Doctor Who's Peter Capaldi says Doctors 'have a laugh, gossip and share'
"There aren’t a lot of people who have been in that role in the centre of that storm."
Former Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi has been sharing his experience of life after the show recently, as he continues to promote his new Apple TV+ series, Criminal Record.
In one interview with The Guardian, Capaldi was asked whether he had bumped into any of the other stars to have played the Doctor that morning, and while he said that he hadn't, he did note that he does occasionally "run into them" and "have a laugh" about their experiences.
"David [Tennant, Tenth Doctor] used to live in Crouch End, near me," Capaldi revealed. "Matt [Smith, Eleventh Doctor] lives around here. Jodie [Whittaker, Thirteenth Doctor] is nearby, Christopher [Eccleston, Ninth Doctor] too, I think.
"You do run into each other. You have a laugh, a gossip, you share. There aren’t a lot of people who have been in that role in the centre of that storm."
He continued: "Most people think the job is being on the TARDIS and running around with Daleks. Which it is. That’s the fun part. But there’s a lot of other stuff you have to do, too.
"You’re kind of the face of the brand and the brand is very big. You can’t be the cynical melancholic I naturally am. You have to pretend to be a version of yourself that’s far more amenable."
Asked whether it's a bit like being the queen, Capaldi said: "Kind of. You embody, for a time, this folk hero, this icon. I was able to comfort people in a way that would be beyond the powers of Peter. You could walk into a room and people gasped with delight. It doesn’t happen any more."
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Capaldi previously weighed in on Ncuti Gatwa's casting as the Fifteenth Doctor, saying that he's a "brilliant choice" for the role.
Asked what he thought Gatwa would bring to the character, he said: "Oh, energy and humour and wit - and fun, you know, as well as depth.
"You know, Doctor Who is a great part. You can't lose with it. It's a joy to play. And I think he'll just really grab it with both hands and get on with it."
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Capaldi also explained recently why he never sees himself returning to the role for future appearances, as David Tennant did in last year's 60th anniversary specials.
He said: "I like the idea that my Doctor is still out there. He's not available to come and be on TV. The real Doctor is not on TV, the real Doctor is out there."
Doctor Who will return in May 2024. Doctor Who is available to watch on BBC iPlayer and on BritBox – you can sign up for a 7-day free trial here.
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Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
