Doctor Who Matt Smith turns on Cardiff Christmas lights

Doctor Who's Matt Smith and Karen Gillan turn on Cardiff Christmas lights

Doctor Who star Matt Smith and his assistant returned to Cardiff to switch on the Christmas lights on Wednesday night.

The Doctor Who star turned on the Christmas lights with his famed sonic screwdriver.

He was joined by actor Karen Gillan who plays assistant Amy Pond.

Smith is filming his second series - much of which is shot in and around Cardiff - as the 11th incarnation of the Time Lord for BBC Wales.

The switch-on took place on King Edward VII Avenue at 1940 GMT.

Smith said: "It's a real honour to be asked to switch on Cardiff's Christmas lights because the city has become like a second home to not only me, but the rest of the Doctor Who production team.

"We love filming here in Wales and we even managed to get into the festive spirit extra early this year when filming the Doctor Who Christmas special in August.

"Cardiff is a great city and I'd like to thank all of its residents for being so welcoming and accommodating."

The light switch-on also marked the 10th anniversary of Cardiff's Winter Wonderland celebrations, which turns the area in front of the city's civic centre into an open-air ice rink and fair.