Peter Capaldi had the sweetest reaction to Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor Who casting

The former Twelfth Doctor giggled as he received the news, before crafting the perfect response

Published: Wednesday, 1 August 2018 at 5:17 pm

When Jodie Whittaker was cast in Doctor Who, it’s fair to say that the news rocked the world – except for those lucky few who already knew she was playing the Thirteenth Doctor ahead of the big reveal.

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Those people in the know included actors like David Tennant and Matt Smith who’d previously played the Doctor, all of whom were informed of the casting so they could offer some sage words of advice to their successor.

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And having already heard what the first reactions were to the news from Tennant and Smith, now we can add Whittaker's direct predecessor Peter Capaldi into the mix, with new showrunner Chris Chibnall recounting how the Scottish actor responded with laughter and grace when the information came to him.

“We set a time, I call him, and as he picks up the phone the first thing he does is giggle, delighted by the madness around it all,” Chibnall writes in the latest Doctor Who Magazine. “I tell him the name.

“He is generous and gentlemanly, of course: ‘Well, she’s a fabulous actor,’ he says.

“He asks if it will be all right to call Jodie and I put them in touch, one Doctor to the next.”

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And so, the handover of Time Lord power proceeded as smoothly as ever (well, except that one time Colin Baker wouldn’t film a regeneration scene), with Whittaker grateful for Capaldi’s advice and the former Twelfth Doctor sure that the character was in good hands.

“Anyone who has seen Jodie Whittaker’s work will know that she is a wonderful actress of great individuality and charm,” he said in a release just a short while after he found out the news.

“She has above all the huge heart to play this most special part. She’s going to be a fantastic Doctor.”

From what we’ve seen of her so far, we’d be inclined to agree with him.

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Doctor Who returns to BBC1 this autumn

Authors

Radio Times commissioning editor Huw Fullerton. He sits in front of a shelving unit, looking at the camera and smiling. He wears glasses and has a moustache

Huw FullertonCommissioning editor

Huw Fullerton is a commissioning editor for Radio Times magazine handling comedy, entertainment and specialist drama. In a previous regeneration, he covered all things sci-fi and fantasy for RadioTimes.com.

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