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January 30th, 2017 164 comments

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Peter Capaldi to Leave Doctor Who Christmas 2017

Peter Capaldi reveals to Jo Whiley that the new series of Doctor Who will be his last.


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164 comments

  • Gary

    January 31st, 2017 - 10:33am

    Sad news about peter going just when I was just getting use to him, he didn’t get much of a chance really too long between series, the gaps between david tennant and matt smiths series were not as long we got to know and love their doctors much quicker, peter capaldi was quoted as saying he was keen on the way the bbc was messing around with the time schedule of the show I agree, you never what time it would be on, I’m 52 and. been a fan all my life my 9 year old son is a massive fan too, matt smith was our favourite DOCTOR ,come on bbc bring him back or give us someone who appeals to the young viewers for they are the future ,don’t take a great show for granted.

  • Arby

    January 31st, 2017 - 10:14am

    It took a while for him to grow on me. Hated the sunglasses sonic and guitar playing, felt more the Capaldi show than The Doctor at times. But he was a good Doctor overall, with the grumpy and funny moments.

    I would love Guy Henry to be the new Doctor going forward.

  • Tim M

    January 31st, 2017 - 9:58am

    Whilst Peter Capaldi has not been a bad Doctor, he is my least favourite since the shows return in 2005. It makes sense we have a new Doctor with a new showrunner. Capaldi is a fantastic actor, but he wouldn’t have been my obvious choice.

  • The Living Shadow

    January 31st, 2017 - 9:44am

    Very disappointed. I loved 12’s era, no matter what people said throughout it.

    It annoys me how right from the start and throughout his era, all I’ve seen on Facebook are articles like “Who will play the next Doctor” even way before Capaldi was even rumoured to be leaving, or people complaining about the show, or people saying he’s too old.
    I feel like a lot (maybe not quite a majority, but certainly a lot) of fans didn’t even really give him a chance.

    I’m glad that since this announcement, I’ve finally been seeing some positive comments about Capaldi’a time as the Doctor though.

  • The Outcast

    January 31st, 2017 - 9:38am

    I agree about the TARDIS interior bit. We need another one. I love TARDIS interiors, so this is long over due.

  • Wibbly Wobbly, Timey Wimey

    January 31st, 2017 - 9:15am

    Contrary to most people on this list, I was very glad to see this. I think 3 seasons is a perfect amount for a doctor. Nothing against Peter Capaldi, I thought he was a great doctor, but I am definitely ready for a new one. I hope Chris Chibnall will choose wisely who will replace him, and I am also rooting for a new TARDIS interior, theme music and titles.

    Also, if Chibnall can keep the doctor male, then I will be happy.

  • fiona ting

    January 31st, 2017 - 8:39am

    It is very sad that he leave this year xmas and I enjoy watching he Doctor who series 8 and 9 also 10 which willbe on spring and another person whotook his place also very good when they annouce very soon

  • The Outcast

    January 31st, 2017 - 8:14am

    I was hoping he would stay for half of series 11 so that we could have an unexpected regeneration half way though. Well atleast when Big Finish get hold of 12 we can hope that:

    A) Recon most of Hell bent (e.g The Doctor breaking all his rules to save Clara (why not save Adric too?), The Hybrid being the reason the Doctor left Gallifrey, The universe being fine with Clara having infinite time before death, etc, etc)

    B) Fix the ‘Name of the Doctor’ ending so that Clara isn’t the one who choose the TARDIS for the Doctor (The Doctor chose the TARDIS out of desperation because it was the only unlocked one).

    C) Fix the Character of the Doctor and Clara to make them more consistent.

    PS: Also hope they recon 10.2. If that regeneration stuff in WF doesn’t count, that shouldn’t too. Why should we waste another regeneration on 10?

  • WFK DVD Collector 17

    January 31st, 2017 - 7:55am

    Gutted. He was never given a proper chance due to horrible writing for nearly every story he was in. I and many other fans knew he would have been fantastic if he had been allowed to develop his incarnation of the Doctor, but he was always held back. Big Finish, its in your hands now. (Well, when you get the rights anyway)

  • Anonymous

    January 31st, 2017 - 7:45am

    Noooooooooo

  • Exterminator

    January 31st, 2017 - 7:33am

    What a shame, I think he’s been brilliant. I’m looking forward to series 10 even more now especially the Christmas special.

    I loved hearing Peter Capaldi talking about the band James on the radio, they’re one of my favourite groups.

  • Pats86

    January 31st, 2017 - 7:14am

    Shame, great Doctor. Unfortunately he had many poor stories penned by Moffat. It would have been good to see him written by someone else and be the focus of the show rather than the awful Clara.
    Series 10 does not fill me with confidence, not with Moffat at the helm, the damage done by him may be irreversible the fan fan base has split with many ideas from Moffat, Clara never dying, gender change, exceptionally bad xmas stories as well as Hell Bent, the worst episode EVER.
    When messing /changing the cannon of the show the fans should be taken into consideration surely? But no Moffat decided to break the fan base on such issues, the worst part is he didn’t have to do such a things, to me it was done out of spite and it is disgraceful he was allowed to do so.
    Anyway I wish Capaldi all the best in the future, he is a brilliant Doctor and it’s a shame he isn’t getting the chance to show just how more brilliant he could have been with a different show runner.

  • Pats86

    January 31st, 2017 - 6:54am

    Button you are bang on about Capaldi being wasted under Moffat, he certainly became a secondary character to Clara to the point of many really hating her. But that’s Moffats poor show running.

  • Pats86

    January 31st, 2017 - 6:49am

    My red lines are the same as yours The Moffat Paradox, it’s a shame he is leaving.

  • JA

    January 31st, 2017 - 6:11am

    Does this mean another total revamp for Series 11, like they did for Series 5? New Doctor / Headwriter, possibly New Companion / TARDIS Interior / Sonic Screwdriver / Titles and Theme Music. A fresh start?

    If so, I wouldn’t be opposed, because Davies and Moffat’s tenure looked so different to each other, so I’d like Chibnall to follow the trend with a third ‘phase’ of Doctor Who, so to speak

  • The Outcast

    January 31st, 2017 - 2:03am

    Shame. I was sorta hoping Peter would break the ‘ONLY DO 3 YEARS’ rule and do 4 years. It would have been awesome to see him under a new show runner. Something I was personally hoping was that they wouldn’t announce Peter leaving until his regeneration in show. Would have been an amazing secret to keep. Oh well, let the pointless new Doctor speculation begin.

  • The Outcast

    January 31st, 2017 - 1:58am

    I actually hope Bill doesn’t stay. Nothing against Bill, Its just the last 2 companions have stayed on for 2 years and I feel it would be refreshing to have a companion stay for one year only.

  • The Moffat Paradox

    January 31st, 2017 - 12:24am

    Not altogether surprising but was hoping he might go on till 2018 and I had read, whether or not true, that what he was being paid when it came to contract renewal may have had a bearing on his decision as well.

    So as Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart in the classic series would say: “Here we go again.”

    My only personal red lines for continuing to watch is that the regeneration does not change gender and if they where to go for a black Doctor they choose someone who is rated like Idris Elba.

  • Anonymous

    January 31st, 2017 - 12:14am

    No they did not, and frankly him leaving is only going to give certain newspapers even more click bait power because fans will continue to demand “They were right”.

  • The Dalek’s Advocate

    January 31st, 2017 - 12:14am

    Shame. I really wished we’d have a chance of seeing the Twelfth Doctor under another showrunner. Fingers crossed that Bill at least will stay…

  • TORCHWOODFAN1

    January 30th, 2017 - 11:25pm

    I pretty much agree with anonymous,though I love series 1-4 loads as well

  • Anonymous

    January 30th, 2017 - 11:10pm

    Couldn’t disagree more. His first series was good but not special. However, his second series was the best series (barring 1 episode), Ive seen since 1978.

    It’s all about opinion.

  • TORCHWOODFAN1

    January 30th, 2017 - 11:01pm

    No.

  • Darren

    January 30th, 2017 - 10:57pm

    I was hoping for more story lines regarding “good guy or bad guy” theme.
    I enjoyed him as well, not sure how will be next..

  • Button

    January 30th, 2017 - 10:54pm

    It kind of makes sense, given that subsequent series will be done by a new show runner a new doctor would be the obvious choice.
    But that aside I will say this, Capaldi has done a great job as the doctor. Just like all others and the late John Hurt he has made his mark on the series and the community. However in my opinion his character felt a little wasted, in the first two series of his run he felt more like a side character as clara took the stage. He didn’t resolve the problems that other incarnations did which just felt so out of character.
    But what he did right was bring a grumpy old demenor to the character of the doctor and the distinct Scottish flare was a welcome addition. Capaldi want like matt smith for me, he was good throughout and I hope his exit is as epic and memorable as the eleventh doctors.

  • Koquillian

    January 30th, 2017 - 10:43pm

    Thank God. Through no fault of his own it has been a terrible era comparable with toms last series or Colin’s era. In fact I’d say it is the worst era in the shows history so far, but one can hope series 10 is actually good.

  • Dalekparadigm2

    January 30th, 2017 - 10:39pm

    Very disappointing. I don’t reckon it is his own decision… BBC wanted a “fresh slate” if I recall.

  • 47

    January 30th, 2017 - 10:39pm

    I have genuinely liked Peter Capaldi as The Doctor – Just a shame he has been saddled with some dreadful stories, and those which have been blighted with awful comedy and buffoonery that was best left in the previous era…..
    Still, last season, I thought the Davros, Zygon and the base thing with the Fisher King, stories were 3 of the best.
    I have always preferred Capaldi when he has had to deal with weight and gravitas.
    So, look forward to the next series, and hopefully and then hopefully a good regeneration episode – how about exterminated by The Daleks ?
    I would love to see Ben Whishaw as the next Doctor !!
    Thanks for a good job, Peter Capaldi !!

  • TheTorchwoodTowers

    January 30th, 2017 - 10:33pm

    Well this has ruined my day. Such a shame that he’s leaving, he was a fantastic Doctor .

  • The Temporal Jelly Baby

    January 30th, 2017 - 10:29pm

    I don’t think I’ve ever clicked on a link so quickly. :/

    Oh well.

    “Everything ends and it’s always sad. But everything begins again too and that’s…always happy. Be happy.” – The Doctor, 2016

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