Category: Doctor Who

‘Doctor Who’ Showrunner Confirms Peter Capaldi to Return for Season 9

Peter Capaldi’s 12th incarnation of Doctor Who will run at least two seasons, it was confirmed Monday.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter after an event in London to mark the DVD release of the BBC series’ recently completed eighth season, showrunner Steven Moffat said that Capaldi was returning.

“Yes, he’s confirmed,” Moffat said, although he later added that Jenna Coleman, who has played the Time Lord’s companion Clara Oswald for the past two years, had not, something that could fuel rumors in the U.K. press that she is going to leave the show following the upcoming Christmas special.

At the DVD launch event, Capaldi, Coleman and Moffat were joined onstage with Michelle Gomez, who played Doctor Who’s nemesis the Master in the latest series, and Samuel Anderson, who played Clara’s boyfriend, Danny Pink.

During a Q&A session, Gomez said that finding out she was playing the first female incarnation of the Master was “up there with being Hillary Clinton.”

Capaldi also revealed that he was initially approached to audition for the part of the eighth Doctor Who in 1996’s unsuccessful TV film reboot attempt, a role that eventually went to Paul McGann.

“But I turned down the opportunity,” he said. “I loved it so much that I didn’t want to have the disappointment of going for something that I would never get.”

The Q&A followed the world premiere of Earth Conquest: The Doctor Who World Tour, chronicling the cast’s 12-day promotional tour in August that covered seven cities across five continents. The documentary, which focuses on the series’ vast international network of fans, is included with the DVD.

In a separate release Monday, it was announced that ratings for the first 10 episodes of Doctor Who season eight were up 23 percent in the U.S., without revealing exact figures. The season premiere was the show’s highest-rated premiere ever on BBC America.

In the U.K., the season snared an average consolidated audience of 7.4 million viewers, an increase of 39 percent on the overnight figures. At an event last week, Moffat denied that there had been a ratings drop and that U.K. viewing figures “are the same” as the previous season when including delayed viewing.

“It’s been an outstanding debut series for Peter Capaldi as Doctor Who and I’m very grateful to Peter, Steven Moffat and everyone involved,” said Danny Cohen, director of BBC Television, in a statement.

Nick Frost to guest star in Christmas episode of ‘Doctor Who’

How’s this for a slice of fried gold? The BBC announced today that actor Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, The World’s End) will guest star in this year’s special Christmas episode of Doctor Who, the production of which has now begun.

“I’m so thrilled to have been asked to guest in the Doctor Who Christmas special, I’m such a fan of the show,” Frost said in a statement. “The read-through was very difficult for me; I wanted to keep stuffing my fingers into my ears and scream ‘No spoilers!’ Every day on set I’ve had to silence my internal fan boy squeals!”

Meanwhile, Doctor Who executive producer Steven Moffat said, “Frost at Christmas—it just makes sense! I worked with Nick on the Tintin movie many years ago, and it’s a real pleasure to lure him back to television for a ride on the TARDIS.”

The BBC also announced that the cast for the show will include Natalie Gumede, Faye Marsay, Nathan McMullen, and Michael Troughton, whose father, Patrick Troughton, played the second incarnation of the Doctor.

‘Doctor Who’: David Tennant has been talking to Peter Capaldi about Season 8

Soon enough Peter Capaldi will take over at the helm on “Doctor Who.” Starting with Season 8, he replaces Matt Smith in the lead role. To make sure he’s fully prepared, he may be seeking the guidance of a former Doctor.

“Gracepoint” star David Tennant, who played the Tenth Doctor on the series, has spoken with Capaldi about the role. “I’m so excited to see him and he’s been in touch a lot and had such a great time,” Tennant tells Zap2it during the summer TV press tour. “His enthusiasm is infectious for it.”

Though Tennant has been in contact with the new Doctor, he hasn’t pulled any strings with showrunner Steven Moffat to see the upcoming episodes early. “No, I wouldn’t really want to,” he says. “Apparently it’s all leaked online, so it’s all available! But I haven’t. I wouldn’t know where to look, so I haven’t found it.”

“Doctor Who” Season 8 premieres Saturday, Aug. 23, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BBC America.

‘Doctor Who’: Steven Moffat says Matt Smith is final Doctor, what about Peter Capaldi?

As if the “Doctor Who” regeneration mystery couldn’t get more difficult to follow, showrunner Steven Moffat is talking again — and he’s making matters even more confusing.

While speaking to the Radio Times, Moffat says that Matt Smith is the 13th and final Doctor, after counting John Hurt’s War Doctor and David Tennant using up one of the regenerations during his stint.

That makes Smith regenerating into Peter Capaldi during the Christmas special a bit problematic, because the Doctor doesn’t have any lives left. “The 12 regenerations limit is a central part of ‘Doctor Who’ mythology — science fiction is all about rules, you can’t just casually break them,” Moffat says. How another Doctor will fit in there is anyone’s guess.

According to the Radio Times, Smith’s Doctor will give a speech about “dying” during the Christmas special. Perhaps if the Doctor dies after his final regeneration, and is brought back to life, he gets to start over from scratch?

Any other show could easily just ignore this sort of limitation, but Moffat won’t stop talking about it, so he must have a pretty clever loophole to introduce Capaldi. It won’t take long to find out exactly that that is, as the “Doctor Who” Christmas special airs on Christmas Day.

‘Doctor Who’: Karen Gillan confirms no 50th anniversary return for Amy Pond

Whovians that were excited at the possibility of another companion’s return for “Doctor Who’s” 50th anniversary special, cool your jets. Amy Pond will not be making an appearance, that that’s coming from Karen Gillan herself.

While speaking with the Radio Times, Gillan confirms, “I’m not in it, just to put that out there.” When Gillan left the series, her character was sent back in time along with her husband (Arthur Darvill) by a Weeping Angel, to a place where the Doctor’s TARDIS cannot go.

Of course, Gillan is still excited about the special, that will see the return of David Tennant and Billie Piper, as the tenth Doctor and Rose Tyler, respectively. Not only is she planning to watch it, but Karen makes it sound like there could be a party happening. “I think I’m going to be in America, so I’ll probably round up all the people who like to watch ‘Doctor Who’ in the area,” she says. “We’ll probably watch it and drink PG Tips and eat Jammy Dodgers, if I can get them.”

Sounds like a pretty good time if you can get yourself an invite to her “Doctor Who” viewing party.

‘Doctor Who’: Peter Jackson wants to direct episode, Steven Moffat says

Could director Peter Jackson be looking to trade in the Shire for a TARDIS? According to “Doctor Who” showrunner Steven Moffat, he certainly is. While appearing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Moffat says Jackson is “serious” about wanting to direct an episode of the BBC show and only has one simple request in return, the Radio Times reports.

“I was at the ‘Hobbit’ premiere and he just wants a Dalek,” Moffat reveals. “That’s what he wants. We give him a Dalek and then he’ll direct an episode.” Not a bad deal to get one of the world’s biggest movie directors to take the reins for a little while.

Should Jackson sign on to direct, Moffat says the production would likely need to take place in New Zealand, where Jackson is based. While it would be quite a journey to move the show’s entire production there, Moffat says it’s “entirely possible.”

Now, everyone just hope that it actually becomes a reality.

‘Doctor Who’: ‘Local Hero’ and more of Peter Capaldi’s best roles

Now that he’s been announced as the 12th Doctor on “Doctor Who,” here’s a look back at some the best moments from Peter Capaldi’s career, going back to the early 1980s.

Whovians may recognize him for his previous appearance on “Doctor Who,” as Caecilius in the Series 4 episode “The Fires of Pompeii.” He also starred in “Torchwood: Children of Earth” with John Barrowman, otherwise known as Captain Jack Harkness.

One of Capaldi’s first roles was in 1983’s “Local Hero,” alongside Peter Riegert and Burt Lancaster. In the film he plays a young representative for an oil company who learns his employer plans to buy a small village in Scotland to turn into a refinery.

He also stars in the 2009 comedy “In The Loop” with James Gandolfini. He plays his character from the TV series “The Thick of It,” the Director of Communications for the Prime Minister of Northampton. The movie is a spinoff of the show, which ran from 2005-2012. “The Thick of It” and “In The Loop can both be watched on Hulu.

Something to note is Capaldi is the first Doctor who have won an Academy Award. He wrote and directed the short “Franz Kafka’s It’s a Wonderful Life,” which won an Oscar in 1994.

Ironically, Capaldi’s most recent role in “World War Z” came with a curious name. He played the part of W.H.O. Doctor. Of course, W.H.O. stands for World Health organization, but the coincidence is pretty awesome.

Capaldi will become the madman with a box when Matt Smith regenerates during the 2013 “Doctor Who” Christmas special, which airs on December 25.

‘Doctor Who’: Peter Capaldi announced as the new Doctor

After lots of speculation, Peter Capaldi has been named the new Doctor for Series 8 of “Doctor Who.” He will take over for Matt Smith, the 12th Doctor, who is leaving during the 2013 Christmas Special. The announcement was made Sunday (August 4), during “Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor,” which aired on BBC and BBC America.

Capaldi, a Scottish actor, is best known for starring in the BBC series “Thick of It,” though he has a few movie credits to his name, as well. He appeared in “World War Z” and has a part in the upcoming “Maleficent,” starring Angelina Jolie.

The live special, hosted by Zoe Ball, featured celebrity guests sharing their love for “Doctor Who,” including Peter Davison (5th Doctor). The show also featured an interview with Smith, who endorsed the new Doctor. “If I had to pick someone, it would be [Capaldi]. I think he’s great.

It was first announced Smith would be leaving the show in June. He joined the series, becoming the 11th Doctor, in 2010. He was the third to take on the role since the series was relaunched in 2005, following in the footsteps of Christopher Eccleston (9th Doctor) and David Tennant (10th Doctor).

The new Doctor will be introduced as Smith leaves the role, regenerating in the 2013 Christmas special (airing December 25). It will also serve as the show’s 800th episode. Smith was first introduced in the 2009 Christmas special, “The End of Time.”

‘Doctor Who’: Twelfth Doctor to be announced Sunday on BBC

“Doctor Who” fans won’t have long to wait to find out who the next Doctor is. The BBC has confirmed the announcement of who has been selected to fill Matt Smith’s bow-tie as the Twelfth Doctor is scheduled to be made during a live TV special Sunday night.

The half-hour special airs 7 p.m. UK time and will be simulcast in the US at 2 p.m. ET on BBC America. British TV personality Zoe Ball hosts with guest list including Smith and current “Who” showrunner Steven Moffat.

As the BBC’s official release puts it: “The half hour show will include live special guests, Doctors old and new, as well as companions and celebrity fans. Excitement will reach fever pitch as they speculate and recall their favourites, plus feature clips and moments from across the show’s 50 year history.”

Various actors have been rumored as top contenders to assume the role of the Doctor including Ben Daniels and Rory Kinnear, although recent speculation has centered on Peter Capaldi (“In the Loop”) who played a memorable role in the “Torchwood” miniseries “Children of Earth.”

During recent promotion for the upcoming 50th Anniversary special at San Diego’s Comic-Con International and the TCA’s summer press tour in Los Angeles, Moffat and other “Who” producers claimed that casting had “only just begun.”

‘Doctor Who’ 50th Anniversary special sets simultaneous global broadcast

The “Doctor Who” 50th Anniversary special is shaping up to be one of the biggest TV events of the year and the BBC has set a highly unusual broadcast strategy to back-up that fact. Plans are underway to broadcast the special simultaneously around the globe, so fans worldwide can watch — and react — at the exact same time.

The 90-minute special is set to premiere Nov. 23, though an exact time has not yet been announced.

Here’s the official statement from BBC Worldwide: “It’s always been our ambition to work with our broadcast partners so that international Doctor Who fans can enjoy the 50th Anniversary special at the same time as the UK. We’ll have more details soon about our very exciting global plans for November.”

As U.K.’s Radio Times speculates, if “Doctor Who” airs at 7 p.m. in the U.K. that would mean a 2 p.m. premiere on the U.S. East Coast and an 11 a.m. airing on the West Coast. (If you think that sounds early for a typically primetime drama, Australian fans would get their first crack at 6 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24.)

Fans in the U.K. will also have the option of 3D theatrical screenings, while some international broadcasters are expected to offer 3D airings as well.

Meanwhile, with the recent unveiling of an exclusive trailer at San Diego’s Comic-Con International, anticipation for the special is only increasing.