Site Menu

August 4th, 2013 425 comments

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

12th Doctor Revealed – What do you Think?

12th Doctor Revealed – What do you Think?

The new Doctor is Peter Capaldi!

Peter-Capaldi

So the wait is over and we now know who will take over from Matt Smith in the Christmas Special – so what do you think?


In a special live broadcast, the BBC today announced that the role of Doctor Who would next be played by Peter Capaldi.

Amid much hype and speculation, Peter Capaldi was unveiled as the next Doctor during a special live television event on BBC ONE tonight.

Widely regarded as one of the biggest roles in British television, Capaldi will be the Twelfth Doctor and takes over from Matt Smith who leaves the show at Christmas.

Peter Capaldi says: “Being asked to play The Doctor is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and delight. I can’t wait to get started.”

Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer says : “It’s an incendiary combination: one of the most talented actors of his generation is about to play the best part on television. Peter Capaldi is in the TARDIS!”

Doctor Who companion, Jenna Coleman says “I’m so excited Peter Capaldi is the man taking on the challenge of becoming the Twelfth Doctor. With Steven’s writing and his talent I know we’ll be making an amazing show with an incredible incarnation of number 12. I can’t wait to start this new adventure!”

Charlotte Moore, Controller BBC One says : “Peter Capaldi has all the genius and versatility needed to take on the mantel of the great Time Lord and make the role his own. He’ll bring his own particular wisdom, charisma and wit to the Twelfth Doctor and take the show into an exciting new era.”

Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning says : “We started thinking Peter Capaldi might be the right person to take on this iconic part a few months ago. But it was only when he did a secret audition at Steven’s house under the cover of darkness that we knew we had our man. He’s an extraordinarily talented actor who can seemingly turn his hand to anything. We can’t wait to premiere his unique take on the Doctor on Christmas Day and we are sure he’s going to become one of the all-time classic Doctors.”

Rankin exclusively shot Peter Capaldi this morning, picture available from www.bbcpictures.com

Doctor Who is produced by BBC Cymru Wales

BIOGRAPHY

Peter Capaldi is an award winning actor, film maker and lifelong Doctor Who fan.

He has enjoyed an illustrious career to date in both film and television.

Before securing the coveted role of the Twelfth Doctor, Peter first appeared in Doctor Who in 2008, playing Caecilius in the episode “The Fires of Pompeii”.

Peter grew up in Glasgow and attended the Glasgow School of Art, while studying there he secured his first breakthrough role in Local Hero (1983). He has also had roles in Dangerous Liaisons, The Crow Road, The Devil’s Whore and Torchwood: Children of Earth.

It is his role as Government spin doctor Malcolm Tucker in the BBC comedy series, The Thick of It , that has earned Peter both international and award success. In 2010 he won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Male Performance in a Comedy Role and the BPG Best Actor Award. In both 2010 and 2012, Peter won the British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actor. A film spin-off from The Thick of It, entitled In the Loop, was released in 2009.

As well as appearing in front of the camera, Peter is an award winning film maker. In 1995, he won the Oscar for Best Short Film (Live Action) for Franz Kafka’s It’s a Wonderful Life. He also wrote Soft Top, Hard Shoulder, which won the audience award at the London Film Festival, and wrote and directed Strictly Sinatra. Peter’s stage credits include Professor Marcus in The Ladykillers at the Liverpool Playhouse, which saw the play transfer to the Gielgud Theatre in London.

2013 has been a busy year for Peter who has been seen on screen in the film World War Z and in BBC Two drama series The Hour, for which he was BAFTA nominated. Not only will Peter film his first scenes for Doctor Who this Autumn, but he will appear in the forthcoming film The Fifth Estate and the Disney film Maleficent.

Peter is currently filming new BBC One drama series The Musketeers, in which he plays Cardinal Richelieu which will launch in early 2014.


Adverts/Affiliates

425 comments

  • The 14th Doctor

    August 4th, 2013 - 10:43pm

    I for one hope the titles don’t change. We’ve only had them for half a series lol. If they change too much it looks unprofessional. Obviously Peter Capaldi’s face has to be put on there though.

  • Anonymous

    August 4th, 2013 - 10:41pm

    Actually, if you think about it, Alex Kingston is much closer in age to Peter than she was Matt.

  • Anonymous

    August 4th, 2013 - 10:40pm

    ^ Moodbeam, Remember when the Impossible Astronaut aired and we were all worried it got an overnight of 6.5 mil? Well, the FINAL Figures are around that mark now. People are turning off. We’ve lost about two million viewers in the UK, and it seems to be dropping further.

  • Susan

    August 4th, 2013 - 10:30pm

    Good choice. But why couldn’t the BBC have waited and revealed the new doctor in the next episode rather than make us sit through what was a tedious programme? It now makes the anniversary episode a bit of an anti-climax, which is a real shame.

  • DylanapDavros

    August 4th, 2013 - 10:30pm

    As he looks simular to Tom Baker, Would love to see his face used on the 4th Doctor intro scenes

  • DylanapDavros

    August 4th, 2013 - 10:27pm

    I agree also with the comments of “tombakerremindsmeofmydad.com”. The ideas for storylines & even humour in Doctor Who are endless. I believe the storylines could improve for the shows sake, especially with a new Doctor. For nostalgia i would love to see the Doctor meet up with Unit from 70s again (obviously a different sargeant would be covering for lethbridge stewarts abscence as he and his immediate comrads are away on a mission at the time). The scope & ideas for the show are endless

  • Anonymous

    August 4th, 2013 - 10:25pm

    Im glad we have an older actor because now the show can become dark again

    p.s if john hurt is a past doctor than tecnecly speaking peter is the 13th. But richard hurdnell played the 1st doctor in the five doctors and what about the valyard or the watcher or the dream lord. What about the brain of morbious doctors( no they are not morbious they are the doctor!) so tecnecly speaking how many lives has the doctor had?

  • Moodbeam

    August 4th, 2013 - 10:25pm

    Doctor Who is in no trouble at all. I wish people would stop scaremongering like this. The show is one of the best performing programmes the BBC airs each year, add on top of that the global attention is has been garnering in recent years and all the merchandise licenses they shift off the back of it… Doctor Who will be around for many years to come.

  • pug dalek

    August 4th, 2013 - 10:22pm

    The doctor not a she no voimat on the frool or upset dr who is like 1975-1979 not 1989 tax bbc zygons to hahhpy days

  • Moodbeam

    August 4th, 2013 - 10:22pm

    If we’re being pedantic Freema Agyeman also appeared in Who before before landing the part of Martha.

    I noticed we had another Peter there to welcome him! I thought that was a coincidence too. 😛

  • Anonymous

    August 4th, 2013 - 10:17pm

    Relax as long as the show keeps makeing money it’s safe

  • MadManWithABox

    August 4th, 2013 - 10:17pm

    Both Colin baker and Karen Gillian have had roles before landing major parts

  • tombakerremindsmeofmydad.com

    August 4th, 2013 - 10:13pm

    Meant to say HIGH expectations. Doh!!

  • drjakeyoung

    August 4th, 2013 - 10:12pm

    How long do yo think he will stay? And how about a new title sequence?

  • Doctordredd67

    August 4th, 2013 - 10:09pm

    Well Done….A great choice ( and another Scottish actor plays the Doctor ).
    I can see him playing the role as good as David Tennant, and my family and I are really looking forward to seeing him in action next year( after his intro in the this years xmas special )

  • TheDoctorWhoGeek

    August 4th, 2013 - 10:09pm

    Yeahhh thedaleksdeath… that’s why he said the second… 😛

  • tombakerremindsmeofmydad.com

    August 4th, 2013 - 10:07pm

    I am in complete agreement. Give the guy a chance you doubtors. I am hoping that an actor of his maturity and calibre will encourage the writers to pull their finger out. Matt Smith was a great Dr, but his storylines were sometimes lacking. Especially in the last couple of series. Sad to see him go, but I have expectations from our new Dr.

  • thedaleksdeath

    August 4th, 2013 - 10:07pm

    Nope Colin Baker did the same thing.

  • The Daleks’ Advocate

    August 4th, 2013 - 10:02pm

    I’m underwhelmed. I’m glad they went for an older and not so attractive actor, but all this hype for a mere casting announcement? I really hoped for a trailer for the 50th Anniversary. 🙁

  • RORY DOCTOR RIVER POND

    August 4th, 2013 - 9:58pm

    i thought iver isnt coming bak

  • Dalek the Supreme

    August 4th, 2013 - 9:53pm

    Glad we have an older Doctor, and this is coming from someone who’s Doctor is Matt Smith. I haven’t seen The Fires of Pompeii in a long time, but I’m sure he’ll be great. Anyone else notice he’s the second Peter who played the Doctor and the second actor to appear in Doctor Who before taking the role?

  • DylanapDavros

    August 4th, 2013 - 9:51pm

    Well Done BBC
    Being a lifelong fan of the show (since about 1975) i would like to say how chuffed to bits i am with tonights announcement and a very”Big Congratulations to Peter Capaldi”, a superb actor. He not only looks like Doctor Who, he really is the Doctor!
    He is so perfect for the Part in so many ways, it will be refreshing to see in the 50th Anniversary a more mature actor taking the helms of the Tardis, feels like the show is returning to its roots ,the very first series where an older actor took on the role. Capaldi has a very Tom Bakerish look to him (my favourite Doctor to date). Im sure he will bring a grainyness to the show, i am very excited to see him take on the role, he will be excellent, hopefully the best. Good luck Peter & watch out for those Daleks. And to any of those cynics & doubters out there, watch the classic episodes, you will then realise how perfect he really is for the part. In the lyrics of John Lennon..”C’mon)
    Ev’rybody’s talkin’ ’bout
    Minister, Sinister, Banisters and Canisters,
    Bishops, Fishops, Rabbis, and Pop Eyes, Bye bye, Bye byes
    All we are saying is give “Pete” a chance
    All we are saying is give “Pete” a chance.

    “long live the Doctor”

  • The 14th Doctor

    August 4th, 2013 - 9:49pm

    Actually, Alex Kingston is closer to his age, by far than Matt Smith’s.

  • JennaColemanCanNeverLeaveDoctorWho

    August 4th, 2013 - 9:43pm

    I think people should give him a chance but I must admit, the fact that he is older than 9, 10 & 11 is something that I will have to get used to- and the fact that river is his wife and they may have a scene that Moffat has already written where they kiss us something to think about but clara says the TARDIS is a ‘snog box’ and she said that she would be the judge of that however the new doctor is about 28 years older than her. And I believe that the new doctor is not the mad man she fell in love with. But I felt the same feeling when matt smith started and I have grown to live him. I believe I could maybe do the same so GIVE HIM A CHANCE DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER!

  • booboo

    August 4th, 2013 - 9:41pm

    very happy so far, would like to go back to a more serious Doctor, i think he would do that very well

  • The TARDIS

    August 4th, 2013 - 9:31pm

    I personally think that when you start saying “The Doctor’s supposed to be…” you are limiting it. I think that Doctor Who should be mad and different and keep you on your toes. The Doctor can never have one set of characteristics, he’s ever-changeable. William Hartnell (the Original, you might say) wasn’t quirky. Being so strange is what makes it Doctor Who.

  • Anonymous

    August 4th, 2013 - 9:27pm

    Sadly I fear that he may be the last Doctor we’re going to get, at least for a good few years. If the ratings (and don’t deny it, they ARE going down) and quality of the scripts carry on as they have been, I dunno what the not too distant future holds for DW.

  • poobar73

    August 4th, 2013 - 9:26pm

    You NEED to wait until you make such hard disisions

  • The TARDIS

    August 4th, 2013 - 9:25pm

    Well… River did say in Silence in the Library that her Doctor had old eyes… Could be Capaldi’s Doctor.

  • poobar73

    August 4th, 2013 - 9:22pm

    Then if you turn of because of that you are not a real fan

Leave a Reply to JennaColemanCanNeverLeaveDoctorWho

Your email address will not be published.

By clicking submit you agree to our terms and conditions (below), we reserve the right to edit or delete inappropriate messages.

Comment rules

The Doctor Who site welcomes constuctive comments related to the news article in question. Links posted in comments may not be displayed. We reserve the right to delete or edit any post entirely at our discretion. If you leave unacceptable comments your IP address will be banned and reported

Click here to read full comments terms and conditions

Twitter

Facebook