Kicking off Fan Expo with the first panel in what is sure to be a thrillingly packed four-day convention, former Doctor Who star Matt Smith took to the stage in Toronto once again to chat about the beloved character, what he’s been working on next, and to answer those burning questions from the shows most devoted fans.

First and foremost, fans of the long-running sci-fi epic were recently gifted with the exciting news that they would be getting their very first female doctor. British actor Jodie Whittaker, best known for her role in TV drama Broadchurch, -of which she stars alongside another familiar face in the Doctor Who world, David Tennant- will replace the current Doctor, Peter Capaldi, to become the 13^th Doctor in the BBC drama. When asked about his thoughts on the choice of Whittaker, Smith responded that he was absolutely thrilled, and that “the show is at its best when it’s constantly reinventing things. It refuses to be defined.”

Although Smith stepped away from the role of the 11^th Doctor in 2014, he attributes the fact that fans are still talking about his stint as the coolest Time Lord around because of the strange harmonious chemistry he had with the cast, as well as with the shows brilliant writer/producer Steven Moffat.

Most recently the actor can be seen on Netflix’s fantastic Emmy nominated period drama The Crown, of which he stars alongside the enormously talented Claire Foy in the role of Queen Elizabeth II. Amused by our country’s enthusiasm for the Royal family, Smith went on to compare his role of Prince Philip in The Crown to that of The Doctor, saying “they’re both aliens in their own way,” referring to how both men are sort of outsiders looking in on a world they may not completely belong to, mavericks if you will.

As the queue for fan questions rolled on, Smith giddily remarked as a cosplayer took to the floor dressed as Belle from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast that she is his favourite princess, although he could get in serious trouble for saying so, referring to long-time girlfriend Lily James’s role as Cinderella in the recent live-action remake. As if that wasn’t enough to make every heart in the fandom giddy, the actor also chimed in on the fact that he would love to join former co-star Karen Gillan (Amy Pond) in the Marvel cinematic universe. “It would have to be the right project and someone really ridiculous,” he explains, much to the delight of everyone in attendance and perhaps something for Whovians to look forward to in the future.