Smith's Footballers' Wives audition

Doctor Who star Matt Smith could have swapped the Tardis for tackling - he once auditioned for cult ITV drama Footballers' Wives.

The camp show, which ran from 2002 to 2006, was famed for its fake tan-wearing characters, flamboyant costumes and over the top plots - and Smith tried unsuccessfully to nab a role in the show.

His sister Laura Jayne tells the Daily Mail, "I had a friend who worked on Footballers' Wives so I covered Matt in fake tan, gelled his hair, made him wear salmon pink trousers and sent him for an audition. He didn't get the part, which was probably a good thing. That kind of look definitely isn't him."

It's not the only high profile show Smith missed out on before landing the role of the TV Time Lord - he also auditioned to play Dr John Watson in BBC's Sherlock, which was eventually won by Martin Freeman.