“Doctor Who’s”, Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman, at Awesome Con 2016 in Washington, D.C. (Pat Cuadros/Flickr Creative Commons)
Peter Capaldi announced his departure from Doctor Who in an interview with Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2, posted on radiotimes.com, Monday evening.
Capaldi has performed in the title role for three years. His last performance will come in the 2017 Christmas special, with Season 10 on its way this year. Hints about his departure have been circulating since December, 2015, where Capaldi said in an interview with The Telegraph, “This could be my final year – it’s terrifying. I love Doctor Who but it can be quite an insular world and I do want to do other things. There will come a time when this is over. But I knew that when I started. I was thinking about my regeneration scene from the outset. That’s my terrible melancholic nature. When you accept the job you know there’ll come a day, inevitably, when you’ll be saying goodbye.”
While the news of Capaldi’s exit may stun some, there isn’t much of an outcry, as the show did not broadcast any episodes in 2016. This is due to Stephen Moffat, writer and executive producer of Doctor Who announcing in January 2016 his departure from the show.
“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…” Moffat said in a statement.
Stephen Moffat’s successor will be Chris Chibnall, creator of the television show “Broadchurch.”
Beside Moffat’s departure announcement in 2016, fans also got a glimpse of The Doctor’s new companion, Bill, in a promo trailer announcing Pearl Mackie as the next companion. Though there were no regular series episodes in 2016, there was still the 2016 Christmas special back in December.
Though Capaldi’s time as the Doctor is coming to a close, there are some key moments in the upcoming season to keep an eye out for, such as The Doctor’s regeneration. According to the BBC’s article reporting on Capaldi’s exit it will take place during the Christmas Special, December 2017.
“One of the greatest privileges of being Doctor Who is to see the world at its best. 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,” Capaldi said according to BBC One’s website.
The longest running science fiction show, Doctor Who, Series 10 will premiere on Saturday, April 15, 2017.
Matthew Gilbert is a staff writer for The Daily Campus. He can be reached via email at matthew.gilbert@uconn.edu.