Peter Capaldi Defends Jodie Whittaker and Ncuti Gatwa Casting in Doctor Who, Criticizes Overly Serious Fan Reactions

Former Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi has dismissed intense fan criticism of Jodie Whittaker and Ncuti Gatwa’s casting as the Doctor, calling the reactions overly serious. In an interview published Saturday, Capaldi told The Times of London that the decisions to cast Whittaker in 2017 and Gatwa afterward were correct.

“It reflects its times and it’s a good thing in the world,” he explained. “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 starred as the titular Doctor from 2013 to 2017.

Jodie Whittaker Reflects on Her Time as the First Female Doctor

Whittaker, the first woman to play the Doctor, has looked back on her tenure fondly despite online complaints. In 2025, she told the outlet, “There needed to be a first and I didn’t fully appreciate it. [In the show], I’m not like Jack Lemmon in Some Like It Hot: ‘I’m a girl, I’m a girl!’ I just am.”

She added that the announcement sparked mixed reactions: “But once it was announced — as well as a few grumpy pumps — for a lot of people it felt like a really wonderful moment.”

After wrapping the series in October 2022, she told Entertainment Weekly, “I’ve shot my version of regen, and it was singularly the most emotional day on set I think I’ve ever had. It’s a really bizarre feeling, because it’s the best time I’ve ever had on a job, and I made the decision to leave it, so it’s a really strange thing to do to yourself. It feels like you’re giving yourself stitches — like, ‘Why have you done it?’ But … it felt right.”

Ncuti Gatwa’s Emotional Exit from Doctor Who

Gatwa, who exited the series in 2025, shared his thoughts on the role in a statement: “You know when you get cast, at some point you are going to have to hand back that sonic screwdriver and it is all going to come to an end, but nothing quite prepares you for it.”

He continued, “There are no words to describe what it feels like to be cast as the Doctor, nor are there words to explain what it feels like to be accepted into this iconic role that has existed for over 60 years and is truly loved by so many across the globe.”