The Eleventh Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the BBC science fiction television programme Doctor Who. He is played by Matt Smith in three series as well as five specials. As with previous incarnations of the Doctor, the character has also appeared in other Doctor Who spin-offs. The Eleventh Doctor has been very well received by fans of the show and critics often credit Smith's portrayal of the character with achieving the "near-impossible" task of replacing David Tennant in the role.[4][5]