The tenure of David Tennant as The Doctor will end after just three years.

BBC has confirmed the actor will leave the series following a string of 2009 specials designed to accommodate his stage schedule.

"I think it's better to go when there's a chance that people might miss you, rather than to hang around and outstay your welcome," Tennant told BBC's Lizo Mzimba. "When I first started back in 2005, I always thought that if it worked out, three years would be about the right time."

Leading him toward the decision was the departure of the show's two executive producers responsible for the revival of the series: Russell T. Davies and Julie Gardner. But it's not that he has anything against new showrunner Steven Moffatt, who takes over the "Doctor Who" franchise in 2010. In fact, it was his promotion that made it harder to leave.

"I'm such a fan of his," Tennant said of Moffatt. "He's such a great writer. He's written such amazing stories for me in 'Doctor Who' already. The prospect of hanging around for a while and enjoying working with him was sorely tempting and very nearly changed my mind."

Speculation had ramped up in recent months that Tennant would leave the series, and possible replacements had floated around almost as often as BBC's assurances that Tennant was interested in staying.

Just two weeks ago, The Daily Telegraph said the BBC was working hard to keep Tennant on board, offering him far more than the ?1 million, or $1.74 million, he already gets, as well as presenting the option of a "Doctor Who" movie.

"The BBC is determined to make sure David doesn't go without a fight," a source told News of the World at the time. "He is an integral part of the series."

"I'll miss playing this character," Tennant said. "I don't think there's a better character on television. He gets to be everything -- he gets to be funny and intense, he's a hero but he's also a bit of a clown. He's an anarchist, but he's strong and dependable and crazy. Like mercury one minute and like steel the next."

So how will Davies end the reign of the current Doctor and lead us to No. 11?

"I do not know what he's thinking about. But Russell being Russell, I'm sure it'll be a send off to be proud of."

For Tennant's complete interview with Mzimba, click here.

UPDATE: Jarrod Cooper from DoctorWhoNews talks to Michael Hinman about Tennant's departure on SyFy Radio. See a video version of his interview by clicking here.

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Hear Michael Hinman on SyFy Radio every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT at www.BlogTalkRadio.com/SyFyRadio.