Peter Capaldi to Leave Iconic Role of DOCTOR WHO After Three Seasons

Peter Capaldi first stepped into the TARDIS in 2013, and will leave the iconic role of DOCTOR WHO in the 2017 Christmas special after three incredible seasons on BBC AMERICA's hit sci-fi drama.

Peter Capaldi revealed the news during an appearance on Jo Whiley's BBC Radio 2 show, saying: "One of the greatest privileges of being DOCTOR WHO is to see the world at its best. From our brilliant crew and creative team working for the best broadcaster on the planet, to the viewers and fans whose endless creativity, generosity and inclusiveness points to a brighter future ahead. I can't thank everyone enough. It's been cosmic."

Capaldi was unveiled to the nation as the Twelfth Doctor during a special live television event on BBC One. Peter's Time Lord has been much loved and critically acclaimed, with season nine featuring some of the best reviewed performances and episodes of recent series. In particular, his anti-war speech in 'The Zygon Inversion,' and his solo appearance in the one-hander, 'Heaven Sent,' have been widely acclaimed as among the finest performances by anyone in the role of the Doctor. Under his reign the show has expanded globally. He took the series on a World Tour and has drawn record ratings in America, Canada, and Latin America. The highly anticipated 10th season returns to BBC America Saturday, April 15th at 9/8c.

Peter Capaldi's final series also marks writer and executive producer Steven Moffat's last so promises to be unmissable event television.

Steven Moffat, writer and executive producer said: "For years before I ever imagined being involved in Doctor Who, or had ever met the man, I wanted to work with Peter Capaldi. I could not have imagined that one day we'd be standing on the TARDIS together. Like Peter, I'm facing up to leaving the best job I'll ever have, but knowing I do so in the company of the best, and kindest and cleverest of men, makes the saddest of endings a little sweeter. But hey, it's a long way from over. Peters' amazing, fiery, turbulent Doctor is still fighting the good fight, and his greatest adventures are yet to come. Monsters of the universe, be on your guard - Capaldi's not done with you yet!"

Peter will be joined in season 10 by new companion Pearl Mackie (Bill), and Matt Lucas (Nardole) with guest appearances to come from David Suchet and Michelle Gomez. He has starred alongside Jenna Coleman as his companion Clara Oswald, Alex Kingston as River Song, Ingrid Oliver as Osgood, as well as Keeley Hawes, Tom Riley, Frank Skinner, Maisie Williams, Joivan Wade and many more. Peter's Doctor has fought Daleks and Davros, Cybermen, Zygons, new monsters like the Veil and old foes the Time Lords.

Brian Minchin, Executive Producer said: "Peter Capaldi is an extraordinary Doctor and has taken the show to amazing places. Although I'm sad he has decided to move on in 2018, I'm delighted that we have one final series with Peter Capaldi and Steven Moffat. I know what they're planning and it's going to be incredible."

Capaldi will return in the next season for 12 episodes in April, followed by the Christmas Special when the regeneration will take place.

He replaced Matt Smith as the Twelfth Doctor. He first appeared in DOCTOR WHO in 2008, playing Caecilius in the episode "The Fires of Pompeii."

BBC AMERICA's new DOCTOR WHO spin-off, Class, comes from award-winning YA writer and executive producer, Patrick Ness (A Monster Calls), and is executive produced by Moffat and Minchin.

Following the season 10 premiere, the new eight-part series will follow four Coal Hill School students who have hidden secrets and desires, navigate a life of friends, parents, school work, sex, sorrow - and possibly the end of existence. Coal Hill School has been a part of the DOCTOR WHO universe since the very beginning, but that has come at a price. Time travelling over the years has caused the very walls of space and time to become thin. There's something pressing in on the other side, something waiting for its chance to kill everyone and everything, to bring us all into Shadow. The program stars Greg Austin as Charlie; Fady Elsayed as Ram; Sophie Hopkins as April; Vivian Oparah as Tanya and Katherine Kelly as Miss Quill.

Class is a BBC Studios Wales production, co-produced with BBC America and BBC Worldwide.

Created in 1998, BBC America is a HUB of innovative, culturally contagious programming like the ground-breaking un-scripted series Top Gear, the top-rated science-fiction phenomenon Doctor Who, and the fan-favorite Orphan Black. The influential network has been the launch pad for talent including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, and Graham Norton - all adopted as American pop culture icons. A joint venture between BBC Worldwide (the commercial arm of the BBC) and AMC Networks, BBCA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including five Emmy(R) Awards, five Golden Globes(R) and 12 Peabody Awards. The irrepressible network has garnered one of cable's most curious, educated and affluent audiences, with many properties boasting super-fan levels of engagement. Available on cable and satellite TV, BBC America broadcasts in both standard and high-definition, is available On Demand across all major digital platforms and offers full episodes online at bbcamerica.com.

Image courtesy of BBC America

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