Matt Smith proposed to his girlfriend Stacie-Anne Dilkes in front of the Tardis, dressed in full Doctor Who outfit

Dressed in his full Doctor Who costume and stood in front of the Tardis parked in London, romantic Matt Smith proposed to his girlfriend.

Weeks of planning went into the marriage proposal, which took place as the as the couple were surrounded by villains from the Time Lord’s travels.

But this was not Matt Smith the actor who was getting down on bended knee.

It was 22-year-old namesake Matt Smith from Rochford in Essex who worked with BBC Worldwide to set up his marriage offer, which was accepted, at the Doctor Who Experience attraction in Kensington Olympia Two.

Mr Smith surprised his new fiancee, avid Who fan Stacie-Anne Dilkes, who thought she was heading to London for a shopping trip.

He thought it would be the perfect location and slipped away from his partner to pop on the uniform of the 11th Doctor.

The happy couple were even sent a personal message from the screen Matt Smith, who has played the Doctor for two series.

He joked that becoming a Smith will have its downside for 23-year-old Ms Dilkes.

“Firstly, being a Smith means phone calls to the bank take so much longer - there are so many Smiths,” the actor said.

“But I bet none of them have proposed at the Doctor Who Experience. Amy and Rory would be proud.

“Next, babies in the Tardis? Congratulations to you both and many years of happiness.”

The exhibition is in its final few weeks of a year-long London run after welcoming more than 200,000 visitors to view items from half a century of the BBC show.