Matt Smith: 'New Doctor Who series had to be better'

Doctor Who star Matt Smith has told Newsbeat he wanted to make the new series of the show better than his debut.

The actor has filmed his second season as the Time Lord, accompanied once again by Amy Pond, played by Karen Gillan.

Matt Smith told Newsbeat: "It was always my aim to make this season better than last season and I hope that's the case.

"I think the danger is if you sit back too much, it's not as good. You've got to keep the pressure on yourself in the way that makes it brilliant every day."

He became the third actor to play the Doctor since the show was revived in 2005, following on from Christopher Ecclestone and David Tennant.

Matt Smith said: "Obviously there was an inherent pressure last year with no one knowing what I was going to be like.

"I guess I'm a little more settled in now but it's about all our hands on deck. It's got to be better."

Doctor's housemate

Karen Gillan agreed: "People have got such high expectations that you have to live up to it.

Doctor Who, The Impossible Astronaut, airs on BBC One on 23 April

"We worked even harder to make the series better than last year. It's a dangerous thing to relax. We've got to make it bigger and better every time."

This series features guest appearances by James Corden, who returns as the Doctor's housemate.

We're also promised that we will find out who the character Dr River Song, played by Alex Kingston, actually is.

David Walliams and supermodel Lily Cole also appear.

Matt Smith said: "She was really wonderful and a consummate pro. She's a fine actress.

"I like Lily, she was nice. She appears quite early in the series and she's green. So we've got a green Lily Cole."

New aliens

The first episode of the new series is called The Impossible Astronaut and features an alien race known as The Silence.

Matt Smith added: "I think Steven (Moffat, the show's executive producer) has created one of the greatest monsters, in my opinion, in Who history.

"They're woven out through the rest of the series which is interesting."

The last time we saw Amy Pond she was getting married to Rory Williams, played by Arthur Darvill.

He also returns to travel with the Doctor in the Tardis.

Arthur Darvill said: "I think it's given Rory a lot of confidence that Amy is actually married to him now.

"But I think he has to prove himself in the Tardis and prove his worth."

The Impossible Astronaut, airs on BBC One on 23 April.