The wait is over: The next star of Doctor Who is Peter Capaldi.
The actor, 55, whose identity had been shrouded in secrecy for days, was revealed during a half-hour TV special broadcast simultaneously on the BBC in the UK and BBC America.
Capaldi was the bookies' favorite at the very last minute -- so much so that betting was shut down. He has appeared on the show before, as a Roman noble in "The Fires of Pompeii."
The star of movies Local Hero and In the Loop, Capaldi is a Scottish actor best known for playing foul-mouthed Westminster spin doctor Malcolm Tucker on BBC series The Thick of It.
In the recent film, World War Z, starring Brad Pitt, Capaldi had a bit part as a doctor in the World Health Organization -- that is, a WHO doctor.
Showrunner Steven Moffat said Capaldi had been on his mind when a replacement for 10th Doctor David Tennant was needed, but that his time had finally arrived following June's announcement that 11th Doctor Matt Smith would leave the show.
Here's the moment Capaldi was introduced to the world, and the interview that followed:
And here's Capaldi quickly introducing himself to the legions of Who fans: