The Next Star of Doctor Who is Peter Capaldi

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.