Matt Smith has insisted it is right that Doctor Who is “dark, sexy and scary”.

Hitting back at claims that the show isn’t as family friendly and suitable for children as it was in previous decades, the actor who plays the famous time lord said that the show was always on the edge.

Asked if he thinks the show is too dark, scary or sexy, Matt exclaimed:

“No! I think it’s ridiculous to say so. I think it should be all of those things. I think it should be dark, I think it should be scary.

“And sexy? I mean, for God’s sake, look at the companions of Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker [the third and fourth Doctors] in their tiny, Tarzanian tops.”

Also hitting back at viewers who criticise Amy Pond’s (Karen Gillan) skimpy outfits on the show, Smith claimed that her attire has always been part of the appeal.

He told Live magazine: “What do people want Karen to dress in – a floor-length skirt, a pair of jeans and a hoodie? I mean, she’s a beautiful woman. Amy Pond is a sexy character, by her very nature. No one’s quite like Amy.

“God, I just think all of that is brilliant, because it is fun. I think it’s clever, too. Have you ever watched ‘The Simpsons’ with your son and laughed at different things? Isn’t that one of the virtues of a show like this, when you can see something and look over and go, ‘Know what? In a few years,
you’ll get that one.’ “I think that’s what Steven [Moffat, executive producer] does. Don’t tell me that the dads at home don’t go, ‘Ah, cool – Karen’s on…’ “