“It’s hardcore doctor who!”
Peter Capaldi gets back to blue box basics
Different companions bring out different SIDES OF THE DOCTOR. WHAT DOES bill bring out In your DOCTOR? We keep saying she’s new but in a way she’s a classic companion, because she doesn’t know anything at all about the Doctor or his existence or space and time or Daleks. He’s able to adopt an almost teaching role in showing her these delights that are available to him. But of course it spins out of control, as ever, because it’s the Doctor. He has to explain himself more, and explain the universe more, but in a way that’s more old fashioned, I think.
DOES THE SERIES FEEL NEW AGAIN?
It’s new but in a way it’s old. It’s new in the sense that it’s all new to Bill, so she’s suddenly whisked away on these adventures in time and space, with this mysterious stranger, meeting monsters and all that kind of carry-on. It’s quite hardcore Doctor Who, in that sense. It’s more adventure-led and accessible, a little less cerebral. And more explosions!
WHERE DO WE FIND THE DOCTOR AT THE START OF THE SERIES? He’s not ranging around time and space. I find myself becalmed and trapped, and so have to take a job as a lecturer. That’s where he meets Bill. He thinks she’s very clever, and deserves more than she has, but has to be encouraged to realise how valuable she is.
WE’RE LIVING IN TURBULENT TIMES. HOW POLITICALLY ENGAGED CAN DOCTOR WHO BE? I don’t think it can be terribly politically engaged, although I often find that inevitably, because the writers are intelligent people, we do have comments that can be taken in a certain way. I wish it was a little bit more [politically engaged]. It used to be more. In the ’70s it was more reflective of what was going on. But a lot of it’s timing. We’ve been working since July and everything’s changed!
THIS IS YOUR LAST SERIES. WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO LEAVE?
I didn’t want to make the decision for a long time, because I like it so much, it’s so much fun. But I’ve never really been in anything for any length of time. I like to move on.
YOU SAID IT TOOK A WHILE TO FIND YOUR DOCTOR. IS IT THE KIND OF ROLE YOU WANT TO KEEP EXPLORING? IS IT A WRENCH TO LET GO OF THAT?
I’m not sure that television is built for that kind of exploration. I think the audience likes to know what they’re getting, and once you’ve figured that out I think that’s what they like to see. So to go further from that… it doesn’t tend to happen.
ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO WITH THE ROLE?
Yeah, I think we’ve done great stuff. I think Steven’s fabulous. I don’t know why people have a go at him, why they call him a misogynist. I don’t understand that at all. I think he’s a brilliant writer. The fact of the matter is any show that’s making 12 episodes a year, with these budgets and under these circumstances, not every [episode] is going to be fantastic. And certainly not every [episode] is going to be to everyone’s tastes. Fandom is so rich and diverse [knowing smile] that you’re absolutely guaranteed to be disliked by a whole pile of people somewhere. But I think he’s done amazing stuff. To push the envelope of what Doctor Who can be, while hanging onto it, is hard, especially when it’s so successful it becomes a victim of its own success, because as a kind of brand it’s encouraged to do the same thing.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR DOCTOR TO GO OUT?
Fighting! Nick Setchfield