Peter Capaldi is weighing in on the backlash surrounding recent Doctor Who casting choices, and his comments probably won’t sit well with fans.
Capaldi, who played the Twelfth Doctor from 2013 to 2017, spoke with The Times of London about the long-running BBC franchise and was asked about reaction to Jodie Whittaker and Ncuti Gatwa joining the show.
Whittaker became the first woman to play the Doctor, while Gatwa became the first openly queer Black actor to take on the role.
Peter Capaldi Defends Doctor Who Changes
Capaldi said Doctor Who reflects the era it is made in and argued that is part of the show’s value.
“It reflects its times and it’s a good thing in the world, though it’s become a bit too big, too important for the BBC or whoever,” Capaldi said. “When I was a kid and watched it, it was just a monster show in the corner of the room. I don’t know why people take it so seriously.”
While Capaldi seemingly sounds as if he thinks Doctor Who is a joke, fans have taken the show seriously for decades, which is obviously part of why the series has lasted this long.
The fan investment, conventions, merchandise, home media sales, streaming deals, and constant online discussion are all part of why Doctor Who remains a major BBC brand rather than just another goofy, old sci-fi show.
Fans Helped Make Doctor Who Big
Capaldi’s point seems to be that Doctor Who should still be fun and not treated like sacred text, which is a fair enough.
At the same time, telling fans he doesn’t know why they take it so seriously comes off a bit tone-deaf. Capaldi was reportedly paid at least $1 million during his run as the Doctor. That kind of paycheck does not happen because Doctor Who is just some disposable “monster show in the corner of the room.”
It happens because fans care and don’t dismiss it as some kind of joke to be looked down upon.
Doctor Who Ratings Have Collapsed
The current state of Doctor Who makes Capaldi’s comment land even worse.
Ratings fell during Jodie Whittaker’s run and dropped even further under Ncuti Gatwa.
The Disney-backed relaunch also failed to turn the show into a bigger global hit, with Disney exiting its deal with the BBC after two seasons.
Gatwa is out, Disney is gone, and the future of the franchise is once again uncertain.
