Doctor Who legend Peter Capaldi calls out anger at fellow Time Lord actors: “I dunno why people take it so seriously”

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Peter Capaldi, who played the Twelfth Doctor, has voiced his support for the actors who have taken on the role since he left the show. He seems puzzled by those who get overly invested or upset about the casting choices.

Peter Capaldi, a dedicated fan of the show since the 1970s – he even ran the Scottish fan club – played the Doctor from 2013 to 2017. He was succeeded by Jodie Whittaker, who made history as the first woman to take on the role in the show’s main series.

Following a short return by David Tennant – who previously played the Tenth Doctor and reappeared for the show’s 60th anniversary – Ncuti Gatwa has become the new Doctor, marking the first time a Black actor has taken on the iconic role.

The choices of both David Whitaker and Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor led to some negative reactions from parts of the fanbase and across the internet. Peter Capaldi addressed this in an interview with The Times.

Peter Capaldi defended the show’s casting choices, explaining that it’s a product of its time and a positive force. However, he feels it’s grown too large and significant for its original home at the BBC. He remembers watching it as a child simply as a fun ‘monster show’ and wonders why people now treat it with such seriousness.

Peter Capaldi isn’t alone in criticizing some Doctor Who fans who’ve recently complained that the show has become too focused on social issues. Other well-known people connected to the show have also spoken out against these claims.

Last year, while speaking on Radio 2, Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies addressed concerns about diversity in the show. He said he doesn’t have time to engage with online criticism accusing the show of being overly focused on ‘diversity’ or ‘wokeness,’ explaining that he simply sees it as making the show inclusive and welcoming to everyone.

Varada Sethu, who played Belinda in the latest season, responded to criticism calling the show “Doctor Woke,” saying that receiving such comments likely means they’re heading in the right direction.

Being ‘woke’ simply means being accepting, forward-thinking, and compassionate towards others. And at its heart, Doctor Who has always been about kindness, love, and doing what’s right.

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As a long-time Doctor Who fan, I’ve been hearing Peter Capaldi talk about this for a while now. He’s mentioned before that the show just got… huge. And he says that’s actually when it changed for him – when it stopped feeling like the show he originally fell in love with. He felt the pressure of the role itself increased, and there were just more expectations and things he had to do. It sounds like it lost some of its original magic as it grew.

Previously, actors like John Pertwee or Tom Baker spent the majority of their time actually filming the show, with a smaller portion dedicated to promoting it. Nowadays, there’s much more work involved beyond just the filming itself.

This wasn’t a sudden, urgent priority for the BBC, or for a brand trying to protect its reputation.

The show was popular with some children, but others preferred football or simply lost interest as they got older. While it didn’t have a huge cultural impact, it unexpectedly became quite significant, primarily from a financial perspective.

Doctor Who will return this Christmas on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Don’t miss out on Doctor Who! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, a global TV production company. He has a bachelor’s degree in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a journalism diploma.

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2026-04-26 12:36