'Doctor Who' star Matt Smith performed a striptease on TV Friday night, but it was all for a good cause. As part of the BBC's annual 'Children in Need' telethon Smith stripped off a signature 'Doctor Who' outfit before putting it up for auction together with a signed script.

Talking on this morning's 'BBC Breakfast' Smith said he hopes the items will fetch as much as possible, and he reiterated his belief that "bow ties are cool." He also talked about the "massive challenge" of taking on a role that's been part of the British cultural landscape for 50 years. Smith joked that at a recent party he was starstruck to meet two of his predecessors in the role, David Tennant and his father-in-law Peter Davison, thinking "Wow, it's Doctor Who!" before realizing "I'm Doctor Who!"

'Children in Need' also showcased a sneak peek at that staple of the festive season, the 'Doctor Who' Christmas special. Catch it and Smith's striptease after the jump.

Great news for 'Doctor Who' fans! Details of this year's Christmas Special have been unwrapped.

The BBC has announced that production is underway on the annual staple of the festive season, and it's expected to film until mid-October.

Matt Smith's second Christmas special as the Doctor will find him embarking on an adventure in war-torn England with a widow and her two young children.

He will be joined by guest stars Claire Skinner ('Outnumbered'), Bill Bailey ('Black Books'), Arabella Weir ('The Fast Show') and Alexander Armstrong ('Armstrong & Miller').

['Doctor Who' - 'A Christmas Carol']

The very existence of a 'Doctor Who' Christmas special actually broadcasting on Christmas Day highlights the cultural differences between England and the United States. Would any of the major U.S. networks broadcast an episode of one of their original, scripted series on Christmas? Likely not.

The episode itself, written by 'Doctor Who' showrunner Steven Moffat, was a prime example of the right person in the right job. In anybody else's hands (looking at you, Mr. Davies), this masterful tale would have simply been fair at best.