SCOTTISH star David Tennant has admitted he is "jealous" of Matt Smith, who will be seen taking over his role as the Doctor next year.
Tennant was speaking at the launch of the latest Doctor Who adventure, The Waters of Mars, which sets the foundations for the beginning of the end of his incarnation as the Time Lord.
This is the second Doctor Who special to be screened this year
, and Tennant will star in two more shows before bowing out in tear-jerking scenes.
Tennant said he was excited for Smith. "I remember how exciting it was starting out on this kind of a journey, and nerve-wracking," he said.
"I'm jealous that he's going through that now – but it couldn't happen to a nicer chap.
"I'm looking forward to not knowing what happens next. I'm looking forward to being a viewer again."
Set on the Red Planet in 2059, The Waters of Mars guest stars acclaimed actress Lindsay Duncan as Adelaide – the Doctor's "cleverest and most strong-minded companion yet".
She and the Doctor face terror on Mars in what is being seen as one of his darkest and scariest adventures.
Neighbours, Flying Doctors and Casualty star Peter O'Brien also guest stars as Ed, Adelaide's second-in-command at the Mars base.
Tennant said of the special: "The Doctor finds himself in a situation where he knows what the end is.
"It's all about whether he can unknit the inevitable.
"With this particular Time Lord's life coming to an end, if he starts fiddling with the fundamentals of time and space, it might lead to his undoing."
• The Waters of Mars airs on Sunday, 15 November, at 7pm on BBC1.
