By William John
You know you're a fan of something when, on a day like today, with such a huge, game changing announcement closing in, you find yourself unable to focus on anything else. All day long I've been checking on the latest rumours, watching the latest betting odds and generally discussing the casting of the 12th Doctor with anybody who'll listen.
I've gone through the panic when Aneruin Barnard shot to the top. I watched with apprehension as Peter Capaldi, a personal favourite, and Daniel Rigby danced for the favours of bookmakers. I settled down to watch the live reveal with however many millions around the world and shuffled to the edge of my seat as Zoe Ball stepped forward to unveil to new Time Lord. My heart was beating, my palms sweating, adrenaline rushing through my veins. Were the BBC about to make a fantastic announcement of a huge mistake?
And then this happened:
You know you're a fan of something when, on a day like today, with such a huge, game changing announcement closing in, you find yourself unable to focus on anything else. All day long I've been checking on the latest rumours, watching the latest betting odds and generally discussing the casting of the 12th Doctor with anybody who'll listen.
I've gone through the panic when Aneruin Barnard shot to the top. I watched with apprehension as Peter Capaldi, a personal favourite, and Daniel Rigby danced for the favours of bookmakers. I settled down to watch the live reveal with however many millions around the world and shuffled to the edge of my seat as Zoe Ball stepped forward to unveil to new Time Lord. My heart was beating, my palms sweating, adrenaline rushing through my veins. Were the BBC about to make a fantastic announcement of a huge mistake?
And then this happened:
It's so difficult to express how happy I am right now! Please, don't get me wrong, Daniel Rigby, Ben Daniels and even Aneurism Barnard (or whatever his name is?) are all fantastic actors, but they're not Doctor material. Peter Capaldi however, fits the bill perfectly.
Known by most as the foul mouthed Malcolm Tucker from The Thick Of It, Capaldi is now stranger to Doctor Who. A lifelong fan of the series, Capaldi made his debut in 2008's The Fire of Pompeii as Caecilius, an art collector who believed the TARDIS to be 'Modern Art'. He later stared as John Frobisher, a put-upon civil servant and scapegoat to the 456 invasion, in the hit miniseries Torchwood: Children of Earth, for which he deserved a BAFTA!
Capaldi's recent work includes World War Z, where he played a 'W.H.O Doctor' (I see what you did there!), The Fifth Estate and next years Maleficent.
The reveal was handled in style, with a half hour show dedicated to the history of Doctor Who and what it means to still be on air. We saw interviews with various stars of the show, as well as famous faces from around the world, include Professor's Brian Cox AND Stephen Hawking (though Hawking expressed interest in a female Doctor... bad Hawking!). We were then treated to the current main men, Steven Moffat and Matt Smith, as they discussed the audition process and their part in it. Smith passed on his best wishes to Capaldi, expressing that he is Smith's only choice to take over. Moffat commented on the sheer amount of interest in the casting this time around and, in true Moff-style, quipped that he'd like to see the Queen played by a man in retaliation to Dame Helen Mirren's female Doctor comments.
So, what does this mean for the future of the show? We can be sure that Peter Capaldi, the same age as William Hartnell, will bring a certain wisdom and gravitas to the show in a contrast to Matt Smith's fantastic youthfulness, the perfect way to follow such an energetic and performance. Can we perhaps expect a darker, more reserved Doctor in the future, like an irritated school teacher to Clara's youthful charm and cheek? All we know is, we're bloody excited and despite how sad it might be, the Fall of the Eleventh has been softened by the knowledge that the Doctor's future is in very, very safe hands!
Known by most as the foul mouthed Malcolm Tucker from The Thick Of It, Capaldi is now stranger to Doctor Who. A lifelong fan of the series, Capaldi made his debut in 2008's The Fire of Pompeii as Caecilius, an art collector who believed the TARDIS to be 'Modern Art'. He later stared as John Frobisher, a put-upon civil servant and scapegoat to the 456 invasion, in the hit miniseries Torchwood: Children of Earth, for which he deserved a BAFTA!
Capaldi's recent work includes World War Z, where he played a 'W.H.O Doctor' (I see what you did there!), The Fifth Estate and next years Maleficent.
The reveal was handled in style, with a half hour show dedicated to the history of Doctor Who and what it means to still be on air. We saw interviews with various stars of the show, as well as famous faces from around the world, include Professor's Brian Cox AND Stephen Hawking (though Hawking expressed interest in a female Doctor... bad Hawking!). We were then treated to the current main men, Steven Moffat and Matt Smith, as they discussed the audition process and their part in it. Smith passed on his best wishes to Capaldi, expressing that he is Smith's only choice to take over. Moffat commented on the sheer amount of interest in the casting this time around and, in true Moff-style, quipped that he'd like to see the Queen played by a man in retaliation to Dame Helen Mirren's female Doctor comments.
So, what does this mean for the future of the show? We can be sure that Peter Capaldi, the same age as William Hartnell, will bring a certain wisdom and gravitas to the show in a contrast to Matt Smith's fantastic youthfulness, the perfect way to follow such an energetic and performance. Can we perhaps expect a darker, more reserved Doctor in the future, like an irritated school teacher to Clara's youthful charm and cheek? All we know is, we're bloody excited and despite how sad it might be, the Fall of the Eleventh has been softened by the knowledge that the Doctor's future is in very, very safe hands!
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