Who is the 12th Doctor? After much speculation as to whom would be filling Matt Smith’s shoes on Doctor Who, today the BBC announced Peter Capaldi has the role!
PETER CAPALDI has been cast as the 12th Doctor, Steven Moffat announced during their live reveal event on the BBC Sunday evening.
Capaldi says hello to Whovians for the first time as the 12th Doctor in this just-released video:
Below is a clip from the Doctor Who special where we learn that Capaldi is Doctor #12:
We’re curious and very excited to see what he’ll do to put his own spin on the part, and how he’ll differentiate himself from Matt Smith’s characterization.
Steven Moffat has confirmed that the regeneration will occur in its traditional position, the end of the show. He had initially toyed with the idea of putting it earlier in the show’s story-line, but confirmed that it really only works dramatically at the end. In this case, it will be the end of the Christmas episode.
Related: The next Doctor cannot be a white male (June ’13).
Regardless, regeneration on Doctor Who is always a life and death stakes situation, often for both the Doctor and the companion. The last time a companion got to see a Doctor regenerate was Rose Tyler when she saw the ninth Doctor regenerate into the tenth. Prior to that, Peri was the last companion in classic Doctor Who to witness a regeneration. She witnessed the fifth Doctor turn into the sixth. Check it out below:
It will be interesting to see the location where the regeneration will take place. Technically it doesn’t have to happen in the TARDIS, though oftentimes it does. It’s widely assumed that Clara will witness this regeneration, but she could be out cold and wake up to discover a new Doctor.
We discussed today’s announcement in a live episode of WhoHype – watch here!
Additionally, people will wonder whether the Doctor’s demise will be set up in the 50th Anniversary episode that airs on November 23, or will the Doctor’s regeneration be triggered by unrelated events that bring him back to say, Trenzalore?
This year’s big reveal happened with something of a last minute change on the BBC schedule. Previously, new Doctors were officially announced as the current show was airing via the now cancelled Doctor Who Confidential, the behind the scenes show that used to run after an episode concluded.
Related: Watch some of Peter Capaldi’s best roles.
In the run up to Matt Smith’s reveal the BBC tweeted hints such as Smith’s age – these hints didn’t help very much at all. The reality was that few people, if anyone, correctly predicated his casting. This time out, we weren’t teased as much and the Scottish actor wasn’t on that many prediction lists along with about half a dozen other 30-somethings with similar credentials.
Regarding the security, BBC Controller Ben Stephenson even quipped, “It’s the biggest secret in showbiz, even those working with the new Doctor on other projects at the moment have no idea they are in the presence of the 12 incarnation.”
We’ll share interviews and find out more about the 12th Doctor before his appearance in this year’s Christmas special. Generally speaking, it takes the audience around three episodes or so to “warm up to” the new guy. He may not have exactly been a world-wide, household name before, but that is all about to change thanks to Doctor Who!