commissioned with Matt Smith as The Doctor #bbc1."

Moffat later added: "14 eps + Matt DEFINITELY. I've got a plan and I'm NOT TELLING YOU WHAT IT IS."

Earlier this month, the writer told the Radio Times the Daleks would be given "a rest" from the series.

"There's a problem with the Daleks. They are the most famous of the Doctor's adversaries and the most frequent, which means they are the most reliably defeatable enemies in the universe," he said.