It has been over two months after Matt Smith announced his departure from BBC’s popular science fiction show “Doctor Who,” having played the 11th Doctor for nearly four seasons, the BBC have already picked his replacement.
During a special half-hour program called “Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor,” airing on BBC One in the United Kingdom and BBC America in the States, it was announced that the 12th Doctor will be played by…
55-year-old Scottish actor Peter Capaldi!
In the United Kingdom he is best know for playing the foul-mouthed political spinmeister Malcolm Tucker on the comedy series “The Thick of It.”
Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer says : “It’s an incendiary combination: one of the most talented actors of his generation is about to play the best part on television. Peter Capaldi is in the TARDIS!”
Doctor Who companion, Jenna Coleman says : “I’m so excited Peter Capaldi is the man taking on the challenge of becoming the Twelfth Doctor. With Steven’s writing and his talent I know we’ll be making an amazing show with an incredible incarnation of number 12. I can’t wait to start this new adventure!”
2013 has been a busy year for Peter who has been seen on screen in the film World War Z and in BBC Two drama series The Hour, for which he was BAFTA nominated. Not only will Peter film his first scenes for Doctor Who this Autumn, but he will appear in the forthcoming film The Fifth Estate and the Disney film Maleficent.
Capaldi will star as the 12th Doctor on the 8th season of the series, airing sometime in 2014.
The 12 Doctors
1. William Hartnell (1963-1966)
2. Patrick Troughton (1966-1969)
3. Jon Pertwee (1970-1974)
4. Tom Baker (1974-1981)
5. Peter Davison – (1982-1984)
6. Colin Baker (1984-1986)
7. Sylvester McCoy (1987-1996)
8. Paul McGann (1996)
9. Christopher Eccleston (2005)
10. David Tennant (2005-2010)
11. Matt Smith (2010 – 2013)
12. Peter Capaldi (2013 – )