Yes I realise that, but I also don't believe they would ask him to go out on rounds of live interviews and spin a lie on their behalf the best part of 18 months before he is (theoretically) out the door. That's just totally unreasonable, not to say unprofessional of the BBC (if it were true, which I don't believe). The timeframe and the fact that he's the current active doctor make it a different situation for them as well as for him.

Peter has been deliciously "off message" since he took the role. He's already talked about fearing the "Hartnell" conversation and about how someone high up at the Beeb told him a few months ago that his next series maybe his last. It's been rather refreshing to hear an actor being so open and honest about the role. So much so, that it seems quite obvious to me when interviewers do ask questions that he's not allowed to answer and he suddenly becomes very evasive.

Fair enough PR departments spin and distort the truth, Moffat has proven to be an unreliable source of information and likes to play around with words to deliberately mislead people but I've not seen any sign of that from Capaldi so far so I can't for the life of me think why that would suddenly change. and having had the "Hartnell" conversation that he feared he then decided to lie about it instead, a lie which he's now going to have to maintain for at least two years, just to save face.

There's a million things that Capaldi could say to stay "on message" such as series 11 is too far away to think about, i'm focussing on series 10, I've not had any discussion yet, I need to sit down and talk with Chibnall etc. Sure they wouldn't stop the speculation, but when has the speculation ever stopped? No sooner has an actor taken the role than people start speculating about his successor.

Also I've never heard of an employment contract that says that you have to lie to keep your job and I'd love to see how that is legally enforceable.

You mean like Tony Blackburn? Or William Hartnall?

Someone high up at the Beeb told Capaldi a few months ago that his next series maybe his last. I'm sure that person has every expectation that Capaldi will play the game and tell everyone he's choosing to leave. Otherwise it makes the show look like it's in crisis and needs fixing. No corporation ever admits that.


They're quite clearly saying that no one would ask them, and that it's unimaginable that someone at the BBC would.


Maybe that's why someone high up at the Beeb told him a few months ago that his next series maybe his last - They don't want him on the show any more than Baker or Hartnell?

Except him telling the public he was warned the next series could be his last wouldn't be playing the game if they want everyone to think he chooses to leave. Not a consistent argument here... :P

The argument is that people get asked to leave to cover the fact they're being sacked. Quite contrary to your claims, Capaldi being a whistle-blower is, by definition, proof of a consistent argument.

People leave quietly and sing from the hymn sheet otherwise their careers suffer.

So you believed Capaldi when he said that someone told him his next series would be his last, but now don't believe him when he says that he's had discussions about staying on? What did he do in the meantime to earn your mistrust?

And just to reinforce how much the BBC want rid of Capaldi they created an animated version of his Doctor and asked Capaldi to narrate the latest set of Christmas idents just gone. It must all be part of some very elaborate game. If only I wasn't such a mindless forum fanboi I might actually be able to figure it all out.

To all those people who are saying 'Capaldi wouldn't lie to me' or somehow think he's somehow outside of the PR machine, you only have to look at his either silence or 'that's not what I've been told' comments when people were asking him about the rumours of no full series in 2016. He was towing exactly the same line as Moffat and the bbc until they were ready to release the information.

It is for that reason, and the fact that no-one working on the show, including the cast, ever normally release any information until decisions are made and it has been decided it is the right time to release the information, that this comment has such an air or a purposely stage managed thing to convince people that he has a choice.

It's not as though either Peter, Moffat, or the bbc would think him making a comment about deciding on staying would go unnoticed. All the more reason that makes me think it was the intention for it too be heavily noticed, so that in a few months time they can say 'Peter has decided to leave' and hope we all think it is true because we remember him saying he was 'deciding'.

Where did I ever say this?


We all know? Where has Moffat ever said that he's tired, fed up with the show and been trapped like a slave on it by the BBC?

He never has. He always says it's all great and wonderful and brilliant and epic and amazeballs...

But he's not a whistle blower in this instance then?

You said it right here:


And here:

Exactly. I never said would. You lied about the line I quoted from DiscoP.

Capaldi's two quote marry-up perfectly - All sides are in negotiations about how to procede with the show.


He's said that someone high up at the Beeb told Capaldi a few months ago that his next series maybe his last. people don't normally do that, they tow the line and walk away quietly, pretending they're leaving. By revealing the reality of what actually goes on inside the BBC, he's effectively blowing the whistle, albeit in a small way.

And you once again ignored my point about Moffat playing his role of a happy captain whilst Gatiss makes personal remarks about happy slaves...

It seems to me that some people are so determined to see a complete clean slate when Chibnall takes over that they're shaping the evidence to suit their agenda's, and using two exceptional examples from the shows 50+ year history to prop up their argument, which flies in the face of all information currently available.

The reasons why the Beeb wanted rid of Hartnell and Baker are well documented but there is absolutely zero evidence to suggest that the Beeb is unhappy with Capaldi's performance or want him to go and plenty of evidence that suggests the contrary.

The Beeb has shown that they usually prefer the status quo, rather than the risks associated with re-booting a show. For example I'm sure they would really rather not be having to re-launch Top Gear.

Some people seem convinced that Chibnall will want a new Doctor, even though Moffat said he would have preferred to have kept Tennant and Chibnall will have less time to prep his first series than Moffat had. Why would he want all the extra hassle and risks of re-casting the lead role?

But most of all, why would Capaldi, who has a proven track record of not being a liar, suddenly turn round and start telling porkies to either cover for the Beeb or to save his own face? Something, which until now, he's not been the least bit concerned with.

I rather resent you calling me a liar on top of your various other insults. Fine, so I misquoted you by one word. That was a mistake. That doesn't make me a liar!

To send out the message that it's a brand new show and tempt back lost viewers. The lead actor is by definition the face of the show - a figurehead for the viewers. You need to change them if you intend to change the tone of the show.

Tom Baker's era had several distinguishable tones, but it was all "Tom Baker's Doctor Who" in the eyes of the public. Perhaps that's why his ratings dropped significantly toward the end, after an all-time high for the show just a few short years before. and did he leave or was he pushed? And Pertwee. Both resigned, but both were bluffing. So they didn't really leave by choice.


As someone already said, Capaldi also denied 2016 would be yet another gap year.

I can't see how S4 would have worked is 10 had been romantically linked with "Penny", seeing that Rose was always planned to come back! Imagine the tears as Rose discovers the Doctor is two timing her

As for Peter C, I have no reason to assume that he's lying. He's in a different situation to David and Matt, who were both thinking about future careers, not being typecast etc. Matt, in particular, may have loved his time on the show, but not being a fan beforehand it wasn't the job he's always dreamed about,.

Is Peter leaves, he's done the 3 seasons so it's hardly the same as Colin who did less than 2 seasons (with S23 being a short season) and was involved with the show at a very turbulent time, which isn't the case at the moment. Peter could easily walk away, saying that the show thrives on change etc

Personally I hope he stays for another year, it'll be interesting to see a Doctor carry over to a new showrunner

You claimed I said it "would" be his last series when in fact I said "maybe". Your entire dismissal of my arguments centred around that change of wording.

The fact that I was actually quoting you by using copy & paste means you can't possibly have made such a mistake. They were all your own words from the beginning. You 'misquoted' me quoting you.

No I didn't, if you look back I did actually respond to that... :P

You know, sometimes the people most directly involved are also being subject to spin and "being managed" by the corporate "suits". Saying to someone "Your next series may be your last", serves at least two opposing agendas when a star's contract is "up":

1) They want him to leave (either because they feel the show did not do well enough or because they fear the cost of the new contract) and that conversation sows the seeds for it in PC's mind so it won't come as a shock and he will be less likely to kick up a fuss when eventually they tell him it's over and they're not renewing.

2) They want him to stay, but fear cost of a new contract, so it's part of an opening position, to sow the seeds of doubt in PC's mind, in preparing to negotiate contract renewal for the lowest possible cost.

And a third option may simply be it was their assessment of the situation, given what we know of the audience figures (and what they know from audience research).

To my mind, either interpretation could be correct at the point. The result, for the time being, is the same.

I actually think the "powers that be" have not got a strong opinion either way at this stage and it's Chris Chibnall who will have the biggest influence. Aside from cost implications the suits will follow his advice on creative matters like this. Any conflict will be his creative wishes versus their wish to keep costs as low as possible. Creatives usually want to spend more than the suits want to allow. Aside from costs if CC wants PC to stay he will. If he doesn't want PC to stay, what reason would PC have for outstaying his welcome or "rocking the boat"?

Football clubs manage the comings and goings of star players in this way all the time. It's part of portraying all involved in the best possible light and getting the players at the least possible cost. Such negotiations are delicate matters and have to be done away from public scrutiny to avoid any embarrassment and damaging publicity for the club.

They all will have (what they feel to be) the show's best interests at heart.

You can see for yourself what the question was and how Capaldi answered it.

https://twitter.com/BBCNewsEnts/stat...61639448211456

"Fans will be disappointed by reports that there might only be around half the number of episodes in 2016. Are those reports accurate?"

"Not as far as I know. That's not what I've been told, so that is not what I'm contracted for"

As it turns out there will be only one episode broadcast in 2016 so the reports that there will be half the number of episodes were entirely inaccurate Nothing he said in the interview is untrue and he did not deny that there would be a gap year in 2016.

He is picking and choosing what he says very careful as he has clearly been instructed on what he can and can't say at that point, you can even see in his body language how uncomfortable he is and how carefully he is considering what he is saying so as to not lie but also to not talk about things which he can't.

Contrast that with the very firm "I've had discussions about continuing the role" statement. It doesn't tally at all.

Actually, Season 17, his second-to-last, was his highest rating series and I believe of the entire classic run.

My argument was that you chose to believe one statement from Capaldi but now are choosing not believe another. Or in other words you are picking and choosing the evidence that best suits your agenda.

Yes I misquoted you. I made a mistake. Never made a mistake yourself? No I don't suppose you have...

But seeing how easily you bandy round terms like lair it rather devalues your whole argument. If one person making one mistake can be called a liar then there really is no hope for Capaldi.

Good post, people seem to forget that the only reason that Hartnell was asked to leave was due his ill health, even he agreed that he couldn't go on. Colin Baker was a different matter, he was effectively sacked because of pressure put on the producer by Grade.At the moment it all seems to be supposition and guess work. Why wouldn't Chibnel want Peter to stay on ? He's a great Doctor.

Excellent post. Even if Capaldi has been asked to stay, he will have been offered a financial package which he'll have to weigh-up against any other offers he receives.

Some fans like to believe that Capaldi loves the show so much that he would do it for free. In reality, it's a balancing act between what he wants to earn and what the BBC wants to pay.

Even a "dream job" becomes a chore if you feel undervalued.

Respond, but not address.

I don't think anyone is thinking that's a foregone conclusion that Capaldi will now be staying for series 11. I think people are well aware that having a discussion about staying on is not the same as signing a contract.

I dare say that discussions and negotiations are ongoing and will no doubt involve pots of gold and shiny pebbles changing hands and Capaldi will probably want some discussions with Chibnall and his vision for the show before committing. He said himself that he's undecided yet, but for me what sticks in my throat is the sudden accusation that Capaldi is lying about being offered to continue in the role to either cover his own back or play the BBC PR game.