Facts About New ‘Doctor Who’ Peter Capaldi

5 Facts About New ‘Doctor Who’ Peter Capaldi You Need To Know!

The news is out. The new Doctor is 55 year old Glaswegian Peter Capaldi. Not a woman. Still a white guy. But the oldest Doctor that Nu Who has yet given us (well, except John Hurt, I guess), so things are going to be a-changing in the TARDIS.

 

He was Moffat’s first choice for the role, indicating that an older Doctor was factored into his plan from the get-go, unlike with Matt Smith, who’s immense charm made Moffat change his mind about bringing in an older Doctor back in 2010. Will it all tie in with the fact that, now that John Hurt has turned up, Capaldi will be the 13th Doctor? The last one? Will his age allow for a more poignant take on a man reaching the end of his life? (At least before Moffat figures out a way to give him more regenerations.) And will he be using his real accent, thus necessitating subtitles on BBC America?

Anyway, here are some fun Peter Capaldi facts to tide you over until the BBC release the first photo of him in full costume.

 5. He’s won an Oscar!

For Best Short Film back in 1995 for Franz Kafka’s It’s a Wonderful Life, which he wrote and directed. He also won a BAFTA for the film, and for his role as Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It (sample dialogue: “Come the fuck in, or fuck the fuck off.” There’s his TARDIS greeting right there).

 4. This will be his third outing in the Who universe

He played Caecilius in The Fires of Pompeii (an episode which also featured future companion Karen Gillan), and John Frobisher in Torchwood: Children of Earth, in which he was particularly magnificent.

 3. His character in World War Z is credited as W.H.O. Doctor

How brilliant is that?!?

 2. He’s a Doctor Who nerd

Did anyone else “aww” when he said he’s been playing the Doctor since he was nine?

 1. He’s going to be in two major BBC productions in 2014

As well as playing arguably Britain’s greatest TV hero, he’ll also be playing a great literary and historical villain – as Cardinal Richelieu in The Musketeers, a 10-part BBC series.

Good luck to the fella, we say. Let’s see what he can do!