Doctor Who boss says Peter Capaldi has no plans to leave show

Peter Capaldi won’t be handing over the keys to the TARDIS anytime soon, according to Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat.

Moffat will vacate his position as head writer and executive producer of the BBC series after the upcoming 10th season, premiering next year, but he says Capaldi won’t necessarily be leaving with him. Moffat’s predecessor Russell T Davies exited alongside David Tennant (Tenth Doctor) in 2010, part of a huge creative overhaul on the series. But don’t expect a similar situation when Moffat pens his final episode.

“I have no reason to suppose that I’m writing out a Doctor,” Moffat told Doctor Who Magazine this month. “Peter is loving the role, and long may he do so.”

The writer isn’t the only one who expects Capaldi to remain onboard the TARDIS. In May, Capaldi told Radio Times, “I’ve been asked to stay on [by the BBC].” He added that he’s yet to make up his mind, saying, “It’s such a long time before I have to make that decision.”

Chris Chibnall (Broadchurch) will take over showrunning duties for the show’s 11th season in 2018, but Moffat promises to go out with a bang in his final year on the show. “When I agreed to do one more run, I thought, ‘Sod it, I’m not doing the march to the scaffold.’ I want it to feel like a brand new show. I want it to feel like episode 1 of a new series,” he told Doctor Who Magazine. “I want to leave like it’s all just beginning.”

Next season, Pearl Mackie joins the series as Bill, the new companion to Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor. Matt Lucas (Bridesmaids) will also reprise his role as Nardole from last year’s Christmas special for a run of episodes in the new season.

Doctor Who returns for its annual Christmas special later this year and a full new season in 2017.