Capaldi slams doctor who haters, says 'why do people take it so seriously?'

Former Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi has dismissed criticism of the show's recent lead actors Jodie Whittaker and Ncuti Gatwa, claiming he doesn't understand why people take the British sci-fi series so seriously.

Capaldi doubts doctor who's impact

In an interview with The Times, Capaldi, who played the Time Lord from 2013 to 2017, said he doesn't keep up with the show anymore and finds it puzzling that fans invest so much emotional capital in its storylines.

"When I was a kid and watched it, it was just a monster show in the corner of the room. I dunno why people take it so seriously," Capaldi said, seemingly bewildered by the vitriol aimed at his successors.

Whittaker, who became the first female Doctor in 2018, and Gatwa, the first black Doctor, both faced intense online harassment before even appearing on screen. Gatwa's recent run, largely written by showrunner Russell T. Davies, has also drawn criticism for its perceived "wokeness".

Capaldi's comments come as the show's future remains uncertain, with production on the next series halted due to Gatwa's departure from reshot scenes and Disney ending its co-funding deal. The BBC is planning a Christmas special to wrap up the current story arc, but it's unclear if that will introduce a new Doctor or if the character will take a prolonged break.