Peter Capaldi reassures autistic child

[The Nth Doctor]

Tearing up at the board here.

Rare to see class...most stars would have blown right on by...

I think a lot probably would have, but I suspect Smith, Tennant and even Eccleston probably would have taken the time as well. In fact doesn't it appear the child already has a pic of Matt and Jenna on his phone that Capaldi refers to?
Maybe being nice is just a prerequisite for being the Doctor

I think all of them, especially Eccleston, would have taken the time. Eccleston has said in past interviews that he's proud of doing Doctor Who because the effect it has on children and his willingness to talk to children about Doctor Who.

 

[Captaindemotion]

I read a post on popbitch, the usually scurrilous gossip e-mail you can subscribe to about David Tennant. It said that he was recording a voiceover ad at a studio one time and during his lunch break met a guy who worked with disabled kids.

DT then gave up the whole of his lunch break to record messages in character as The Doctor for the kids on the other guy's video app on his mobile phone. I thought it was a lovely story.

 

[sttngfan1701d]

I think it's more a case of the whole crew being nice, not just Capaldi. If you read the (admittedly run-on sentence-filled) blog post, it was a 2 day process. The crew found time for the meeting to happen. Jenna chatted with them and posed for pics, the director sorted the face-time with Capaldi.... Seems like a nice thing for them to go out of their way to do.

 

[WillsBabe]

Ah, that is so heartwarming. I love it when the Doctor actor is good with his kid audience.

 

[publiusr]

I meant most stars here. All the actors on Dr. Who are class acts. I can see why Walking Dead and so many other programs want British actors.

When Jon Pertwee visited the States back in the 1980's to support Dr. Who on TV, there was this disagreement between british and American actors, and I have forgotten what it was...

 

[Iamnotspock]

I read a post on popbitch, the usually scurrilous gossip e-mail you can subscribe to about David Tennant. It said that he was recording a voiceover ad at a studio one time and during his lunch break met a guy who worked with disabled kids.

DT then gave up the whole of his lunch break to record messages in character as The Doctor for the kids on the other guy's video app on his mobile phone. I thought it was a lovely story.

Yes, I've heard such stories about all the actors who've played the Doctor. William Hartnell adored the attention from kids (pretty sure that scene in An Adventure in Space and Time of him playing with a group of children in the park was based on fact), Tom Baker's signature line when approached by children was, "Hello! Haven't I seen you somewhere before? I know; I've seen you watching television!"

Christopher Eccleston is apparently very good with young fans, as Emh says; I remember reading about him taking the time to talk to a young boy who told him he was his favourite Doctor and replying, "You've made my day!"

There was an awards ceremony a few years back that was attended by David Tennant, and some children's magazine programme sent a young boy reporter to the red carpet to interview the stars. Most of them seemed a little unsure how to react, but DT was the only one who made a point of kneeling down to the boy's eye level and really engaging with him.

 

[Cutter John]

Thats the thing about a show like DW though. At heart its still basically a program meant to appeal to children (yeah I know, but lets not get into that argument). I really can't see anyone who doesn't love kids ever being offered, or even being interested in playing the Doctor.

 

[Technobuilder]

I'd heard about this story but hadn't seen the blog post.

Best Cardinal Richelieu ever! It'll be so sad if he can't do the role again for The Musketeers Series 2. Especially since it turned out to be leaps and bounds better than the sadsack that is Atlantis. (Marc Addy's amazing talents excluded) Really wish they'd hire better writers on it now that I think of it.

 

[starsuperion]

brilliant! rare! I am happy to have Capaldi as the new DW!