Peter Capaldi Unveiled As the New Star of Doctor Who 242
Dave Knott writes "After months of speculation since Matt Smith announced that he was exiting the long-running British SF show Doctor Who, the BBC has announced the latest actor who will be taking on the titular role. In a live television announcement, with several previous stars on hand, it was revealed that Peter Capaldi will be portraying the newest incarnation of The Doctor. Capaldi is 55 years old, ending a recent trend towards younger Doctors, and had been flagged by bookmakers as the odd-on favourite in recent days, to the extent that they had suspended betting on the issue. He is best known for his role as the foul-mouthed government bureaucrat Malcolm Tucker on the The Thick Of It and has in fact showed up on Doctor Who previously as a guest star. But now Capaldi is set to take his place in the iconic lead role. To help celebrate the 50th anniversary, and the naming of the next Dr. Who, an ice cream shop put up a 35ft straw Dalek sculpture."
Coincidence? (Score:5, Interesting)
IMDB says that in War World Z, he played the character of a Dr. from the W.H.O.
Coincidence?
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Also, he played the same role in World War Z. Yeeesh.
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...he played the character of a Dr...
Dr who? (Could not resist)
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Doctor Who XII (Score:2)
Now we have a Doctor Who, who has been a real Doctor Fan for a long time! Best Wishes to all Whovians!
Re:Doctor Who XII (Score:4, Interesting)
Now we have a Doctor Who, who has been a real Doctor Fan for a long time!
What, David Tennant doesn't count? Getting into acting was practically an accidental by-product of his life-long quest to be the Doctor.
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Now we have a Doctor Who, who has been a real Doctor Fan for a long time!
What, David Tennant doesn't count? Getting into acting was practically an accidental by-product of his life-long quest to be the Doctor.
If it was his life long quest to be the doctor, why did he quit after 5 years?
Re:Doctor Who XII (Score:5, Interesting)
*sigh* Not this again. It was his life long quest to be the Doctor, not to be the Doctor for 10 years and run the show into the ground. He had the best interests of the show in mind. The only reason Doctor Who has lasted this long is because of its continual reinvention, the re-casting of the lead being the most obvious (but no means only) change.
Patrick Troughton advised Peter Davison to only do four years. Peter Davison then passed this same advice on to his then-future-son-in-law David Tennant.
His last line as the Doctor was "I don't want to go," which was exactly how he felt about it. Some people just aren't entirely selfish.
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Perfect (Score:2)
Could easily go on to become one of the best Dr Who's ever.
The best of Malcolm Tucker [youtube.com]
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Even though I really liked the eccentric doctor played by Tom Baker.
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Same here - I loved Tom Baker, and in my head, I'm thinking a Tom Baker-ish, slightly darker Doctor. With a touch more gravitas than Matt Smith.
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I will give you that. I'm hoping a new Doctor gives it a chance for a personality reboot. And writers reboot.
Expletive deleted (Score:2)
W.H.O. Doctor... (Score:2)
Tin Pot, Dildo-Headed Dalek C**ts (Score:3)
Looking forward to more in this vein: Malcolm Tucker on that science fiction film you like. [youtube.com]
Meh.... (Score:3)
I don't love it, but I'll reserve judgment until I see it. I think I mostly don't like the fact that he's already appeared in the series as another character. Sure, Karen Gillan also appeared in a previous episode before becoming Amy Pond, but she was so heavily made up you wouldn't recognize her. They had Eve Myles play different characters, but at least they had a fun little nod to that fact. So maybe it's fine.
I guess I do like the fact that they're going with someone who will probably be darker and less goofy than Smith.
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Sci-fi is often strangely incestuous like that. Star Trek was notorious for having people play multiple characters with varying amounts of make-up.
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"I guess I do like the fact that they're going with someone who will probably be darker and less goofy than Smith." ...and has a track record of you know, being able to actually act which is more than can be said for the amateur dramatics farce that was Smith.
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Also not forgetting Gwen Cooper... Same actress played the servant girl to the undertaker in the unquiet undead... (and in fact, the doctor recognised the similarity iand enquired about Gwen's heritage)
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There's precedent for that. Colin Baker was a villain before he was a doctor, and "Romana" was a supporting character before she was recycled as an assistant.
Don't forget Nicholas Courtney, Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, played a bit roll in Doctor Who as a security agent in 1965.
Damnit! (Score:3)
Was hoping for a woman... (Score:2, Interesting)
I was hoping for a woman this time. Would make for some great antics.
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I was hoping for a woman this time. Would make for some great antics.
In the interview on the "reveal" show Steven Moffat showed clearly what he thought of that.
Approximate quote: "Helen Mirren was quoted as saying it that a woman should be chosen to play the Doctor. I say that its about time that a man was chosen to play the Queen."
More than just Tucker (Score:5, Interesting)
Okay, he is, now, best known for the Malcolm Tucker role but I remember him better in other roles; the Angel Islington in a BBC adaption of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere (although that show was really stolen by Paterson Joseph's Marquis De Carabas) and as Uncle Rory in the TV adaption of Iain Bank's Crow Road.
And it's kind of nice that the Doctor is portrayed by an actor older than me again. That hasn't happened for a while.
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Okay, he is, now, best known for the Malcolm Tucker role but I remember him better in other roles; the Angel Islington in a BBC adaption of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere (although that show was really stolen by Paterson Joseph's Marquis De Carabas) and as Uncle Rory in the TV adaption of Iain Bank's Crow Road.
And it's kind of nice that the Doctor is portrayed by an actor older than me again. That hasn't happened for a while.
So, does that make Rory his only non-psychopathic role so far?
Perfect for the job (Score:2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjAyazqtQj8&t=2m41s [youtube.com]
Sexual Tension (Score:5, Insightful)
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-1, Informative
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Not on TV. It's the sexual tension between 20-somethings that sells there. The Doc being older might at least reduce some of that. But then it's not really seen as pervy like in the 60s if he's lucky enough to get a 20-something drooling along after him, so I'm not sure it'd change much compared to the "let's make him a grandfather so he can have none of that hanky panky" thing they had with Hartnell.
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No hanky panky with Harntnell? Sure not with his companions, since they came as a couple, but half the plot of Aztecs was him seducing his way to success (for which reason it remains one of my favorite arcs - I can't think of another time the Doctor got romantically involved with a "civilian").
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Haha yeah didn't he technically marry her or something
But true. I meant with companions. I remember reading that they didn't want him to be thought a dirty old man travelling with a young girl hence the original decision to make Susan his granddaughter
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So, older people don't have sex?
If they are married, of course not.
let's hope... (Score:2)
"What the fuck is this omnishambles? a defensive line? IT'S A CLUSTERFUCK OF GARGANTUAN PROPORTIONS!.. now sort it out before i stretch out your fuckign scrotum and use it as a trampoline you dog wanking fuck stick!"
i know it won't happen* but it's a lovely thought!
*he said as much in an interview
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well maybe he could have an omnitool to replace the screwdriver
nice one :P
Mindscrew (Score:2)
Peter Capaldi is credited on IMDB as follows:
Hopefully he'll be screaming insults all the time (Score:2)
And swatting people with manilla folders.
Amazon Referal URL? (Score:2)
Re:GET READY.... (Score:5, Insightful)
No bitching here. I have no idea who this actor is but he has some gray hair in publicity shots so I'm sold. The ever-younger Doctor was moving ever farther from the role I liked - but then, I'm a big fan of the 3rd Doctor, even if his character was a bit of a jerk from time to time. A 55 year old actor get my benefit of the doubt.
Re:GET READY.... (Score:5, Informative)
A 55 year old actor get my benefit of the doubt
Strangely enough, Capaldi is about the same age as William Hartnell was when he was the first Doctor. But Hartnell looked a lot older.
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Re: Someone please explain this. (Score:3)
Matt Smith's Doctor has been running around over 200 years in the storyline. He was traveling with Amy and Rory over 10 of their years so much they joked about showing they were noticibly older than their same aged friends.
Re:GET READY.... (Score:5, Funny)
I don't mind younger or older, either is fine with me. The only gripe I can see in my now 15 second old research of the man I have never previously heard of before is that IMDB has some really unflattering photos of him where he looks positively frail. Shortest lived Doctor ever.... regenerates walk to the first set of stairs falls and breaks a hip and 2 days later regenerates because pneumonia is killing him.
Re:GET READY.... (Score:5, Informative)
Frail? Wait until you hear the man curse. "The thick of it" is essentially the original bbc show that has since branched out to the US as Veep. It is pretty hilarious and Capaldi's Malcolm Tucker is unforgettable in every sense.
Check out this compilation [youtube.com] but be warned of strong language. My favorite quote at 5:20.
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At 2:42 you can see the scene that got him the job: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjAyazqtQj8&t=2m42s [youtube.com]
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I don't mind younger or older, either is fine with me. The only gripe I can see in my now 15 second old research of the man I have never previously heard of before is that IMDB has some really unflattering photos of him where he looks positively frail. Shortest lived Doctor ever.... regenerates walk to the first set of stairs falls and breaks a hip and 2 days later regenerates because pneumonia is killing him.
I'd say he's perfect for the role of the 13th Doctor...the final Doctor [wikipedia.org].
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Assuming, of course, that either his resurrection by River Song didn't reset the clock or that he was telling the truth about the number of regenerations when he said 13. And apparently the 13th doctor will go through over 25 TARDIS console changes if he is the last.
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The Time Lords granted The Master a new set of 13 regenerations. There's a lot of implication in on-screen dialog (e.g. The Brain of Morbius) and implicit statements in the Big Finish radio plays that the 13 regenerations is something that's imposed by Time Lord society to prevent stagnation by having some turnover in population. Given that the technology exists and that he's no longer bound by the social obligations of a dead race, there's no reason why he'd continue to be limited to the 13 regenerations
E-fucking-nough (Score:3)
"We've fucking time-travelled, yes?"
http://youtu.be/JjAyazqtQj8 [youtu.be]
"We are through the looking glass now, folks. Fuck me."
I might actually start watching Doctor Who if Peter Capaldi's going to be the new Doctor.
A horrible mistake, what are they thinking? (Score:2)
Bosom Buddies was a cute show and he was funny as Michael in Newhart, but he's not even British. What are they thinking! I know he has a little sci-fi experience when he played the dad in the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids the television series, but I still think they would have done a lot better if they'd gotten someone who had some experience with British television.
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Re:GET READY.... (Score:4, Interesting)
I think people have come to respect that choices for the role of the Doctor are pretty much always excellent and second-guessing and pre-judging is useless. I say this as someone that loved Christopher Eccleston and didn't want to like Tennant. Then absolutely adored Tennant's portrayal and was definitely not going to accept the young goofy looking Matt Smith character... and then find myself sad to see Matt Smith go.
Doctor Who is all about the doctor and his companions. They have to be likeable, interesting, compelling. They're the entire point of the show and they realize this - they always choose pretty damn well, even if all of us watching approach every change with skepticism and distrust.
Personally, I'm really excited about Capaldi, even though I have no idea who he is. He looks like someone I won't mind seeing on screen for dozens of hours and I appreciate that they aren't just constantly skewing young. They didn't need to go older for older's sake, but I am really glad they are making a choice other than "twelve year old girls won't watch if we don't make it a semi-cute barely pubescent actor". Variety is the spice of the Doctor. I think I'm going to enjoy this incarnation. Good on them.
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Smith was probably the most Troughton-like of all the Doctors since Troughton.
Re:GET READY.... (Score:4, Interesting)
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I'm imagining a Doctor that curses like a sailor and doesn't get all mopey or surprised when he gets pissed off at his enemies. I will probably be disappointed however.
Re:GET READY.... (Score:4, Insightful)
Personally, I was hoping for a female Doctor
Please tell me you're joking.
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Ginger?
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Let the Bitching.......
commence!
No bitching here. He's one of the finest actors on British television.
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It's "Doctor"
Re:I'll bitch... I wanted a bitch. (Score:4, Informative)
To clarify: 'Doctor' is indeed his name. Time lords, by their custom, may adopt a new title of their choosing to serve as their name, and from that point on no longer use their old name - though the exact circumstances in which this happens are unclear, it seems to apply predominantly to those who have left Gallifrey or who hold a high rank. The Doctor, the Master, the Rani, the Valeyard, the Corsair.
But he also has a doctorate that would be recognised on earth - honorary, but sufficient to get the title. Thus he may be addressed as 'Dr Doctor.'
He may also be assumed to have graduated from the Academy on Gallifrey with something equal to or greater than a doctorate, as this is a requirement to be a licensed (Since revoked) TARDIS traveler. The time lords don't let just any meddler screw around with time - there's a training course.
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I'm guessing you'd have kittens if I refer to him as "Doc Who".
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He may also be assumed to have graduated from the Academy on Gallifrey with something equal to or greater than a doctorate, as this is a requirement to be a licensed (Since revoked) TARDIS traveler. The time lords don't let just any meddler screw around with time - there's a training course.
It's actually just a certification: Gallifrey Certified TARDIS Administrator (GCTA).
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But he also has a doctorate that would be recognised on earth - honorary, but sufficient to get the title. Thus he may be addressed as 'Dr Doctor.'
Don't forget his knighthood. Dr Sir Doctor?
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Romana was an Academy graduate of very high achievement, so it's probably not an educational thing.
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Rassilon wouldn't count - he is from very early in Time Lord history, so customs may have been different then.
His name just ended up *becoming* a title.
Re:A new Doctor (Score:5, Funny)
Yes, because if there's one thing that Peter Capaldi is known for, it's his habit of never, ever, shouting
Re:A new Doctor (Score:5, Interesting)
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Watch him in Torchwood Children of Earth. I first learned of him through that and In The Loop, which I saw one right after the other when they came out. I could 1) barely believe it was the same guy in both and 2) had his work as Frobisher in Torchwood make me cry. I think there's only one scene when he screams in Torchwood out of complete fear/frustration. The end result was I spent the summer of 2009 watching whatever I could of his off Netflix (disc and streaming back in those days!)
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I loathe all those Christmas specials. They are all basically the same story.
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Yes, even the Dr. Who ones.
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You could try clicking on his name in the summary. :)
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The thought had crossed my mind that I would love Craig Ferguson as the Doctor. "I know!"
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Re:Who is this guy? (Score:4, Interesting)
I dunno, I admit Capaldi's a bit older than I would've liked; but then again, any younger than Matt Smith would've been just too young.
I started to wonder if they were going to make doctors younger and younger until at some point, the next regeneration resulted in a baby, fetus, or embryo.. which just immediately regenerated again and then the whole thing started over again somehow, with an old Doctor. Reset the cycle, so to speak. Hmm.. Benjamin Button, the next Doctor Who.
Well.. we'll see.. but to me, Tennant will always be THE Doctor. (I didn't really watch it when Baker was reigning, but he'd probably be my pick of the original Doctors) To each their own I suppose.
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" D'ye fucking ken who ye're dealing with here? Nae ? Well I'm the fucking Doctor ye alien shite, now get the fuck outta mah sight or I'll beat ye like a red-headed step-bairn ! "
( With apologies to Irvine Welsh )
Oh, and maybe move the time slot for the show to 11pm
Re:Doctor Tucker or Malcolm Who (Score:5, Funny)
Capaldi's Glaswegian, not Boston Irish. Don't know why you went with an American dialect rather than something fae Glesca.
Rough translation into Barras Glaswegian -- "Haw, d'ye fuckin' ken who yer fuckin' dealin' way here? Well Ah'm th'fuckin' Doaktur ye bastardin' wee alien ba'heid, noo get fuckin' oota my fuckin' sight afore ah fuckin' stick th' fuckin' heid in ye!"
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I can't actually think of a notable writer from Glasgow -- Alasdair Gray perhaps? Google Google wikiwiki yup, born in Riddrie and still lives in Glasgow. That's it. The Scottish Socialist Vanguard Science Fiction Writers Party is all on the east coast (Iain M. Banks (RIP), Ken McLeod, Charlie Stross, Hannu Rajaniemi etc.)
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Or waving a can of Tennents Export Lager in one hand.
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Alhhh, but karma bites both ways.... Balance out the death of him and his family in torchwood...
With the doctor and donna noble saving him and his family from the volcano at pompeii
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He was the best thing on Children of Earth. What a performance!
THIS.
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The Doctor is still going to be the Doctor. He'll just have the appearance of a dirty old man.
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To quote a friend of mine in nearly every second tweet: #dirtyoldmanisdirty
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I'd imagine that they'll just go all gooey about how "distinguished" he looks, companions and all, as much as we might like to think we'll get a break from all the flirting.
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Karen Gillan was in the same episode, later picked to play Smith's companion.
Eve Myles starred in DW S01E03 before playing a role in Torchwood.
Freema Agyeman was in S02E12-13 before playing Tennant's companion.
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Also going wayyyy back, Peter Purves played some crazy guy in the exact same episode that Steven Taylor was introduced
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Under Davies and Moffat Doctor Who has been dominated by the Welsh and the Scots. Two nations filled with an overwhelming love for England.
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I can see you're having a little moment there, but your ranting is kind of irrelevant to Doctor Who and maybe you can go be racist somewhere else.
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Just because you can't get into it doesn't mean it sucks, just that you have a different taste.