Peter Capaldi on a potential Doctor Who 60th return
With David Tennant and Catherine Tate already confirmed to be returning to Doctor Who for the 60th anniversary specials in 2023, speculation is rife amongst Whovians as to which other famous faces may be returning to the show.
Most big names associated with the modern era of the show have spoken positively about the idea of one day returning to the BBC science fiction show, including Jenna Coleman who recently said “it could happen in the future” and Karen Gillan who said “never say never.” Paul McGann, who played the Doctor once in the 1996 TV movie version of the show added that he thought “Most of us will be asked to get involved.”
And indeed, there’s precedent, with 2013’s The Day of the Doctor seeing a number of former Doctors and companions return to the show for a multi-Doctor adventure. But it appears there’s at least one of the incarnations of the Doctors who won’t be appearing in the show next year.
Asked about the upcoming specials, Peter Capaldi, who played the Twelfth incarnation of the Doctor between 2013 and 2017, said he wouldn’t want to crowd the show with too many Doctors, so for him, he would be sitting this one out.
“It’s very hard to imagine how you’d get a decent crack of the whip when there’s 14 of you, you know? So I think I’d rather leave it as is, because I loved my time on Doctor Who and loved doing it,” he told SFX Magazine.
“I don’t want to be Doctor Who’s assistant. It used to drive me insane on Doctor Who, not being able to talk about anything. It’s like, ‘Who cares?!’ But then I get into trouble.”
So for now it seems Mr Capaldi won’t be part of the episodes, which will star Neil Patrick Harris and are expected to be the first time we get a serious look at Ncuti Gatwa as the incoming lead of the show.
Before the 60th episodes, which will also be the first shows under the supervision of returning showrunner Russell T Davies, there is the small matter of The Power of the Doctor, a feature-length episode that will end the era of Jodie Whittaker in the TARDIS, and simultaneously be the end of Chris Chibnall’s time running Doctor Who.
The Power of the Doctor will air this month to coincide with the 100th birthday celebrations of the BBC.
- Looking for some entertainment? Have you tried our general knowledge quiz questions and answers yet?
- Want to supercharge your streaming? Take a look at our guide to Netflix secret codes for TV and movie fans
- Love TV and movies? Try Screen OD on YouTube...
