# Peter Capaldi to leave Doctor Who **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 31, 2017, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642 "2017-01-31T05:05:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/61 "2017-02-01T18:43:15Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Like stated above, it was brought up in Matt Smith’s last episode. It was also vaguely referred to with River using up all of her regenerations. > [@](#): > > But thankfully the writers dealt with the problem in the 2013 Christmas Special, when the Doctor played by Matt Smith used all his regenerations up trying to save Trenzalore, the planet it was foretold he would die on. > As his life was set to end, the Time Lords granted him a new generation cycle, allowing the Doctor to regenerate into the 12th Doctor, played by Capaldi. > Read more: [Olivia Colman is bookies favourite for Doctor Who role | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-4180056/Olivia-Colman-bookies-favourite-Doctor-role.html#ixzz4XSbsMJWr) I stand enlightened. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Sanchez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19adc/32.png) [@Rick\_Sanchez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Sanchez)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/62 "2017-02-01T19:03:04Z")
As a lifelong fan of the show, I’m very sad to hear that Capaldi is leaving. His last series was possibly the best one since the show came back ten years ago, and his performances are always rock solid. His Doctor has had a wonderful character arc (so far) and I was really hoping to get 2 more series with him in the main role so as to properly flesh it out. Also, as a lifelong fan of the show, I only care that they hire the best actor they can find. If they audition a hundred actors and the best one is a woman, fine. If they audition ten thousand actors and the best one is a leprous, piebald, werewolf from the Sea of Tranquility, fine. But what I _don’t_ want, is for them to cast a woman for the sake of casting a woman. If the best actor they can find is a straight white man like the last thirteen Doctors before him, he should get the part. End of. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/63 "2017-02-01T19:28:09Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Has any “front-runner” ever become the Doctor? It seems like Tennant, Smith, and Capaldi were all surprises. FWIW, bookies are offering 10-1 ‘underdog’ odds on Lara Pulver and Andrew Scott. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/64 "2017-02-01T19:50:19Z")
I’m still backing Sue Perkins. She has a great, mischievous smile that I think suits the Doctor perfectly, and the right sense of humor for it as well. > [@Alessan](#): > > The problem with Stephen Fry is that, let’s face it, this is Doctor Who here. The part does involve a certain amount of running. I don’t recall where, but I saw a video of Steven Fry putting together some IKEA furniture and by the end of it, you would swear that he’d just been made to run up Mt Everest, come down, and then give a hundred push-ups. He was drenched in sweat, completely unable to catch his breath, holding his heart in fear. So yeah, if they wanted to put him into the show doing anything more active than sitting in a chair, I think they would need to 3D render him. ---
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/65 "2017-02-01T20:10:53Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > _Next_ episode? No idea what episode or even _if_ they will kill her off just that the show kills off almost as many regulars as The Walking Dead does. I’m pretty sure the show is caught up to the Books at this point and since the last book hasn’t been finished… ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/66 "2017-02-01T20:15:16Z")
> [@mistymage](#): > > No idea what episode or even _if_ they will kill her off just that the show kills off almost as many regulars as The Walking Dead does. > > I’m pretty sure the show is caught up to the Books at this point and since the last book hasn’t been finished… The show is past the books. She’s dead, Jim. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/67 "2017-02-01T20:18:53Z")
I liked Capaldi, but I thought the writing for the past couple of seasons has been all over the place. I’d like the next Doctor to be a woman–not for the sake of being PC or anything, but just to change things up a bit. I like the possibilities of Colman or Pulver. I also like the suggestion of having the series follow the Doctor’s daughter, as played by Georgia Moffett. I would have liked to see Hugh Laurie as the Doctor, but I wonder if he looks a little too similar to Capaldi. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/68 "2017-02-01T21:00:54Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Apparently a number of folks are placing bets that it’ll be Olivia Colman. > > I figure she’d be devastatingly good. I think I’ve seen her in a few things and while, in Broadchurch for example, she was quite good, I wouldn’t say that I’ve seen her in anything where she had the sort of loopy, off-kilterness of the Doctor. As different as the different incarnations may be, that’s a pretty consistent trait. I tend to think of her as more of a ‘stick in the mud’ sort of character than a dynamic, whimsical one. ---
**Author:** ![TYphoonSignal8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@TYphoonSignal8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TYphoonSignal8)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/69 "2017-02-02T04:32:34Z")
My Facebook feed has exploded over this question. I suspect that the BBC will go back to what hard-core Whovians refer to disparagingly as the “boyfriend Doctor” class of reincarnations, given the popularity of Tennant and Smith. Before his first show, Capaldi intended to be by his own admission in an interview a “less user-friendly” version of the Doctor, and I think that this translated into Capaldi’s Who being a less accessible character especially for a younger audience. This means Idris Alba is out - old bastard. 🙂 Besides, I expect his performance schedule is pretty full for the next few years. (Re: female Whos. Hayley Atwell is an inspired choice. If Gemma Arterton took on the role, I think that would bring in a new audience of young and old men who just like looking at her. Which, I’m afraid, includes me.) ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/70 "2017-02-02T06:04:34Z")
I’m not really in favor of a female Doctor. I loved Missy (and Michelle Gomez was great in the role!), and she did calm one of my main fears of having a woman in the TARDIS–that they couldn’t pull it off without falling prey to all the tired old female tropes. If they _did_ do a female Doctor, I’d want her to be a real Doctor: quick, tough, funny, and above all, the smartest and most confident person in the room. I wouldn’t want her being written into situations where she was underdressed, shown up by her male Companion, _rescued_ by her male Companion…etc. Oddly enough, even though she’s probably too young (give her a few years), I think Emma Watson could pull it off. Whoever it is, they need to be smart, and they need to _ooze_ confidence. If they can’t pull that off, don’t bother. Please, God, not Rupert Grint. I don’t think I could stand watching him mugging for the camera for three seasons. For the record, I _loved_ Capaldi’s Doctor. He managed to get right up there and tie with Tennant in my mind, and I didn’t think that was possible. Not a huge fan of Smith–he was okay when he was being smart and tough and he did have a good sense of humor, but most of the time he was just too young and loopy for me. I’m just sorry we have to be having this conversation this soon. I was hoping for at least one more season after this one. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/71 "2017-02-02T06:06:15Z")
> [@TYphoonSignal8](#): > > and I think that this translated into Capaldi’s Who being a less accessible character especially for a younger audience. That’s a nice way of saying that he came across as a grumpy arsehole whose attempts at acting “cool” (the sunglasses, the guitar) reeked of late midlife crisis. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/72 "2017-02-02T06:29:22Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > I’m not really in favor of a female Doctor. I loved Missy (and Michelle Gomez was great in the role!), and she did calm one of my main fears of having a woman in the TARDIS–that they couldn’t pull it off without falling prey to all the tired old female tropes. If they _did_ do a female Doctor, I’d want her to be a real Doctor: quick, tough, funny, and above all, the smartest and most confident person in the room. I wouldn’t want her being written into situations where she was underdressed, shown up by her male Companion, _rescued_ by her male Companion…etc. Heh. Can you imagine the response if they’d just swapped the sexes of the Doctor and Companion during the David Tennant years? _“Oh, they make the Doctor a woman, and suddenly she’s the most emotional incarnation we’ve ever seen, and instead of talking tech she’s all ‘wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff’, and they build a whole episode around how she totally would’ve died – not the ‘regeneration’ kind of dying, but the ‘for keeps’ kind – if not for her down-to-earth male companion? Plus nakedness?”_ And yet, of course, Tennant was iconic, or ideal, or impeccable, or something. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/73 "2017-02-02T10:26:07Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Apparently a number of folks are placing bets that it’ll be Olivia Colman. > > I figure she’d be devastatingly good. Agreed, but like 95% of British Equity she’s already done an episode - she was in Matt Smith’s first one. Still, they made it work for Capaldi so who knows. > [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I think I’ve seen her in a few things and while, in Broadchurch for example, she was quite good, I wouldn’t say that I’ve seen her in anything where she had the sort of loopy, off-kilterness of the Doctor. As different as the different incarnations may be, that’s a pretty consistent trait. I tend to think of her as more of a ‘stick in the mud’ sort of character than a dynamic, whimsical one. She’s done plenty of comedy (Peep Show, Hot Fuzz) and drama (Tyrannosaurus), and I assure you she can do whimsy. Hell, after her turn as a pregnant spy in The Night Manager _while actually pregnant_ I’m convinced she can do anything she puts her mind to. > [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I’m still backing Sue Perkins. She has a great, mischievous smile that I think suits the Doctor perfectly, and the right sense of humor for it as well. That’d be fun but can she actually act? > [@](#): > > I don’t recall where, but I saw a video of Steven Fry putting together some IKEA furniture and by the end of it, you would swear that he’d just been made to run up Mt Everest, come down, and then give a hundred push-ups. He was drenched in sweat, completely unable to catch his breath, holding his heart in fear. So yeah, if they wanted to put him into the show doing anything more active than sitting in a chair, I think they would need to 3D render him. Plus he’s got a new show at the moment, although they could probably write him out as he’s a supporting character (assuming it even continues). > [@Alessan](#): > > That’s a nice way of saying that he came across as a grumpy arsehole whose attempts at acting “cool” (the sunglasses, the guitar) reeked of late midlife crisis. I though that was entirely the point. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/74 "2017-02-02T10:32:42Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I though that was entirely the point. Maybe, but it was deeply uncomfortable to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/75 "2017-02-02T16:59:05Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > That’d be fun but can she actually act? No idea. But I’d certainly like to hear that they’d brought her in to a casting session, to find out. She seems to be comfortable on camera and that’s probably half of acting. Look at James May on Top Gear. When he first started, you could tell when he was failing to live up the ‘role’ that had been written for him in any particular bit. Now that he has some experience, he’s able to act like he doesn’t know what’s coming up, pretend like the pranks against him were real, etc. If we’re honest, being the doctor mostly means running about spouting technobabble. There doesn’t tend to be a lot of real drama or meaningful character interaction beyond the level of performing in a skit. Overall, I wouldn’t be surprised if she could do it. Certainly, as said, I think it would be worth bringing her in and running her through a scene. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/76 "2017-02-02T17:33:18Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > If we’re honest, being the doctor mostly means running about spouting technobabble. There doesn’t tend to be a lot of real drama or meaningful character interaction beyond the level of performing in a skit. Have you seen Capaldi’s speech in “The Zygon Inversion”? If not, go watch it (it’s on YouTube) (also the episode “Heaven Sent”) and then come back and tell me his acting is the level of “performing in a skit.” Seriously, that Zygon speech still tears me up every time I hear it. More today than ever, given…recent unpleasantnesses. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/77 "2017-02-02T17:39:43Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Look at James May on Top Gear. You know, he would make for an interesting Doctor. Plus we could have Clarkson as The Master! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/78 "2017-02-02T17:52:06Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > I’m not really in favor of a female Doctor. I loved Missy (and Michelle Gomez was great in the role!), and she did calm one of my main fears of having a woman in the TARDIS–that they couldn’t pull it off without falling prey to all the tired old female tropes. If they _did_ do a female Doctor, I’d want her to be a real Doctor: quick, tough, funny, and above all, the smartest and most confident person in the room. I wouldn’t want her being written into situations where she was underdressed, shown up by her male Companion, _rescued_ by her male Companion…etc. Oddly enough, even though she’s probably too young (give her a few years), I think Emma Watson could pull it off. Whoever it is, they need to be smart, and they need to _ooze_ confidence. If they can’t pull that off, don’t bother. > > Please, God, not Rupert Grint. I don’t think I could stand watching him mugging for the camera for three seasons. If you are looking at the Potter kids, my choice would be Matthew Lewis (who was recently on Ripper Street). White guy though. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2017, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/79 "2017-02-02T18:00:46Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > If you are looking at the Potter kids, my choice would be Matthew Lewis (who was recently on Ripper Street). White guy though. Yeah, I could see him. Hell, I could see Daniel Radcliffe before Rupert Grint. Don’t care if they’re white guys. I’m fine with the Doctor being a white guy, or any other color guy. Or a woman, with the caveats in my previous post. I just want them to be _good_. No “stunt casting” just to shoehorn a nonwhite person or woman in. Pick the best person for the job, regardless of color/gender/whatever. That’s all I ask. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2017, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642/80 "2017-02-03T00:35:24Z")
I could totally see Ben Whishaw in the role, but like many mentioned here, he’s probably booked up for the next decade. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-capaldi-to-leave-doctor-who/778642.md?page=5)