Peter Capaldi has said the BBC "don't really understand" Doctor Who as the long-running series faces an uncertain future. The actor, who played the 12th incarnation of the Time Lord from 2013 until 2017, made the comments on the Half the Picture podcast.
Doctor Who fans have had a difficult period recently, with no festive special confirmed for the second year in a row. Screenwriter and TV producer Russell T Davies, who rebooted the programme in 2005, has also left the series. Fans have been without new episodes for over a year, after Disney and the BBC ended their streaming partnership. The final episode saw Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor regenerating into former companion Rose Tyler, played by Billie Piper.
Show put out to tender
Earlier in the year, Doctor Who was officially put out to tender, meaning various production companies are seeking to become its new maker. The BBC said in a statement: "We've published an invitation to tender for the production of Doctor Who. The contract is for a multi-episodic series (including specials) for transmission in 2028/29, with an option to extend the contract at BBC's discretion to produce a second series. It's offered on a work for hire basis with the BBC continuing to broadcast the programme and retaining all rights."
The statement added: "The production will need to qualify as a regional production under two of the three Ofcom Regional criteria and the successful bidder will be expected to establish a production base in the agreed region. The BBC has a preference for a Wales qualification."
Capaldi's view on the show's problems
Capaldi said only "a small group of professionals" know how to handle running Doctor Who. He said: "It needs love. I sometimes think people in the BBC don't really understand it. I think that's kind of a problem. People don't really know what it's supposed to be."
He added: "That's why the show is made by Russell and Steven and all that, because they love it, and they loved it from when they were little, and when it was not on they loved it. So they knew what it was [and] they knew what to bring to it. I don't think there were any executives in the BBC [who] had a checklist of things that should be in it. It had to be left to Russell to do that. And there'll be someone like that now."
Capaldi declines tender offers
Capaldi also revealed that he was approached to join some of the tenders but rejected the offers due to knowing the amount of work involved. He explained: "People keep asking me to join tenders for Doctor Who. I keep being asked if I would come and join this company and put together a package. I don't mean for me to be in it, but to create a version of it. I haven't joined any of those because I know how hard the show is to make. And also because I have other things I want to pursue."
He added: "And you can't make a show like Doctor Who without it taking over your life – it has to. It's that kind of show. You can't do it as a distant executive or a part-time role." Among the companies reported to be involved in the bidding war are Hat Trick Mercurio, run by Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio's company, World Productions, BBC Studios and STV Studios.
