Former Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi has delivered a stark diagnosis for the ailing sci-fi series, claiming the BBC has forgotten its fundamental purpose: to be a show for children. His intervention comes as the long-running programme endures its most challenging period since it was famously axed in 1989.
The Core Problem: A Brand Overwhelming a Show
Capaldi, who played the Twelfth Doctor from 2013 to 2017, argues that the show has become a victim of its own success. He believes the corporation is now overly fixated on Doctor Who as a global brand, rather than focusing on creating the compelling sci-fi that originally captivated young audiences in the 1960s and beyond.
"The show became very, very big. And it was never like that when I loved it," Capaldi stated. "It became this sort of very important thing. I think less in a cultural way and more in an economic way." He reminisced about an era when the series was a "tiny thing, a little small thing that survived" and quietly embedded itself into the culture, rather than being a major commercial property.
A Timeline of Recent Troubles
The current crisis follows the much-criticised return of showrunner Russell T Davies, the man who originally revived the show in 2005. His comeback, intended to reinvigorate the programme after Chris Chibnall's tenure, began promisingly with the return of David Tennant and Catherine Tate for three specials.
A major international streaming deal with Disney+ and the casting of Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor signalled a new era. However, the revival has been plagued by disappointing viewing figures, storylines critics labelled as 'woke', and a perceived lack of connection between fans and Gatwa's incarnation.
The situation culminated in Gatwa departing after just two seasons, with the Time Lord regenerating into Billie Piper (formerly Rose Tyler), and Disney subsequently pulling out of its streaming deal.
The Unpreparedness for Time Lord Fame
Speaking on the Half the Picture podcast, Capaldi also reflected on the immense and unique fame that comes with playing the Doctor, suggesting it can take a heavy toll. He recalled advice from predecessors David Tennant and Matt Smith, noting that nothing can fully prepare an actor for the loss of privacy and the weight of responsibility towards young fans.
"It is very exposing, it makes you feel quite vulnerable," he admitted. "But it's also delightful... You don't want to disappoint people. That becomes a little bit of a strain." Capaldi suggested that the pressure to always be 'the Doctor' for every fan, especially children, is a unique burden carried by the lead actor.
With the show now at a critical jununcture, Capaldi's comments highlight a fundamental debate about its future direction: should it chase global brand supremacy or return to its roots as a beloved, if sometimes niche, children's adventure series?
