Peter Capaldi on the seriousness of Doctor Who criticism

Peter Capaldi, a former star of Doctor Who, has dismissed recent criticism aimed at the series’ lead actors, Jodie Whittaker and Ncuti Gatwa. He said he doesn’t understand “why people take it so seriously.” Capaldi played the time-traveling hero from 2013 to 2017, before handing the role over to Whittaker, the first female Doctor.

Introduction of new Doctors

Ncuti Gatwa was seen as a major milestone in the show’s history, as he became the first Black actor to play the Doctor in a regular role. His brief run on the series ended last year amid heavy criticism. Both Whittaker and Gatwa faced online hate before they even appeared on screen.

Criticism of the writing

In recent years, criticism of Doctor Who’s writing has intensified. The latest episodes, largely written by current showrunner Russell T. Davies, have drawn especially negative reactions. The Times reported accusations of “excessive wokeness” within the series, which Capaldi viewed as an unfairly heavy response to what was once a pop-culture spectacle.

Capaldi’s view of the series

Capaldi said he found it hard to understand why Doctor Who, a cultural institution in the United Kingdom, provokes such a strong reaction. “It reflects its time and that’s a good thing, but it’s also become a bit too big and too important for the BBC,” he said. He recalled that when he watched the show as a child, it was just a monster show in the corner of the room.

The future of Doctor Who

Production on a new Doctor Who series is currently on hold, especially after Gatwa’s departure and Disney’s decision to end co-financing of the show. The BBC has announced a one-off special aimed at wrapping up the current cliffhanger storyline by Christmas. However, the future of the series remains uncertain.

The expectation is that the Christmas special may introduce who the new regular actor will be to play the Doctor, following Billie Piper’s surprise appearance in the 2025 finale. Fans hope the episode will tie up the remaining storylines from Davies’ era before he leaves the series himself, after which Doctor Who could return with a clean slate.