Doctor Who Fan-Favorite Reveals the Sci-Fi Show’s Biggest Issue: ‘It Became a Different Thing’

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Peter Capaldi, a former star of the show, says the popular sci-fi series has become a bit of a problem because of how successful it is. Over the years, with so many changes to the characters and storylines, the show’s massive scale has affected how it tells its stories.

In a recent interview with Radio Times, Peter Capaldi talked about how much Doctor Who has changed over the years. He explained that when he first enjoyed the show, it was a smaller, more niche program, but it’s now become a major part of popular culture. He said this shift meant the role of the Doctor came with increased expectations and responsibilities. “It was never like that when I loved it. So it became a different thing. I think the responsibilities of playing the part became more… there were more of them,” Capaldi stated.

Capaldi explained that in the past, actors like John Pertwee and Tom Baker spent most of their time actually making the show, with a little time for promotion. Now, he feels there’s much more emphasis on constant promotion and maintaining the Doctor Who brand, something the BBC prioritizes much more than they used to.

Capaldi explained that Doctor Who’s popularity actually worked against it a little. He felt the show he originally loved was small and unassuming, simply trying to survive. He didn’t realize at the time how deeply it was becoming ingrained in popular culture, and that’s what he especially connected with.

Peter Capaldi first appeared in Doctor Who in 2008, playing the character Lobus Caecilius in the episode “The Fires of Pompeii.” He later became the Twelfth Doctor in 2014 with the episode “Deep Breath,” starting Series 8 of the show. Capaldi played The Doctor for three series before concluding his run in the 2017 Christmas special, “Twice Upon a Time,” making way for Jodie Whittaker to take on the role.

What Comes Next for Doctor Who?

Back in 2025, Doctor Who Series 15 came to a close with the release of “The Reality War,” which marked the end of Ncuti Gatwa’s time as The Doctor, as well as the surprising return of Billie Piper as a result of The Doctor’s latest regeneration. Although Piper’s character is credited as Rose Tyler in the episode, it very much appeared as though she was stepping into the role of The Doctor for herself. When asked for clarification, simply responded with, “I have no idea.”

There aren’t any big plans for new Doctor Who content on the horizon. While the recent Doctor Who spinoff series received mostly positive reviews, it didn’t feel like a typical experience for fans and didn’t give much of a hint about the direction of the main show, aside from a Christmas special that’s planned.

Speaking about the new miniseries, The War Between the Land and the Sea, I’m incredibly proud of how it turned out. I truly believe it’s fantastic. The editing process was strong, and the post-production work – adding effects, music, and color correction – really elevated it. It’s exceeding our expectations, and I’m thrilled with the final result.

In 2025, it was announced that Doctor Who would be back for a Christmas special in 2026, led by Russell T Davies. While the show’s future adventures are planned, details about how and when they’ll continue are still being worked out.

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2026-01-11 00:37