Former University of East Anglia graduate and Dr Who actor Matt Smith has won an award at this year's National Television Awards.

Mr Smith, who studied Drama and Creative Writing at the UEA, picked up the gong for best male drama performance at the star studded awards ceremony.

His sidekick Karen Gillan, who plays Amy Pond, picked up the female equivalent in what was a successful night for the hit BBC show.

Mr Smith said he had no idea who would replace Gillan when she leaves, but added he was in no hurry to join her in exiting the show.

He said: 'I sort of always knew that me and Karen would have slightly different journeys in the show''.

Mr Smith also said he was interested in moving behind the camera and directing a film and was not worried about being typecast by the role of the doctor.

He said: 'As long as you're worth your salt as an actor you'll be all right'.

After joining the National Youth Theatre and studying Drama and Creative Writing at the UEA, Mr Smith became an actor in 2003, performing in plays like Murder in the Cathedral, Fresh Kills, The History Boys and On the Shore of the Wide World in London theatres.

Before his role in Doctor Who, Smith's first television role came in 2006 as Jim Taylor in the BBC adaptations of Phillip Pullman's The Ruby in the Smoke and The Shadow in the North while his first major role in television came as Danny in the 2007 BBC series Party Animals.

Mr Smith, who was announced as the eleventh incarnation of the Doctor in January 2009, is the youngest person to play the character in the British television series.