Peter Capaldi Hints At 'Who' Departure

[StCoop]

Wonder also whether then structure of modern episodes means the Doctor is on screen for more time (hence more recording time for the relevant actor) than in years gone by?

Right up until the end of the Original Series the bulk of each episode (excluding location scenes obviously) was shot in one evening with the plugs literally being pulled in the Studio if everything wasn't done by 10pm. The rest of the time was spent in a Rehearsal Room basically learning each story as if it was a play so as much of it could be recorded in one take as possible. So most of the time it was a 9-5 (or less) job.

Now beyond an initial read-through the rest of the time is spent actually shooting the episodes, mostly on location, for long hours.

 

[Starkers]

It's rare for an actor in Britain to stay on a show for seven consecutive years.

Why is that? That's the goal in the US.

Are British actors more keen to move on and try something new rather than have a steady (and huge) cheque?

A lot of it is how the British TV industry works. Only a handful of shows even last longer than two or three seasons, and the ones that do don't continuously do a season per year. The longer a show goes on for in Britain the more likely you'll find year(s) long gaps between seasons.

Emilia Fox has been doing Silent Witness since 2004, Trevor Eve, Sue Johnston and Will Johnson did Waking the Dead for 9 years, Peter Firth did 10 series of Spooks. I'm not sure any of those shows have had a major gap of several years.

 

[DarthPipes]

It just doesn't feel like he's been here that long yet. Maybe I'm getting old.

It's not just you.

Moffat's eras -- Matt Smith, now Peter Capaldi -- feel "smaller" to me than they actually are. I think it's partly the cast turnover (or, rather, the lack of it), but mainly the interconnectedness of it all. Moffat's season arcs end up diminishing the individual episodes, making them feel like less than they are, imho.

I feel that Capaldi's Doctor has been defined too much by his relationship with Clara, something that feels like a lingering remnant from the last Doctor's regeneration 'problems'. Although I did like Clara with Eleven, I have been patiently waiting for a graceful departure for her so Twelve can move forward in defining himself on his own or with a relationship with a new companion.

This. With Clara gone, I feel like we're only just starting to get to know this Doctor and we might have only one season left to do so.

 

[Starkers]

I've never really thought 12 was defined by his relationship with Clara as a holdover from 11, anymore than the Fourth Doctor was defined by Sarah Jane having been Three's companion first? If anything 12/Clara worked better for me than 11/Clara did.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

I've never really thought 12 was defined by his relationship with Clara as a holdover from 11, anymore than the Fourth Doctor was defined by Sarah Jane having been Three's companion first? If anything 12/Clara worked better for me than 11/Clara did.

The thing is, the 4/Sarah Jane relationship was not a focus of the storyline the way 12/Clara has been.

 

[Candlelight]

I think they should save regenerations until the Christmas episode. Running an exciting story to the conclusion, then having them regenerate dramatically, then throwing them into a comedic romp doesn't work for me. Then again, the xmas special is the new ep13 for the show now isn't it?

I wonder if the media will report his replacement as the 13th Doctor, when he's actually the 15th.

 

[The Wormhole]

I wonder if the media will report his replacement as the 13th Doctor, when he's actually the 15th.

I have speculated that BBC might decide to be superstitious and avoid having a 13th Doctor and just label Capaldi's replacement the 14th.

 

[Starkers]

And if the 13th Doctor is a woman, oh my the Daily Mail headlines!

 

[Ithekro]

Throw it all off by having two regenerations in a row. A 13th Doctor than a 14th Doctor. "How many regenerations do you have left? I have all day."

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

Hm, have Hugh Grant cameo as a minute Doctor?

 

[Ithekro]

That would be silly, but fit. Again.

That was a Steven Moffat script after all.

Be worse if they cheated and gave the world a minute female Doctor.

 

[Mr Soak]

Be worse if they cheated and gave the world a minute female Doctor.

The word "minute" could be read either way in that sentence. Either way, there'd be uproar.

 

[Venardhi]

Female little person for 13th Doctor. You read it here first.

 

[arch101]

I almost think it would be cool if a really well-known actor was interested in the role for the next Doc. The show is a worldwide hit- perhaps someone who already has a track record with a wider audience.

 

[Mr Soak]

The more well-known an actor, the higher the expense. The more expensive the actor, the less budget for everything else. As a one-off event, it could be possible, but not for a series.

 

[Starkers]

Also the more high profile an actor the more expectation around what his Doctor would be like. Nobody really knew what to expect of Tennant and Smith, whereas with Capaldi so many people were just expecting Malcolm Tucker! In some ways I wonder if that's part of the reason S8 was a touch ropey.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Also the more high profile an actor the more expectation around what his Doctor would be like. Nobody really knew what to expect of Tennant and Smith, whereas with Capaldi so many people were just expecting Malcolm Tucker! In some ways I wonder if that's part of the reason S8 was a touch ropey.

Also, the more high profile, the more people will worry over his availability long-term, and be discussing his quitting and replacement as soon as he's cast...

 

[Starkers]

Also, the more high profile, the more people will worry over his availability long-term, and be discussing his quitting and replacement as soon as he's cast...

Yeah, although the opposite can be true, you start worrying when the newcomer will want to move on to bigger and better things.

Realistically if we want an actor to do a Pertwee or a Tom the BBC will either have to pay them the earth, or else they've got to be the kind of actor who's both really good and knows they're never going to get a better role...this might be tricky!

 

[ihno]

Oh, that would be sad. Capaldi is a great doctor and it would be sad because many of his episodes were rather mediocre. Maybe Moffat goes too, that would make it a little better.

 

[Ithekro]

At least there is one thing about this show: There will always be a Doctor.