Peter Capaldi has opened up about his decision to leave Doctor Who. The 58-year-old announced he was stepping down from his role as the 12th Doctor in January, and has now explained his decision to quit the show after three years. "I've never done anything for any length of time," he told the Radio Times. "Even [political comedy] The Thick of It was only 20 episodes over four years. I'll have done 40 episodes of Doctor Who."
Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi with new companion Pearl Mackie
The Scottish star continued: "I don't think if I stayed on I'd be able to think of another way to say, 'This could be the end of civilisation as we know it.' I've always gone from one job to the other and seen what was around the corner, and I want to get back to that." Peter isn't the only one leaving Doctor Who this year, with show boss Steven Moffat being replaced by Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall. The new series of Doctor Who returns on Saturday, starring Pearl Mackie as the Time Lord's new companion Bill Potts.
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The new series of the show will be Peter's last
Peter, meanwhile, was recently quizzed about who his replacement will be – and seemed to suggest that the next doctor had already be chosen. Speaking to press at the BFI & Radio Times Festival in London, he confessed: "I'm glad I don't have to choose. I think that person is the luckiest acting human being on the planet and they're going to have a wonderful time and I'm sure they will be fabulous, whoever they are.
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"If I was to choose… anybody could be Doctor Who, that's the great thing. You guys could be Doctor Who. As Tom Baker said, 'It's the indestructible part: you just show up and it's all there already.' If it wasn't me who was Doctor Who, any other actor would be equally good."