Matt Smith: I will miss best mate Karen Gillan - The Sun

DOCTOR Who star Matt Smith may wish his Time Lord skills were real after hearing his co-star Karen Gillan is to be axed during the next series.

Flame-haired Karen, 24, will appear as mini-skirted Amy Ponds in only a handful of next year's episodes before leaving with screen hubby Rory Williams.

And the actor says he will miss his "best pal" when she leaves the show.

But Matt, 29 who recently split from model girlfriend Daisy Lowe after 18 months together assured his fans he has no plans to follow in his co-star's footsteps.

The actor admitted on the Graham Norton Show: "I am very happy to stay. I love it and love making the show.

"I'll miss Karen because she's my best mate. She's mad as a box of cats but she's a firecracker!"

Matt, who has played the 11th Doctor on the show since 2009, said he was "very disappointed" to see Karen go.

He revealed that he had known about her departure for some time before it was announced.

Karen, who will soon be seen in a BBC drama as model Jean Shrimpton, has starred in two series and is hugely popular.

Last year she hit back at criticism over Amy's mini-skirts saying they are typical of what young women like to wear.

Matt will appear alongside McFly stars Harry Judd and Dougie Poynter on tonight's Graham Norton Show at 10.35pm on BBC1.