Peter Capaldi took on the reign of Doctor full-time in 2014 after a couple of cameos in 2013, sending his already-impressive career into the stratosphere and guaranteed he could live off the proceeds of Comic-Cons and Supanovas forevermore. He’s not that kind of Doctor though. He’s a proper fan that only wants the best of the show.
Evidence of this can be found in the fan letter he wrote over forty years ago, the tiny guest spot he did as a Roman in 2008 and all the surprise events he participates in free of charge. Capaldi is fantastic, there’s no denying. So fantastic that the BBC extended an invitation for him to stay on as the Doctor in the eleventh season and onwards despite showrunner Steven Moffat being replaced by Chris Chibnall. No word on whether he’ll accept, though it’s rather likely.
The actor echoed the sentiment of some of its fans after Doctor Who was postponed to 2017 (apart from a one-off Christmas special) in favour of the Rio Olympics.
“The BBC is an incredible organisation, but… sometimes people there think, ‘That’s looking after itself’. And it’s not being looked after!”
He cites stability as a crux to ratings and warns against further meddling.
“I think maybe their eye was taken off the ball, or the show was seen as a thing they could just push around… I have to pay attention to ratings. I’d rather not, but it’s the way the business is”
Capaldi goes on to distance himself from the rubbish printed in tabloid newspapers, indicating their gossip is based off the out-of-date overnight ratings formula, whereas his cautions come from the long-form three-day and DVR ratings. He’s an intelligent man that’s done his research and is sticking up for his show. Here’s hoping the BBC are listening.
Need any more proof Capaldi is a real-life ledgo? Here’s heartbreaking piece for Red Nose Day offshoot Sports Relief, in which he travelled to Africa free of charge.
