David Tennant's rare genetic condition explained as he makes candid health admission

BAFTAS: David Tennant makes nomination joke with Catherine Tate

BAFTA host David Tennant has upheld long standing rumours that he has an incredibly rare health condition. The former Doctor Who star has a little-known genetic condition that means he was born with six toes on one foot.

Asked if people knew about his extra appendage, the actor responded: “Well, they do now. It’s sort of like a nubbin.” It is on the little toe side of his right foot.

He made the revelation to Metro during interviews ahead of his hosting stint at this year's BAFTA awards on February 16, but it has been the subject of online speculation for some time.

The 53-year-old's feet have been the source of chatter on Reddit for some time and while fans will no doubt be delighted he has confirmed their suspicions the condition is actually a very rare one and can be serious in some cases.

The disorder is called polydactyly, which causes babies to be born with extra fingers and toes as well as a range of other birth defects, according to research co-led by University of Leeds. It is associated with at least 39 genetic mutations and can present alone or with other defects.

David Tennant has opened up about his rare health condition (Image: GETTY)

David's condition is even rare amongst sufferers as it is far more common to have an extra finger than toe.

His specific version of the disorder, in which the sufferer has an extra digit on the ulnar side of the body - the side of the little finger or toe - is known as postaxial polydactyly.

For some, like David it can manifest subtly as a nubbin. For others is it very distinctly, as a fully developed digit.

Most commonly it is rudimentary, consisting of an end phalanx with a nail, and connected to the body with a small skin pedicle. Mostly one neurovascular bundle can be identified, with no tendons present in the extra digit.

David Tennant's condition is incredibly rare (Image: Getty)

It is unlikely David will be showcasing his "nubbin" when he takes to the stage to host the BAFTAs for the second time, something he describes as a privilege.

"It’s a lovely thing to be asked to do and it’s a huge privilege, and it’s very giddy-making. But I’ve sort of got a bit of a free pass, because nobody expects me to be any good at it," he said.

"It was a slightly mad thing to be asked to do (in 2024), not something I ever aspired to or imagined would come my way," he confessed.

"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? I think I just want to not break it again, really," he said.