BBC Asked Peter Capaldi To Stay On As Doctor Who

Back when Capaldi was cast as Doctor Who in 2013, months before the 50th anniversary, and more than a year before he actually took over the role, he made noises about how impressed he was with writer Steven Moffat, but that he didn’t know how long he’d stay in the role. He didn’t quite come out and say at the time “I’m only staying until Moffat leaves,” but there was definitely the sense that Capaldi knew Moffat only had a few years as show runner left, and that he figured he would not make the transition to a new one.

Perhaps the BBC at the time didn’t know if it would want Capaldi to stay? Perhaps it just seemed so far in the future, it wasn’t worth thinking about. But three years and two spectacular seasons later, the heads of the BBC found themselves in a horrendous position. Moffat had already announced his retirement over a year out. The assumption by all was that Capaldi would follow. This was an enormous amount of turnover for one of BBC One’s most popular long running programs, and at the worst time possible: with the charter renewal up in Parliament and then Prime Minister Cameron and his cronies sharpening their knives, the BBC desperately needed to shore up their position.