Peter Capaldi, who starred as the Twelfth Doctor in “Doctor Who” from 2013 to 2017, recently told The Times of London that he doesn’t understand why some people take the show “so seriously” when asked about the backlash to the castings of Jodie Whittaker and Ncuti Gatwa. Whittaker was the first woman to play the Doctor, and Gatwa was the first openly queer Black actor in the role.
“It reflects its times and it’s a good thing in the world, though it’s become a bit too big, too important for the BBC or whoever,” Capaldi said. “When I was a kid and watched it, it was just a monster show in the corner of the room. I don’t know why people take it so seriously.”
Gatwa, who starred in the latest season of “Doctor Who,” was met with racist and homophobic backlash online when his casting was revealed. Showrunner and writer Russell T Davies said during a recent masterclass at Series Mania that, in the era of social media, it’s easy to “fall into the trap of talking about fans and assuming that means the online voice.”
“I think they are different things. I know they’re different things, I absolutely know that,” Davies said. “And that online voice, which is hostile, exists on X, which is a hate site. We shouldn’t be surprised to find hatred on it, because it’s a hate site … It’s very dangerously assumed that that is the fan voice.”
Davies added that he understands that longtime “Doctor Who” fans don’t “have to like the show,” but hopes they can “have a great time disagreeing” in a respectful way.
“Fandom is creative and brilliant and fun, but it’s all getting soured,” he added. “Turn those phones off for anyone under 16, chuck them in the bin. I literally am evangelical about it.”
Disney+ ended its partnership with the BBC in October 2025 after the two co-produced two seasons of “Doctor Who.” The most recent season finale saw Gatwa exit the series to make way for Billie Piper, who played companion Rose Tyler during David Tennant’s run in the early 2000s. It was not made clear if Piper will be the next Doctor or is returning as a companion.
