The Twelfth Doctor: Peter Capaldi (I missed out on the "Speculation")

[Cyrano Johnson]

It's this week's Royal Baby, but for geeks. Who's your pick?

Mine: I'm pretty sure it won't be Benedict Cumberbatch (already in place on BBC as Sherlock and with a skyrocketing film career), nor Chiwetel Ejiofor, Idris Elba or anyone else who is currently high-profile and extremely busy, and it probably won't be anyone primarily known from a different fandom product (like any Harry Potter actors). And the Doctor will not be switching sexes.

The best suggestion I've seen to date is Richard Ayoade (of The IT Crowd fame):

The It Crowd Maurice Moss funny moments

Or, for the more debonair man-of-the-world vibe, Colin Salmon (who was once tipped to play Bond and is now mostly doing more marginal films and Dances-With-the-Stars type shows, so could potentially use the shot in the arm):

[Oniya]

Not sure that actors from other fandoms are completely immune.  Peter Davidson was picked primarily because of the producers liking his character in All Creatures Great and Small.  (He plays a fabulous Tristan.)

[Cyrano Johnson]

Sorry, by "fandoms" I have chiefly in mind those fandoms with a profile in the SF target market. Work in genres not directly related would likely not be a hindrance, I shouldn't think.

[Callie Del Noire]

Not sure that actors from other fandoms are completely immune.  Peter Davidson was picked primarily because of the producers liking his character in All Creatures Great and Small.  (He plays a fabulous Tristan.)

Yeah.. Tristian Farnum.. great character in the books.. great guy in the show. :D

[Kythia]

It was announced a few days ago.  Peter Capaldi.

[Cyrano Johnson]

Whoops. So it was. Well, darnit.

[WynterBloom]

Capaldi's a very talented actor. I think the sonic screwdriver is in good hands. Though I admit I've wanted to see Colin Salmon in the role ever since he played Dr. Moon in the show itself! (He's got that brilliant voice.)

[Callie Del Noire]

*SPOILERS* Peter Capaldi is the New Doctor! - Doctor Who (2013) - BBC

He looks like he might have fun wiht it.. but damn.. follow in Smiths' shoes will be hard.

[Polymorph]

I have only seen clips of  "The thick of it", but I'm fairly safe saying that the twelth Doctor will be very different to Peter's character in that. The only other appearance I recognise him from is Dr Who, The fires of Pompei episode.

[Valerian]

Interestingly, he was recently in the movie adaptation of World War Z credited simply as "W.H.O. Doctor".   ;D

[Oniya]

Interestingly, he was recently in the movie adaptation of World War Z credited simply as "W.H.O. Doctor".   ;D

Got a few too many periods in there, eh?  ;D

[Mathim]

He's as ugly as some of the earlier guys playing the Doc. Not going to be sticking around for the newer seasons, I guess...barely cared to follow Matt Smith around through his first two.

[Cyrano Johnson]

He's as ugly as some of the earlier guys playing the Doc.

Heh, for some that could be a feature. His sort of gaunt, pop-eyed thing kind rather reminds one of Tom Baker (who to many of those who grew up in the Eighties is still the Doctor).

[Oniya]

Heh, for some that could be a feature. His sort of gaunt, pop-eyed thing kind rather reminds one of Tom Baker (who to many of those who grew up in the Eighties is still the Doctor).

One of the reasons given for the longevity of Doctor Who is the fact that they chose such a radically different actor when it came time to replace the first one.  (That would be Patrick Troughton replacing William Hartnell for you young-uns.)

[Mathim]

Heh, for some that could be a feature. His sort of gaunt, pop-eyed thing kind rather reminds one of Tom Baker (who to many of those who grew up in the Eighties is still the Doctor).

He looks like he might be older than he is (I don't know how old he is) so it really destroys the youthful vibe from every Doc since Chris Eccleston. Should put off plenty of my generation's viewers who enjoyed the interactions between the doctor and his companions. I don't think a contrast like that would play better than, say, Tennant and Tate's. It wasn't that bad for a young-ish Doc and a woman Donna's age, I don't know if the reverse would hold true. But the show's been going downhill since Smith arrived anyway, so this isn't a surprise. God help his companion, though.

[Cyrano Johnson]

Maybe his Companion should be a crotchety old guy, instead. Like Hugh Laurie.  XD

(I can't really speculate on whether the series will get better or worse. I haven't watched since early in Tennant's run. But I might actually tune in for Capaldi. There's no law that the Doctor's Companions have to be a sexy combination or in tension with him specifically... in the Tom Baker days it was more about an eccentric old guy opening his young friends' minds to the wonders of the universe. And jelly babies. And putting them in all sorts of lethally dangerous situations. Long as we still have that...)

[Valerian]

I have to say that I really, really didn't like the way every companion had to be a potential love interest for the Doctor in this new version of the show, and I also stopped watching early in Tennant's time.  So the fact that the new actor is older (he's 55) is actually an enticement to watch as far as I'm concerned.  Maybe they'll actually get rid of all that romance and go back to something more like the classic formula for the show.  *crosses fingers*

[Oniya]

in the Tom Baker days it was more about an eccentric old guy opening his young friends' minds to the wonders of the universe. And jelly babies. And putting them in all sorts of lethally dangerous situations. Long as we still have that...)

[Callie Del Noire]

My favorite quote..

<smacks console HARD>

"Ah.. Earth Technology."

[Kytn]

Wheeee, excited! Matt Smith had his moments, but I'm tired of the baby faced Doctor. And along the lines of what Valerian said, hopefully there's less of a potential romance between the Doctor and his companions. Clara's reaction in particular should be interesting.

[SakamotoHD]

I'm gonna ask a super dumb question, since I've never gotten into Dr. who, but being british, I'm well aware of how long this show's been going on.

Besides starting back to the 1950's, is there another Doctor I could start at that's perhaps, a bit more contemporary? I wouldn't mind getting into the swing of things and understanding a bit more of this show, since I've a large group of friends who do nothing but rave about it.

[Oniya]

Most of us Yanks started with number 4 (Tom Baker).  The new crop of fans started with 9.

[Callie Del Noire]

Most of us Yanks started with number 4 (Tom Baker).  The new crop of fans started with 9.

I was sort of in flux. I saw Baker in Ireland.. and Pertwee in the US (back and forth in the 79-81 range).

[Oniya]

I caught Pertwee and Hartnell when the PBS stations finally got hold of them.  But I started with Tom, and it was a fairly comfortable place to start.  There's always going to be a bit of 'What's happening?  Why is it happening?' and all that (although there probably was even if you started with An Unearthly Child), but especially with the Internet at your fingertips, you're only a wiki-link away from all the back-story you'll ever need.

[SakamotoHD]

I caught Pertwee and Hartnell when the PBS stations finally got hold of them.  But I started with Tom, and it was a fairly comfortable place to start.  There's always going to be a bit of 'What's happening?  Why is it happening?' and all that (although there probably was even if you started with An Unearthly Child), but especially with the Internet at your fingertips, you're only a wiki-link away from all the back-story you'll ever need.

*Chuckles* Sounds like I should just start from the beginning and go on a spree. We'll see how long I last, I've been catching up on alot of miyazaki films that I'm ashamed to say I never got around to watching.

[Oniya]

Grab whatever you can find.  A lot of the old black-and-white episodes have been lost, unfortunately, but the rotating cast of enemies, companions, and Doctors makes it oddly easy to pick up mid-stream.  It is true, though:  You never forget your first Doctor.

[Kytn]

I believe most of the missing episodes come from the First and Second Doctors.  :-)

[Oniya]

*nods*  There wasn't a big push for preserving film in those days.

[Callie Del Noire]

*nods*  There wasn't a big push for preserving film in those days.

Yeah rumor is that there was a recent find of a LOT of old BBC stock..not just the Doctor eps but some of old shows that went the way of the dodo.

I like last years twist with the 'girl who shouldn't be' tying into doctors over time.

[fireisntaghost]

Not gonna lie, I have never ever ever been this excited about a casting ever. I'm a massive Capaldi fan and he's going to be just incredible as the The Doctor.

[Callie Del Noire]

I like what they did with the last companion. Threading her through the entire series was pretty interesting.and makes the 'impossible' girl work.

[Chris Brady]

Capaldi's a very talented actor. I think the sonic screwdriver is in good hands. Though I admit I've wanted to see Colin Salmon in the role ever since he played Dr. Moon in the show itself! (He's got that brilliant voice.)

Actually, from what I heard, it's better than that.  The man is apparently a huge Dr. Who fan, meaning that he'll have a passion and direction that may turn out for the better.  He's apparently been following the show for a very long time, so he knows the lore and background and can inject that into the Doctor.

Sounds awesome to me.

[Aleph]

Apart from his great work in "Local Hero" I recommend "The Hour" which was produced recently. He has a major role in the second season, but both seasons are brilliant. If you want to see how good an actor Peter Capaldi is, start there :) The series also start Dominic West from "The Wire" and Ben Wishaw who's currently the new Q in the James Bond films (and plays Keats in Bright Star)

[Tamhansen]

I'm one of the lucky ones who's managed to acquire most of the original series, including the entire first season, though some of it is damaged, as it was stored analogue version for obvious reasons.

As much as I love Capaldi, I'm not sure about the casting, but I guess we'll see.

[Doomsday]

Loved the first four seasons (of the reboot), but am having a terribly hard time getting into season 5, I'm not sure if it's Matt Smith, Karen Gillan or Steven Moffat that's just kind of killing my interest. I am intrigued by Capaldi as the Doctor, though.