Don’t worry, the 12th Doctor still has one more season left in him!
[dropcap size=small]P[/dropcap]eter Capaldi has officially announced that he will be leaving Doctor Who after the 2017 Christmas Special. Capaldi, who joined Doctor Who back 2014, is the 12th actor to appear in the role and just like those before him (David Tennant, Matt Smith) has only stayed on for three years. Is it just me, or is there a three-year curse when it comes to being the Doctor?
However, Peter Capaldi isn’t the only person who is leaving Doctor Who. Showrunner Steven Moffat, the guy who is responsible for breaking our hearts every season, will be stepping down to be replaced by Broadchurch‘s Chris Chibnall. BBC did ask for Capaldi to stay on until Steven Moffat left but the actor declined. This is may be due to BBC publicly stating that they wished for a younger actor to take on the role and rush in a new era that is similar to when David Tennant was the 10th Doctor.
“One of the greatest privileges of being Doctor Who is to see the world at its best!”, said Peter Capaldi. “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.”
With Capaldi leaving many rumors have spread that James Bond star Ben Whishaw, who played the role of Q in Spectre and Skyfall, is BBC’s favorite choice. Another rumor is that Matt Smith may return to reprise his role as the Doctor. The actor has repeatedly said he wished he never left and Steven Moffat has even given the idea some thought. With the next season of Doctor Who to begin in April BBC only has so much time to find a replacement before the Doctor regenerates at the end of the 2017 Christmas Special.
