Peter Capaldi Explains Why He Doesn’t Understand the Backlash to Jodie Whittaker and Ncuti Gatwa as Doctor Who Stars

Peter Capaldi, who portrayed the Twelfth Doctor in “Doctor Who” from 2013 to 2017, has stated that he does not understand why some people take the show so seriously, particularly in response to the backlash surrounding the casting of Jodie Whittaker and Ncuti Gatwa.

In an interview with The Times of London, Capaldi said that the decision to cast Whittaker as the first woman to play the Doctor and Gatwa as the first openly queer Black actor in the role was correct and reflective of the times.

He added that while he believes the show’s evolution is positive, it has become “too big, too important” for the BBC or whoever is involved, contrasting it with his own childhood experience of watching it as “just a monster show in the corner of the room.”

Capaldi emphasized that he does not understand why some viewers react so strongly to changes in casting, noting that the series should reflect contemporary values.

Whittaker, who played the Thirteenth Doctor from 2017 to 2022, has previously said she did not fully appreciate the significance of being the first woman in the role at the time but acknowledged that her casting felt like a meaningful moment for many fans despite some online criticism.

Gatwa, who portrayed the Fifteenth Doctor until his departure in 2025, has spoken about the emotional conclusion of his time on the series, noting that no amount of preparation could fully ready him for handing over the sonic screwdriver.