Paging the Doctor: David Tennant Named New Host of "Masterpiece Contemporary"

In a stroke of inspired casting, PBS has unveiled Doctor Who's David Tennant as the new host of Masterpiece Contemporary, which returns to PBS in October.

Tennant, who is currently finishing up his tenure as The Doctor on the BBC series, is no stranger to PBS, having appeared in both Casanova and He Knew He Was Right, which appeared on the channel. He joins fellow Masterpiece hosts Laura Linney and Alan Cumming, who host Masterpiece Classic and Masterpiece Mystery respectively.

Tennant will kick off Masterpiece Contemporary's 2009 season with Endgame, starring William Hurt (Damages), Chiwetel Ejiofer (Serenity), and Jonny Lee Miller (Eli Stone).

The full press release from PBS can be found below.

David Tennant to Host Masterpiece Contemporary 2009 on PBS — Star of Doctor Who and Casanova Makes his Debut in October

One of Britain's most popular actors has been named the new host of Masterpiece Contemporary. David Tennant, well known to fans of British television for his acclaimed star turns as Doctor Who and Casanova, will make his hosting debut when Masterpiece contemporary returns in October, 2009, with Endgame, a drama about the last days of apartheid.

"How many actors can nail the characters of Casanova and Doctor Who?," says Masterpiece executive producer Rebecca Eaton. "David's talent, versatility and unique appeal make him the perfect match for Masterpiece Contemporary."

"I'm honored to be hosting the series that introduced American audiences to programming such as Casanova and He Knew He Was Right," says Tennant. "And it's a thrill to join the Masterpiece family of hosts: Mystery's Alan Cumming and Classic's Laura Linney."

Tennant's award-winning run (2005-present) in the classic British sci-fi series Doctor Who has gained him worldwide recognition. His other iconic television roles include the flirtatious vicar Reverend Gibson in Masterpiece's He Knew He Was Right; the infamous 18th-century lothario Casanova in Masterpiece's rollicking miniseries, playing the youthful counterpart to Peter O'Toole; and the down-at-the-heel Inspector Peter Carlisle in the cult hit Blackpool.

His career, launched in his native Scotland, extends to film and stage. Millions of moviegoers know him as Barty Crouch Junior in the blockbuster Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Ginger Littlejohn in Stephen Fry's Bright Young Things. He recently worked with Bill Nighy, Romola Garai and Julie Christie in the Stephen Poliakoff film 1939, which will be released later this year.

A graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Tennant developed his stage career at the Royal Shakespeare Company. He recently completely a successful run as Hamlet with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Masterpiece Contemporary will return in October 2009 with Endgame, a gripping new drama about the final days of apartheid in South Africa. Starring William Hurt (Damages), Chiwetel Ejiofer (Dirty Pretty Things, American Gangster, Serenity), and Jonny Lee Miller (Eli Stone, Trainspotting), Endgame premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Masterpiece Contemporary returns this October on PBS. Check your local listings for details.