Scottish actor David Tennant has opened up about a rare genetic condition after observant fans spotted it online.
Speaking with Metro on Monday, the Doctor Who actor revealed he was born with six toes on his right foot.
The 53-year-old confirmed the theories, which had been circulating by fans on Reddit, in an interview with Metro, saying it looks “sort of like a nubbin”.
When asked if people knew about his extra toe, the actor responded: “Well, they do now. It’s sort of like a nubbin.”
Polydactyly, the name of the condition of being born with an extra finger or toe, is “is the most common congenital limb difference”, according to John Hopkins Medicine. Tennant has postaxial polydactyly, which is when you have an extra little finger or toe.
“The most common type of polydactyly results in an extra small finger or extra little toe,” the organisation states. “Postaxial polydactyly is the most common type. It affects approximately 1 in 3,000 newborns.”
Polydactyly can occur without a known reason, but sometimes a child can inherit a gene mutation from a parent which can cause the extra digit.
Tennant seemed more nervous about his upcoming job hosting the BAFTAs, however, saying, “It’s a lovely thing to be asked to do and it’s a huge privilege, and it’s very giddy-making”
“It was a slightly mad thing to be asked to do, not something I ever aspired to or imagined would come my way.
“When you’re standing on that stage looking out at all the most famous people in the world, you just think: ‘How did I end up doing this?'”
The actor is currently starring in ITV’s new drama, ‘The Hack’, which follows the phone hacking scandal from the producers behind Mr Bates vs The Post Office.
He plays investigative journalist Nick Davies alongside actor Toby Jones, who plays former Editor-in Chief of The Guardian, Alan Rusbridger.