The big Doctor Who Christmas special airs this week, and it may mark the beginning of the end for star Peter Capaldi. In an interview with the Telegraph, the current Doctor said the next season of the BBC sci-fi juggernaut could be his last.
Doctor Who just ended its ninth season on December 5th, and last month Capaldi confirmed he was in for season 10.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Capaldi said he loves the show, but may retire from the TARDIS soon:
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.”
Capaldi was cast as the Doctor in 2013 and has been in the series for the past two seasons alongside Jenna Coleman as his companion, Clara Oswald.
A few months ago, the series’ showrunner Steven Moffat said he’d already begun working on season 10, with no mention of whether or not it could be Capaldi’s send-off season. The last doctor, Matt Smith, left the series after three seasons as well.
As for the show, Moffat has no plans on it ending anytime soon. He mentioned to Variety last month that the series will continue for at least five more years.
Capaldi, on leaving the series:
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.”
What do you think? Would you like to see Capaldi leave after the next season? If he does, who would you like to be the next Doctor?
Oh, I hope Capaldi sticks around a bit longer. He is BY FAR my favorite of the new Doctors!
Sorry, just not a huge Capaldi fan. I’d like to see them bring back Jackson Lake, honestly
I’m not adverse to a female doctor, it could be very interesting, River would have made a great Doctor! I also like the two companion dynamic, if they’re written properly. Rory and Amy have been my favorites, followed by Sarah Jane, Rose, Donna, and Clara.
I saw your comment just minutes after my wife and I were discussing the male Doctor vs. female Doctor debate. We were both in agreement that a female doctor would be great, if done correctly. We both also agreed that one sure way to do it wrong would be to have River be the Doctor. I just found it hilarious, the widely varied opinions of what people would like to see – especially after my wife and I discuss the very topic of River being Doctor Thirteen and how it would ruin it, for us. I can’t wait to see… Read more »
Or… and this is my wife’s take on it… for those who would like to see a female Doctor, what about Jenny, the Doctor’s cloned daughter? She took off, giving a line that hinted at further adventures, but then was never heard from, again. She would make another great vessel for the Doctor’s next chapter of adventures.
Just to toss out an idea that might be interesting… Jack Harkness. He already can’t die. If, somehow, Jack was exposed to regeneration energy, becoming something of a vessel for the doctor, it would make for some interesting story lines. Jack has the swashbucklingness of the 10th Doctor and the hyperactive personality of the 11th, with the added bonus that he is already an established character. We are familiar with him, eliminating the need to acclimate to yet another branch in the line of Doctors. Then, this could somehow tie Jack’s inability to die and the attributes of being a… Read more »
personally i dont want a female doctor. im not sexist i just believe that since he has always been male just keep him that way UNLESS it somehow works into the mythos of the show. and i havent seen anyway to do so without rewriting the mythos. i also think two companions works better than one. i also dont like this talk of the show ending.
It would be interesting to see the Doctor as a woman but was hoping they would make him a red head first.
Get Damian Lewis to play the ginger Doctor.
David E has some great ideas for the new Doctor. Rps’ idea of a woman doctor has great possibilities, but I would prefer a male companion. Too many women in my life already. Smiley face. I’ve been a fan of Mr. Capaldi’s for many years and I do undertstand why he would want to return to a more versatile career. I will miss him though. Funny as I was just thinking of when he would leave. I saw him on Broadway many years ago with Liam Neeson in a play about Oscar Wilde. Mr. Neeson was Mr. Wilde.
If Peter Capaldi is leaving after season 10, there’s only a few actors I know would play the 13th Doctor are James Nesbitt, Douglas Henshall,
John Hannah, Dougray Scott, Robson Green, Henry Ian Cusick,
Reece Shearsmith and Alec Newman.
If he does leave it’s time to have a women Doctor. Heard him say he does not want to have parents explain to there kids how he changed into a women. If they can explain how he changes into a different looking man I think they can explain changing to a women.. It would make for great writing and different story lines. Having a women companion with a women Doctor could be a lot of fun. Steve M. Do it
that is the most crap thing i ever heard. the doctor is and will always be a man. period.
Yes just like the Master, I mean Missy – oh I’ll get my coat
Touche!
Gosh; I only see one comment who is not in favor a female Doctor. We have to respect each other’s opinions or who are we anyway?
The amount of downvotes on your comment is sad, and it’s the very reason why it won’t happen. If people are too PC, intolerant, sexist, and prude to understand, it can’t happen.
One need not be PC, intolerant, sexist, or prudish to intensely dislike the idea of the Doctor regenerating as a woman. One need only be a long-time fan of the show.