I'm no Doctor Who, says Wiltshire's Matt Smith (From This Is Wiltshire)

I'm no Doctor Who, says Wiltshire's Matt Smith

9:54am Friday 16th January 2009

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HIS voice is known to thousands across Wiltshire.

But it was BBC DJ Matthew Smith’s name which caught the interest of sci-fi fans across the world earlier this month.

That was because the Wiltshire DJ shared his name with Matt Smith.

On January 3 the BBC announced, amid much speculation, that actor Matt Smith would be handed the keys to the Tardis when David Tennant steps down from the role early next year.

Until that point he was best known for roles in BBC dramas The Ruby In The Smoke and Party Animals – and a small role in ITV drama Secret Diary of A Call Girl, which starred Swindon’s own Billie Piper.

On the day Matt Smith was named as the new Doctor the part of the BBC Wiltshire website which included Matthew Smith’s DJ profile attracted a whopping 4,000 hits.

And Matthew even had a clutch of emails from curious fans asking if he was the same Matt Smith.

“I got a fair few emails from friends about it too,” said Matthew, 36.

“I wasn’t aware of Matt Smith the actor before the announcement.

“But I was watching the programme on the night and when they said that Matt Smith was to be the new Doctor I thought ‘Hang on, that’s me.’ “I do like the show and think if the BBC had offered me the role I would have considered taking it – depending on my companion of course.”

Matthew is the voice of BBC Radio Wiltshire’s drivetime show between 4-7pm Monday to Fridays and has worked for the BBC for a number of years.

For Matthew, coming across someone who shares his moniker is a surprisingly regular occurrence.

“There was another Matthew Smith in my class at school,” he said.

“And we even have another Matthew Smith who works here at the BBC occasionally.

“So it’s definitely a common name. Sharing the name makes me think it might be worth putting in for an interview with Matt.

“It’s a while before he starts in the part but it certainly has to be worth a go.”

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