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Peter Capaldi to exit Doctor Who

Next regeneration of the Doctor to take place this Christmas.

Peter Capaldi has confirmed his departure from Doctor Who, to take place at the end of this year.

Capaldi will wrap three years in the role with the 2017 Christmas special.

“One of the greatest privileges of being Doctor Who is to see the world at its best” he said on BBC Radio 2.”From our brilliant crew and creative team working for the best broadcaster on the planet, to the viewers and fans whose endless creativity, generosity and inclusiveness points to a brighter future ahead. I can’t thank everyone enough. It’s been cosmic.”

The news comes despite recent comments that suggested he had a lot more in store with the show. There have been rumours that BBC bosses were looking to refresh the whole show this year. Pearl Mackie joins the series in April.

Showrunner Steven Moffatt, who also bows out this year, said, “For years before I ever imagined being involved in Doctor Who, or had ever met the man, I wanted to work with Peter Capaldi.

“I could not have imagined that one day we’d be standing on the TARDIS together. Like Peter, I’m facing up to leaving the best job I’ll ever have, but knowing I do so in the company of the best, and kindest and cleverest of men, makes the saddest of endings a little sweeter.

“But hey, it’s a long way from over. Peter’s amazing, fiery, turbulent Doctor is still fighting the good fight, and his greatest adventures are yet to come. Monsters of the universe, be on your guard – Capaldi’s not done with you yet!”

Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content said: “Peter Capaldi will always be a very special Doctor to me; his adventures through time and space started just as I arrived on BBC One. He has been a tremendous Doctor who has brought his own unique wisdom and charisma to the role. But, it’s not over yet – I know the next series is going to be spectacular. He’s a fine actor who I hope we work with again when he leaves the TARDIS”.

Brian Minchin, Executive Producer said: “Peter Capaldi is an extraordinary Doctor and has taken the show to amazing places. Although I’m sad he has decided to move on in 2018 I’m delighted that we have one final series with Peter Capaldi and Steven Moffat. I know what they’re planning and it’s going to be incredible.”

“I know how much Peter has loved doing the job, so it’s a difficult one to judge because it’s such a special one,” David Tennant commented. “You don’t want it to feel work-a-day, you want to get out while you’re still having an extraordinary time.”

Capaldi will return in the next series for 12 episodes in mid-April, followed by the Christmas Special when the regeneration will take place.

Source: Radio Times

16 Responses

  1. Seems only yesterday Peter took over from Matt, will be sad to see him depart but now begins the guessing game of who will take over the role and will they chose a women like the did with The Master?

  2. Peter has been the best doctor since the show returned in terms of his acting alone. No other actor in the role could have achieved what Peter did in Heaven Sent or delivered the superb speech in Zygon Inversion or given such a heartfelt farwell to River Song as in Husbands or held his ground against Davros in Witch’s Familiar or quietly devestated us as he did in Death in Heaven. I could easily go on. A brilliant doctor occasionally let down by overly tricksy writing but one I think history will judge as the most important and distinctive of the new lot. It should be remembered that Series 9 was the most critically acclaimed in new Who to date and we still have series 10 to look forward to, so his epitaph is a little premature.

    A great Doctor Who and truly lovely man who has been incredibly kind to his fans, especially the youngest ones.

  3. I’m hoping with the departure of Capaldi and Moffatt, this will represent a new beginning for the show. Moffatt’s obsession with overly-complicated plots, inability to write female characters and Capaldi’s under-utilisation have really brought the show down in the last few years. A clean sweep could be just what The Doctor ordered… (a terrible pun, I know, but I had to do it!)

  4. Capaldi just wasn’t given enough opportunity to stretch his legs. Last year was a hiatus year so doesn’t really count towards tenure. If anything, this makes me want the whole show to be rested a while longer before another reboot.

  5. Peter Capaldi is a pedigree actor and no doubt an astute business man. The change of scenery for Dr Who with Steven Moffatt moving on and a new creative input taking over perhaps did not suit Mr Capaldi’s planned career path, not to mention his age, being an action hero was maybe not his style. The BBC may be thinking seriously how to sustain the show as an attraction on BBC America as well.

    1. That would be where someone like Robert Carlyle would fit in real well, of course he’s tied up with Once Upon A Time right now. However if that doesn’t go past this year, then Carlyle would be a great choice to please both the UK and USA audiences, plus he’d likely be a great Doctor.

  6. Seems like a revolving door compared to the original few Doctors. I’m not much of a fan but would be interesting to see how many seasons actors have lasted since the reboot compared to the original series.

    1. I would say the Classic Series had more revolving door Doctors, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy did 2 years and Paul McGann didn’t even get past the TV movie.

    2. I honestly think part of Peter’s leaving is down to the BBC’s mismanagement of promtion and scheduling of the show and the continued hiatuses and funding shortfalls. He has made no secret of his disappointment about the poor treatment of series 9, including erratic scheduling, on too late and lack of promotion. I also gather his initial discussions with the new showrunner may have indicated that the push to return the show to a Tennant era romantic Doctor with lovestruck companion and more basic monster of the week storylines wasn’t appealing. Chris Chibnall has now said he won’t be in a position to start on series 11 until later this year with a likely premiere pushed back to Sept 2018, so even more delays which might have prompted Peter to jump ship so he could be working more frequently, rather than twiddling his fingers waiting around.

  7. Good news, as far as I’m concerned. Maybe people under age 50 can start watching the show again? Nothing against Capaldi as an actor, but it’s never been a comfortable fit (IMO).

        1. Yes cause the long multi-coloured scarf, question marks on lapels, cricketer’s whites, Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat, question mark vest, recorder playing, spoon-playing, cat badge and celery wearing never hurt.

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